Here in Houston, a large majority of us suffer from seasonal allergies due to things like dust, pollen, mold, etc. Here are a few ways to reduce the amount of dust and allergens in our homes:
Vacuum often and empty your vacuum cleaner bag or canister after ever use. Most of the newer vacuum cleaners have built in filters too. These should be cleaned as recommended by the manufacturer or more often depending on the amount of traffic and animals in the house.
Keeping your pets bathed and brushed on a regular basis can reduce the amount of dander in the house.
Carpets, drapes, pillows and other materials can trap significant amounts of dust. These items should be cleaned regularly in order to reduce dust and allergens.
At a minimum, change your HVAC filters monthly, unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer or an HVAC professional. Using a quality allergen reducing electrostatic filter can increase the air quality in your home. As a home inspector, this is an item I see neglected way too often.
Make sure all vent fans in laundry rooms and bathrooms are clean and in good working condition. This will help remove damp, stagnate air from your home.
Make sure all of your doors and windows seal tightly. Dust and allergens can easily move through gaps around doors and windows that do not seal tightly. An easy way to improve the seals around your doors and windows is to add additional weather stripping. There are several types (peel and stick, tacked, etc.) which can be found at your local home improvement stores. You should also make sure the door and window frames are caulked well on the outside.
Even a little maintenance goes a long way in making sure that your home is safe for you and your family. As always, we at IPIS, PLLC will continue to bring you current information on how to keep your home safe. Contact us at anytime for any Houston home inspection services that you have. We look forward to hearing from you!
