Finding Relief from Your Spring Allergies in Your Air
April flowers bring spring allergies, and all of that itching and sneezing is keeping lots of Arkansans indoors during this beautiful weather. However, allergens are constantly present in your home no matter the time of year. Looking for relief? Here are a few tips from Middleton Heat & Air on increasing your indoor air quality and decreasing those allergic reactions.
Over 20% of Americans suffer from seasonal allergies. Antihistamines can help relieve symptoms, but improving your home’s air quality is one of the best defenses against allergens year-round. Mold, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander are the most common culprits, resulting in itchy eyes, a stuffy nose, headaches, and more uncomfortable ailments. If you find yourself particularly affected by an unidentified allergen, a good first step is to make an appointment with a specialist to determine exactly what is causing your symptoms. You can then develop a allergen-reduction strategy for your home and determine whether or not you should invest in an air purifier for improving your home’s air quality.
It’s a good idea to begin with the bedroom. Most allergy-sufferers find that a few simple and inexpensive changes, such as protecting your pillows with allergen-reducing covers, result in dramatic improvements in symptoms. If a specialist helps you determine that common allergens such as dust mites are especially problematic for you or your family members (especially for individuals with asthma), he or she may make even make the recommendation to replace rugs or carpeting in your home since their fibers are infamous for trapping dust and dander. If replacing your flooring isn’t an option, you may find that more frequent vacuuming helps you find relief.
Here are a few more quick and easy recommendations for reducing springtime allergens in your home.
- Ask visitors to remove their shoes before entering your home, decreasing the likelihood of tracking in pollen and dust.
- Upgrade your vacuum cleaner to one that uses a filter to trap microscopic organisms.
- Make sure to frequently change your air filter according to manufacturer instructions for improved system performance and better air quality.
- Give your window coverings a thorough cleaning, or replace them all together; we recommend vacuuming them when you clean the rest of your floors, at least weekly during peak allergy season.
- Keep areas of your home that tend to draw moisture as dry as possible; wet environments breed mold, a common allergen.
- If you suspect mold or mildew, invest in a test kit that can be found at home improvement stores to confirm the presence of these potentially dangerous irritants.
If you’re looking for a more aggressive option, however, your best bet is an air purification system. These systems provide an overall healthier and cleaner home or work environment, working to minimize not only allergens but spores and other air contaminants. It’s important to remember that an air purification system isn’t a replacement for household maintenance, such as regular dusting.
One of our featured products is APCO, the whole-house purifier. APCO improves or prevents:
- Pet odors
- Tobacco smoke
- Viruses
- Cooking smells
- Odors
- Mold spores
- Chemicals
APCO cleans the air by combining UVC light and activated carbon; two technologies proven to be most effective at killing 99% of airborne germs, and removing odors by reducing chemical vapors known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some of them, like formaldehyde and toluene, are known to be toxic. Within 24 hours of use, your household will begin to notice positive effects once your system is in use, including improvement in spring allergies symptoms.
Do you have questions about your air quality or are you interested in an air purifier from Middleton Heat & Air? Or, if you’re in need of general heating and air service or HVAC repair, we’ll take care of that, too. Contact us today!
Blog Sources:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20391382,00.html
www.freshaireuv.com