How To Control Seasonal Allergies
It’s that time of year again — the birds are singing, and the flowers are blooming. It’s so much more enjoyable to be outdoors after a long, cold Central PA winter. But if you’re one of the more than 50 million people in the U.S. who suffer from seasonal allergies, springtime can also mean congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, a runny nose and a host of other annoying symptoms.
While some people with allergies only experience mild symptoms, others suffer more severe effects that disrupt their lifestyle and may prevent them from working or even venturing outdoors on days when the pollen count is high.
Suffering From Indoor Allergies?
While many of us associate allergies with the outdoors and view the inside of our home as a pollen-free sanctuary, an indoor environment can also trigger various types of allergies and respiratory conditions. Your home can trap allergens and keep them inside, which contributes to poor indoor air quality. And unlike those outdoor allergies that may only occur during the spring, indoor allergies can last throughout the year.
While there are numerous materials in an indoor atmosphere that can trigger allergies, the biggest culprit is dust. Household dust is a combination of various particles ranging from human and animal skin to dust mites, mold spores and insect waste. Residents often experience heightened allergy symptoms during late summer when dust mites are at their peak.
All homes contain some level of dust. Factors that impact the amount of dust include the size and type of structure, the temperature and humidity level, ventilation methods and frequency of cleaning.
How to Prevent Indoor Allergies
Although it is impossible to eliminate dust and other allergens completely, you can take steps to improve the air quality inside your home — and keep allergy symptoms under control:
- Keeping windows closed during the spring, especially during times when the pollen count is high.
- Properly maintaining your home’s HVAC system and using high-efficiency filters. Or if symptoms are more severe using more active filtration methods with electronic air filters or UV air filtration systems
- Installing a whole-house dehumidifier to keep the air dry or a humidifier in the winter — maintaining a relative humidity level of 30-50% can help keep mold and dust mites under control.
- Frequently cleaning floors with a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter.
- Avoiding the use of laundry detergents or household cleaning products containing artificial fragrances, as they contain chemicals that can reduce indoor air quality.
- Following up vacuuming with mopping to pick up the dust missed by the vacuum — microfiber mops are now available that trap more dust than traditional mops and do not require the use of cleaning solutions.
- Placing a large floor mat at every entrance to reduce the tracking of dirt and pollutants inside your home.
Regular Air Duct Cleaning Can Also Help to Reduce Indoor Allergens
The ductwork that delivers heated and cooled air from your HVAC system throughout your home can accumulate dust, mold, insect and rodent waste and other debris over time. A regular air duct cleaning will remove these potential allergens from your ductwork and help keep allergy symptoms under control. Even new construction can warrant this service as systems are often running while work was still being done on the new home.
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends a thorough duct cleaning every three to five years, although we often recommend a duct cleaning when a system is replaced or you have moved into a new home.
Zimmerman Offers Professional Duct Cleaning Services in Harrisburg, PA
Zimmerman Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning offers professional duct cleaning services to residents in Harrisburg and across Central PA. What do we mean when we say professional – this means that the entire system is connected to a commercial-grade HEPA vacuum and all of the supply and return vents are sealed to create pressure throughout the system. Every supply and return duct is individually cleaned out. Our duct cleaning process is not messy. Our premium duct cleaning services will remove all types of dust and debris from your home’s ductwork, which can help you and your family breathe easier throughout the year and also increase the efficiency of your home’s HVAC system. Contact us for more information and a free duct cleaning estimate today.
