Spring is here, which means millions of people will be struggling with pollen allergies. If the outdoors are making you miserable, here are some tips to improve indoor air quality and keep pollen out of your home.
1. Service Your HVAC System
Your HVAC system should receive a tune-up every year; spring is the perfect time for that. This will help your system run more efficiently, lower energy bills, and improve indoor air quality.
2. Change Your Air Filter
Your HVAC system has an air filter that removes dust, dander, pollen, and other pollutants from your home’s air as it moves through your ducts. Naturally, it gets quite dirty and needs to be replaced periodically. While some filters can reportedly last for as long as nine months before they need to be cleaned or replaced, we recommend at least checking your filter monthly, especially if you have pets or a larger household.
3. Invest in an Air Purifier
While your HVAC system’s filter will remove many pollutants from your home’s air, it doesn’t work nearly as well as an air purifier. You can probably get by with a smaller portable air purifier if you live in a smaller space, but we recommend installing a whole-home air purifier if you have a larger house. A qualified HVAC contractor can install a whole-house purifier in your home. These devices can be paired with smart technology to let you know the status of your filter and the level of particulates in your home at any time.
4. Have Your Ducts Cleaned
Having your ducts cleaned will improve your indoor air quality. Most HVAC experts recommend cleaning your ducts every three to five years, but you might need more frequent cleanings if you have a larger household, live in a place with a high pollen count, or have recently renovated your home.
5. Clean Your Home Frequently
Cleaning your home on a regular basis can help prevent dust from depositing inside your ductwork in the first place. Dust your home with a microfiber cloth, starting with the higher surfaces and making your way down. Pay special attention to your air vents, as these can get quite dusty, and don’t forget about your blinds, curtains, and ceiling fans, as they can collect a lot of dust and pollen. When you vacuum your floors, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, and empty it outdoors if it doesn’t have a bag.
Finally, try to keep clutter to a minimum. Clutter creates many spaces where dust and pollen can gather, and these spaces are easy to overlook if you don’t tidy up every week or so.
6. Pay Attention to Air Quality Reports
Local weather reports and apps often include news about the air quality near you, including pollen counts, so use these reports to plan your day. If pollen counts are particularly high, try not to go outside or open your windows too much if you can help it.
7. Remove Shoes As Soon as You’re Inside
You can track pollen and other allergens in your home on your shoes, so remove them as soon as you walk through the door. To help keep your home extra clean and pollen-free, place one doormat right outside your door and another inside. Wipe your shoes on the doormat outside and take them off on the doormat inside. Encourage any visitors to do the same.
8. Shower and Change Your Clothes After Coming Inside
If you have to spend a lot of time outside when pollen counts are high, shower as soon as you get inside. Don’t touch any furniture; go straight to your shower to avoid tracking pollen and dirt through your house any more than you already have. Put your dirty clothes in the wash as soon as possible.
9. Wash Your Bedding Regularly
You should change and wash your bedding regularly regardless of the season, but it’s especially important to stay on top of this in the spring. Pollen can easily settle into your sheets and blankets and trigger allergy symptoms when you want to go to sleep, so wash and change your sheets at least once a week.
10. Bathe Your Pets Regularly
If you have pets that spend significant time outside, bathe them once a week or after any long outdoor play sessions. Pollen gathers quickly on animal fur and will spread to your home when you let your dogs or cats inside.
11. Keep Your Vehicles Parked in Your Garage
If you regularly park your vehicles outside, pollen has almost certainly settled on them. This pollen can get sucked into the ventilation system the next time you turn on your AC while driving and trigger some nasty allergy symptoms. While you can’t avoid having pollen settle on your car or truck when you have to drive, you can keep it a little cleaner by keeping it parked in your garage. Just keep your garage clean along with the rest of your house.
12. Clean Your Outdoor Furniture
Like anything else kept outdoors, your patio and yard furniture will collect a lot of pollen. When your outdoor furniture is at its dirtiest, a strong wind could blow much of that pollen through your home’s open windows and cause problems even when the pollen count outside is relatively low.
To minimize pollen exposure, clean your outdoor furniture regularly. Lay it out on your lawn away from your house and spray it with water to remove any pollen that may be stuck to it. To clean pollen that has become more embedded in your furniture, wipe your cushions down with soap and warm water before hosing them off.
13. Keep Humidity Levels at 40 to 50 Percent
Keep your home’s humidity level between 40 and 50 percent to alleviate allergy symptoms. This is optimal for avoiding symptoms such as dry skin, sore throat, itchy eyes, and a congested nose.
A humidifier and dehumidifier will help maintain optimal humidity levels. Smaller portable humidifiers work reasonably well if you only need to humidify a smaller space, but a whole-house humidifier is best for larger homes. Once again, an HVAC contractor can install this for you. In any case, don’t let your humidity levels go above 50 percent. Too much humidity can damage your home and create an ideal breeding ground for mold.
Call Southern Pride Service for Assistance
If you’re still experiencing allergies and poor indoor air quality, we will be happy to help. We are a family-owned heating and cooling company that has served Charles County, MD, for over 30 years, and we are committed to the comfort and safety of all of our customers. Whether you need a humidifier or dehumidifier installed in your home or a good air purifier, our technicians are there for you. Contact Southern Pride Service to learn more about our indoor air quality services.
