Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality and Curb Seasonal Allergies

If you suffer from allergies, you may be quick to correlate seasonal irritations with outdoor triggers such as ragweed, pollen, and mold. However, poor indoor air quality in your home could also be a factor to blame for runny noses, itchy eyes, and in come cases, severe symptoms like respiratory issues, bronchitis, and asthma.

The Environmental Protection Agency found in a survey that Canadians spend 87% of their lives indoors and that indoor air pollutant levels are up to 100 times higher than levels you may find outside. While it’s alarming to think about how many toxins you are likely exposed to on a daily basis, there are simple steps you can take to increase the quality of the air you breathe inside of your home.

Avoid Smoking Indoors

There is no acceptable level of exposure to second-hand smoke regardless of where you are indoors or outdoors. Smoking inside your home, even if it is only one time, is enough to infect the rest of your home, even if you’re in a room with the doors sealed closed.

Vacuum Frequently

Invest in a heavy-duty vacuum and clean your carpets regularly to reduce dust and other pollutants brought in from outside.

Soak Bedding

Wash sheets, pillows and comforters in warm water to diminish exposure to dust mites and other allergens.

Open Windows

Most heating and cooling units recirculate inside air so when weather permits, let fresh air inside your home, even if it is for just a short amount of time.

Keep a Hygienic Home

Clean your home on a regular basis using pure cleaning supplies.

Dispose of Unused Chemicals and Paint

Paint outdoors and choose non-toxic adhesive, finishes and varnishes where possible.

Groom Pets

Bathing and grooming your pets regularly will reduce shedding and dander.

Use the Exhaust Fan Over Your Stove

The benefit of an external exhausted range hood is that it eliminates potentially toxic pollutants and gasses from the air in your kitchen.

Use Fans in the Bathroom

Exhaust fans eliminate moisture from the bathroom and lessen fumes from cleaning agents that could potentially cause health issues.

Replace Air Filters

Changing the air filters in your heating and cooling system on a regular basis is crucial to keeping favorable indoor air quality in your home.

Clean Air Ducts

Most of the in-home air arrives through ducts as part of your heating and cooling system. Those air ducts can get dirty with microbes, mildew, bacteria, and loads of dust and dirt. Regular duct cleaning can eliminate built-up debris.

In addition to these essential steps there are several advanced options for battling allergy-inducing pollution in your home.

Whole-house central humidifiers keep humidity within one percent of your desired levels throughout your home, creating a healthier environment by scaling back dry sinuses, itchy skin, sore throats, and keeping wood from cracking and warping. They can also lessen the occurrences of bacteria, viruses and respiratory infections. Proper humidification levels are equivalently important in both hot and cold environments. Too little humidity leaves the body vulnerable to infections whereas too much humidity forms ideal breeding grounds for mold, mildew, and dust mites.

Energy Recovery Ventilation Units bring in the correct amount of outside air which is exceedingly important in the spring and summer months ahead.

For more information contact one of our friendly Home Comfort Advisors!