Surviving Fall Allergy Season

Fall brings changing leaves, cool breezes, chilly nights, pumpkin everything, football games and…ragweed season! Purifying the air in your home is the first step in reducing fall allergies for you and your family. Fall allergies typically present themselves right about now and if you have started to feel the impact of seasonal pollen, now’s a good time to review the best ways to optimize air purification and improve your indoor air quality to achieve a healthy home.

Fixing Fall Allergies

Ragweed is the biggest allergy trigger during the fall season, followed closely by mold. Mold spores and ragweed travel easily through the air and can cause the following symptoms:

• headaches
• stuffy nose
• chest congestion
• dry, persistent cough

If you or a family member suffer from these symptoms during the fall months, it’s time to double check your indoor air quality. Here are some steps you can take right away:

HVAC Check-up

Your HVAC and air purification systems do a lot to improve your indoor air quality by filtering fresh air from the outside into your home. It’s important to hire an HVAC technician to do an inspection to ensure everything is running properly before you start running your heat in the cooler fall temperatures.

Run your HVAC

Once your HVAC is all checked out, it’s very important to continue using it even as the temperatures drop. As tempting as it is to shut off your AC unit and open up the windows, it could mean serious problems for your indoor air quality with the amount of pollen and other particles that can enter your home. The air conditioner helps to filter the air as it comes into your home, so even running those systems with their internal fans can be preferable to just opening the windows.

Replace Filters

It can be a pain, but be sure to change the filters in your air systems to get the highest quality air in your home. Most filters should be cleaned or changed regularly.

Use a Humidifier

With cooler temperatures and the use of your heater, the air in your home can become dry and irritating. Remember to keep your home’s humidity level between 30-50% with the help of a humidifier if necessary. A humidifier adds water vapor to the air to improve your indoor air quality and prevent symptoms such as dry skin, nosebleeds, sinus problems, and dry eyes.

For even more tips on how to ensure the best indoor air quality this fall and year-round, check out Aprilaire’s What’s In Your Air? article.

If you’re still looking for a way to rid your home of pollutants, contact our air quality professionals to perform a thorough test so you can enjoy your cozy fall days inside.

ABOUT US

Pharo Heating & Cooling is a full-service HVAC contractor in Madison. Our team provides top quality service for new construction and replacement furnace and air conditioner needs. For more information about annual furnace inspection or concerns, give us a call at 608-849-5410 or submit a contact form through our website.