Spring in North Florida means beautiful pink blooms lining rows of green shrubs, warm weather, and allergies! This article serves to help you protect your home and office from airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, dust mites, and mold! Healthy air = happy home.
How to Prevent Allergens from Coming Inside
Ideally, you can prevent, or at least minimize, airborne allergens from entering your home and becoming a nuisance to your family and employees. Here are a couple of ways to start!
Keep Windows and Doors Closed
Stop allergens at the source by preventing pollen and other allergens from getting inside. Be mindful of the time your doors are open and keep windows closed as much as possible.
Primary allergen issue: pollen
Choose Natural Gas
Wood-burning fireplaces and stoves produce smoke and other gasses that can irritate respiratory allergies. Most appliances that use natural gas, on the other hand, will provide you with the same utility you need without creating unpleasant and unwanted symptoms.
Primary allergen issue: general respiratory irritation
How to Manage Inside Allergens
Once airborne, allergens make their way indoors, and it’s time to take defensive action. Here are a few ways you can take control of your air quality this allergy season.
Reduce Humidity
Moisture makes it easier for mold to grow inside. Reduce humidity around your bathroom, kitchen and other rooms with frequent water use using the follow approaches:
- Use a dehumidifier and remember to clean it once a week.
- Fix all leaks and closely monitor other seemingly unexplainable damp areas.
- Install a ventilation system, such as an exhaust fan to reduce moisture while taking baths or showers.
If you see mold, clean it immediately and repeatedly. Moldy residential and commercial ducts can also trigger allergy symptoms. Duct cleaning comes with a number of benefits — with reduced humidity and lower risk of mold exposure being only some of them.
In both coastal Jacksonville and swamp-adjacent Gainesville, reducing humidity requires an active approach. Aim to keep your relative humidity under 50% to minimize allergen exposure.
Primary allergen issue: mold
Vacuum Often
Vacuuming once or twice per week helps keep allergens low. Low quality vacuums, however, run the risk of ejecting dust mites, pet hair, and other allergy triggers back into the air. Look for vacuums that are certified to prevent allergies from reentering your air supply.
Primary allergen issues: animal dander and dust mites
Dust Responsibly
The key to using dusting to reduce allergens is frequent cleaning. To avoid moving dust from an unclean surface and into the air, use a damp or polish-treated cloth. If you are already suffering from allergy-related symptoms, consider leaving the house for a few hours after cleaning to avoid the undesirable effects of unsettled dust.
Primary allergen issue: dust mites
Use Air Conditioning Strategically
Using air conditioning during warm Florida spring seasons can help control dust recirculation and reduce humidity. Mayo Clinic recommends maintaining the temperature of your home or office between 68 and 72 F.
Primary allergen issues: dust mites and mold
Replace Your Air Filters
Air filters eliminate pollutants through ventilation. 98% of all harmful airborne particles, such as dust and mold spores, will be removed from your home’s air supply by Comfort Temp’s optimized air filter systems. Cleaning and replacing filters in HVAC systems at least once a month is vital to keeping your indoor air quality (IAQ) at desirable levels.
Primary allergen issues: dust mites and mold
Comfort Temp Helps You Manage Airborne Allergens
Comfort is our business, and it’s not comfortable to be sneezing around your family or coworkers for months out of the year. It’s hard to be at peace in your home or work environment when you’re preoccupied with managing allergy symptoms.Battling a problem as pervasive as airborne allergens requires a comprehensive approach. Take back your wellness and air quality with Comfort Temp air quality products and commercial and residential maintenance services.
