When you think of all the things that cause allergies to act up, you may picture the outdoors—fields of grass, flowers, trees and pollen. But there can be as many allergens inside your Northern Westchester or Putnam County home as there are outside it. Pet dander, dust mites, gasses from poorly ventilated combustion appliances, mold and pests all contribute to poor indoor air quality and exacerbate allergies.
What Homeowners Can Do to Improve Indoor Air Quality
There are steps you can take to help relieve the suffering from allergy symptoms in your home. Some of these are easy enough to take care of yourself and some may require the help of a professional.
Most allergens are not floating around in the air but settle on rugs, soft furniture, mattresses, pillows and blankets. They’re disturbed when we walk or sit on them. Vacuuming and dusting once or twice weekly helps, but if your vacuum is old, you may want to invest in a new model with a HEPA filter. A poor quality vacuum can spread more dust than it picks up.
Another way to reduce and control dust includes using zippered covers on mattresses and pillows. Washing all bedding often in hot water and drying in a hot dryer will help to kill dust mites.
Swapping wall-to-wall carpet for low-pile area rugs is another way you can control dust as the more bare floors and walls and the more uncluttered your home, the fewer allergens can collect.
Finally, remember to change the air filters of your HVAC systems on a regular basis to keep indoor air quality healthy.
Moisture collects and encourages mold and mildew growth, a major source of allergies. Be sure your shower exhaust works well to reduce moisture in the bathroom. Repair any leaks or wet areas in the house and install a dehumidifier in your basement. If you see mold, protect yourself by wearing a mask and clean it immediately. Larger mold problems may require professional mold remediation services.
Keep pets clean and keep them out of bedrooms during the day. Cleaning pet beds and their toys regularly can also help to reduce allergens in your home.
Keep Pests Out of Your Home
Pests contribute to poor air quality and allergy symptoms. Be sure you’re doing all you can not to attract them by securely covering food and food waste, as well as garbage.
During heavy pollen seasons, keep windows closed and be sure your ventilation systems are working well. Use air conditioning to circulate air within your home and check air filters often.
Get Help from the Indoor Air Quality Experts
An indoor air quality assessment from Healthy Home™ Energy & Consulting will identify air quality issues within your home and provide you with a choice of solutions. The benefit of an assessment is that we can find problem areas that may not be obvious with a visual inspection alone. With specialized tools and years of experience, we’ll get to the source of indoor air quality problems so you can eliminate the issues for good.
Make your home a safe haven from allergens. Contact us or call (914) 242-9733 today to schedule your indoor air quality assessment.
