If you have allergies, summer is almost unbearable in Highland Park, Illinois. Unfortunately, not much changes when fall arrives. These same allergens invade your home, causing you to sneeze, wheeze, and put a damper on both your work and social life. However, not all is lost. By controlling and eliminating ragweed, mold, pollen, and dust mites, you can breathe easier in your home throughout autumn.
Ragweed
Ragweed is perhaps the biggest aggressor when it comes to flaring allergies during the fall. This plant affects millions of Americans causing itchy eyes, sneezing, and a scratchy throat. However, it’s one of the easiest allergens to eliminate.
Ragweed is easily identifiable, which makes it possible for you to eradicate it from your yard. Common ragweed is about three feet high and characterized by branches near the top. The flower spikes are about four inches long and have several small flowers at the top.
Fortunately, these plants are not as resilient as other weeds. They tend to grow in dirt with a low amount of nutrients, making them easy to pull out by hand. If this is the method you decide to pursue, always wear gloves and a mask. You can also mow the weeds, as they don’t often resprout after frequent mowings. Oddly enough, mowing doesn’t spew ragweed allergens into the air, and hopefully, will reduce the instance of ragweed. While it won’t get rid of it completely, it should keep it out of your home to some degree.
Mold
While ragweed pollen spikes in fall, mold falls a bit, but that doesn’t mean that it’s no longer a threat. Mold spores are constantly present in the air, but you can do a few things to rid them from your home. A no-hassle, easy way to control mold is to keep excessive moisture in check with a whole-home dehumidifier. When you keep moisture in check, it doesn’t allow spores to grow or multiply.
Another option to control mold is to clean diligently, especially in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Excess water can encourage mold growth, so after you cook, make sure to mop and dry any areas. The same goes for the bathroom. After a shower, the steam can build and hang on any horizontal or vertical surface. Take a towel and wipe down these areas before mold can grow, including nooks and crannies that you may not think about otherwise.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are tiny microorganisms that feed on flakes of human skin, yet they’re also one of the most aggressive allergens in your home You can’t totally eliminate them from your home, but you can keep them in check by controlling humidity. Like mold, dust mites can die if the humidity falls below about 70 percent. While this naturally happens during fall, a whole-home dehumidifier supplies a nice boost for prevention.
Before you fire up your furnace for the first time, you may also want to clean the ductwork. Dust mites often hide in air vents because they aren’t as exposed to the elements. When you turn your furnace on, it sends these critters into your home. As a last resort, vacuum your carpets shortly after turning on the furnace.
Indoor Air Quality Products
When allergens are already present in your home, opening the window isn’t enough to take care of the situation. Sometimes, you may need a little help. That’s when you should consider our range of indoor air quality solutions. An air purifier is just one of those products. It installs directly into your existing HVAC system, and using small fans, it draws air inside. Once the contaminated air gets into the unit, it uses UV lamps to kill and eliminate all the allergens, resulting in the clean air you need to breathe easy. You can also use standalone UV lamps to eliminate mold and other allergens in your HVAC unit, such as in the drip pan and other areas.
Even if you follow these tips, it may not be enough to completely avoid fall allergens in your home. That’s when you should consider indoor air quality products from Ireland Heating & Air Conditioning. With our expert installation and professional services, you can go through the fall without the fear of crippling allergies. Call us today at 847-388-0108.
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