Can you get allergies during the fall? You most definitely can! Allergens can hit at any moment. While spring allergies may be more common, allergies in the fall are a substantial problem for lots of people. Here, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help you understand and overcome fall allergies. Regrettably, the solution isn’t as easy as staying away from the pollen-filled world outside your home. Fall allergy season finds several ways into your home. By identifying what causes fall allergies, you can fully understand the best ways to reduce them.
How to Learn More About Your Fall Allergy Symptoms
Recognizing your fall allergy symptoms can be more difficult than it may seem. The symptoms of seasonal fall allergies are commonly subtle and mistaken for a mild cold. Coughing, sneezing and sinusitis are all symptoms that develop in both fall allergies and the common cold. A doctor is always the best source for confirming allergies. However, some common symptoms of fall allergies and sinusitis include:
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Headache
- Fatigue or tiredness
What Triggers Fall Allergies?
When figuring out what causes fall allergies in your exact case, there are several potential culprits. Dust mites and allergens can collect in different places within your home. Many of these sources of seasonal fall allergies can be managed with professional air quality services like those provided by Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. However, the most common sources of indoor fall allergies include:
- Airborne pollen
- Mold
- Dust mites
- Pets
- Wall-to-wall carpet
- Damp areas
- Indoor plants
- Stuffed toys
- Mattresses and other cushioned furniture
- Debris accumulation within your ductwork
Remedies for Seasonal Fall Allergies
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says that homeowners managing fall allergies could boost their air quality in three ways. First, you could limit your contact with airborne allergens inside your home. This involves using a whole-house dehumidifier, cleaning ducts and preventing your home from getting too hot. Second, you need to ventilate your home, ensuring that airborne contaminants don't build up in stagnant air. Third, you could consider installing an air cleaner to clear allergens from the air. Learn more about these solutions below.
Control Your Home’s Humidity with a Whole-House Dehumidifier
When the air in your home strays from the EPA’s recommended humidity levels (30%-40% humidity), it encourages a petri dish for mold, dust mites and various other sources of allergic attacks. With a whole-house dehumidifier, you have precise control over the humidity levels across your entire home. These state-of-the-art dehumidifiers allow you to dictate the humidity inside your home within 1% of the desired levels, removing the conditions for excess mold, dust mites, fungi, bacteria and other contaminants.
Keep Your Air Clean With Ultraviolet Germicidal Lights
Ultraviolet germicidal lights clean the air in your home before it moves from room to room. As the air flows out of your HVAC unit and enters your ducts, it moves through a powerful ultraviolet light that eliminates contaminants before they can disperse. This system addresses the question, “What is the best air purifier for allergies?” This system should quickly make your air considerably cleaner. UV lights have been shown to eliminate half of the concentrated bioaerosols within their initial 45 minutes of use.
Trap Contaminants with HEPA Air Filters
When you need a high-end air filter, you should find a HEPA air filter that can remove 99.97% of the contaminants in the air. Because of their specific design, these filters collect the most common triggers of fall allergies from their air, including ragweed, pollen and dust mites. HEPA air filters also capture contaminants such as:
- Tobacco smoke
- Dirt particles
- Pollen
- Ragweed
- Dust mites
- Numerous odors and airborne chemicals
Consistently Clean Your HVAC System’s Air Ducts
Historically, HVAC systems have not always done well with getting rid of impurities from the air. This means that debris often circulates through ductwork for many years. Over time, large quantities of that debris may build up in your ductwork. This is why many people advocate for Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning and our duct cleaning services before turning on the heat for the first time in the fall. Doing so can eliminate one of the most significant sources of airborne contaminants in your home.
The 10 Cities in the United States With the Most Difficult Fall Allergy Seasons
Often, your location has a major impact on the intensity of your fall allergy symptoms. Fall allergies are understood to be more serious in some areas of the country compared to others. As an example, ragweed (one of the most extensive sources of allergy-inducing pollen) is more common in the country’s eastern region as well as in the Midwest. Nonetheless, allergies can remain a considerable problem despite where you live. Here are the 10 most challenging cities for those dealing with seasonal allergies.
Getting Help From Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
As you have now seen, the most comprehensive strategy for dust mites and fall allergies entails an all-out assault on the pollutants and contaminants in the air throughout your home. Every home will need a specialized approach suited for that home’s unique makeup and layout. With air quality specialists all over the United States, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help out in almost any part of the country. If you'd like one of our indoor air quality experts to help eliminate as many allergens as possible, call or fill out a contact form when you're ready to start.