Indoor Allergy Relief

Indoor allergies are a continual condition for millions of people. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a crucial part of controlling your allergies and ensuring a healthy, comfortable living environment. Here, you’ll discover useful strategies on how to improve IAQ for indoor allergy relief.

Understanding Indoor Allergies

Household allergens include dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, tobacco smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bacteria and viruses, as well as pollen that makes its way inside the house. These allergens cause allergic reactions. When allergens are present in the air, they can result in symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and more severe issues like asthma attacks and other breathing issues. Ventilation, air filtration, cleaning and other proactive measures are necessary to minimize the concentration of indoor allergens, improve indoor air quality and allow inhabitants to breathe easier.

Reducing Allergens Through Proper Ventilation

One of the most reliable techniques to reduce allergens is to increase ventilation. Adequate inflow of fresh, outdoor air significantly decreases the quantity of allergens in your home. Here are some ventilation-increasing techniques to try:

Open windows and doors when the weather makes it possible.
Turn on exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen when showering or cooking to remove heat, humidity and fumes.
Install a whole-home ventilation system to evenly exchange stagnant indoor air with fresh outdoor air throughout the entire house.

Air Filtration and Purification Systems

Air filters and purifiers are made in many different styles. Some are developed to clean the air in one room, while others integrate with the HVAC system for healthier air throughout the entire home. They also eliminate allergens using a variety of methods:

Filtration systems—such as media filters, electrostatic filters and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters—capture airborne particles in tightly woven material, stopping them from swirling throughout the house.
Germicidal UV lights deactivate the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other microbes, making them unable to replicate and reducing the spread of germs throughout your home.
Air purifiers that use activated carbon filters remove odors and chemicals from the air, helping produce a clean, fresh-smelling household.
Electronic air cleaners possess negative ion generators that bind with positively charged airborne particles. The particles then cling to charged metal plates or grow too heavy to continue to be airborne. Those that fall onto household surfaces can be eliminated by dusting and vacuuming.

Regular Cleaning

Keeping your home clean is a crucial step in lowering indoor allergens. Here are some suggested recommendations:

Vacuum your home at least every week with a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove dust mites and other allergens from carpets and upholstery.
Choose hypoallergenic bedding, such as organic cotton, bamboo or silk, which is naturally allergen-resistant.
Wash your bedding weekly in hot water to destroy dust mites and clean out other lingering allergens.
Choose allergy-proof pillowcases and mattress covers to stop dust mites from accumulating.
Clean countertops, floors, furniture and other areas regularly.
Keep pets out of your bedroom to decrease dander buildup in the place where you sleep.
Reduce clutter and knickknacks, which collect dust and create hiding places for allergens.

Controlling Humidity Levels

Maintaining the ideal humidity level is fundamental for controlling indoor allergens. High humidity encourages mold growth and dust mite populations, while low humidity leads to dry skin and irritated airways. Shoot for an indoor relative humidity level ranging from 30-50 percent. The simplest way to do this is to run a whole-house humidifier during the dry winter and a whole-house dehumidifier throughout the humid summer.

Indoor Plants and Allergies

Indoor plants can improve IAQ by filtering out toxins and discharging oxygen. However, some plants produce irritating pollen, and watering them too often may foster mold growth, adding to indoor allergies. When choosing potted plants, opt for allergy-friendly varieties like spider plants, snake plants and bamboo palms, which help improve indoor air quality and are unlikely to cause allergic reactions.

Indoor Air Quality Solutions in North America

Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is committed to creating a healthy and comfortable home environment for our customers. With our wealth of experience in indoor air quality solutions and your satisfaction guaranteed, we are a great partner to fulfill all your IAQ desires. Contact a Service Experts office near you today to discover more about how our services can help you achieve indoor allergy relief.