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Ridding Your Home of Indoor Allergens

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If you have pollen sensitivity, you know that staying indoors is a good way of avoiding symptoms. But, did you know that the inside of your home is a source of allergens, too? According to the EPA, the air quality of indoor areas can be worse than the air outdoors in a large, industrialized city! Allergy-proofing your home can improve the quality of air and cut down on your allergy symptoms. Use the following list as a starting point for making your home allergy-free:

Clearing the air:
Pollen, dust, and other allergy triggers can be flowing through leaky ductwork you're your home. Even a small hole can allow allergens to enter your heating and cooling system, which then distributes them throughout your house. Have a professional check your ducts for leaks as well as pest infestation, dust buildup, and mold growth. Your air conditioning unit itself may be home to mildew and mold. Hire a professional HVAC contractor to clean the areas of your unit where these problems can occur. A clean air conditioning unit and sound ductwork can result in cleaner air for your household.

Filtering the air:
Numerous stand-alone air purifiers are available on the market. Place these in rooms where you spend a lot of time, such as your living room or bedroom. For filtered air throughout the house, replace your furnace filter with a HEPA filter. As an extra step, a professional contractor can install an air purifier attached to your heating and cooling ventilation system. This filters air and removes allergens without needing filters that must be replaced.

Dehumidifying the air:
Mold, fungi, and mites thrive in humid conditions, as these organisms draw water from the air to survive. Without the humidity, they dehydrate and die, taking your allergy triggers with them. Dehumidifiers range from whole-home ventilation systems to portable models for individual rooms. Experts agree that dehumidifiers are critical in controlling indoor allergies.

Removing carpeting:
The Center for Disease Control has done many studies linking carpeting and indoor allergies. Airborne allergens eventually sink to the floor, attaching themselves to carpet fibers. The best way to prevent this is by replacing all of the carpeting in your home with wood or laminate flooring. These floors are much easier to clean and remove allergens from, and are beautiful and long-lasting.

Removing pests:
Rats and mice leave droppings and waste wherever they've been. If your home is infested, you may have inadvertently exposed yourself to their leavings. Cockroaches also carry and secrete powerful allergens. In fact, many doctors test for reactions to these substances during allergy scratch tests. Rid your environment of these pests for truly allergen-free living in your home.

Indoor allergens can cause just as much if not more problems than outdoor allergens. These allergens can be in full-force year round, unlike seasonal allergies. Professional contractors can assist you with your remodeling projects to ensure you're minimizing the possibility of future indoor allergens in your home.

by Alicia Rowe