There are many great things that come with spring, including warmer temps and the opportunity to spend more time outside. But one factor that can throw a wrench into enjoying the season is the presence of allergens. From runny noses to itchy eyes, seasonal allergies can be an annoyance to any of your family members. And when you wake up with these symptoms instead of feeling like you’ve had a restful night’s sleep, you’re going to want identify a solution.
And while we typically think of the outdoors when it comes to allergy season, allergens can exist within the home. Many homeowners have become increasingly interested in their indoor air quality and the impact on the home’s occupants. However, while it’s challenging to remove those allergens from the outdoors, there are steps you can take to decrease these contaminants in your home.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) notes the following as the main sources of indoor allergens:
- Pets
- Wall-to-wall carpet
- Soft furniture
- Stuffed toys
- Bedding
- Damp areas
- Indoor plants
- Mattresses that aren’t in allergy covers
- Pillows and bedding you can’t wash in hot water
The AAFA also provides a few steps to help you manage allergens in your home.
- Put plastic covers on the mattresses and pillows.
- Wash your bedding every week.
- Vacuum one or two times a week.
- Cover your garbage cans.
- Keep pets out of the bedroom.
- Close the windows and doors to keep pollen from getting in the home.
Keeping your home clean and lowering the opportunity for dust, pollen and other contaminants to enter the home will go a long way to increasing your home comfort. Create a plan so that you can prepare your home and be ready to enjoy the warmer temperatures.
Don’t make this allergy season more difficult than it needs to be. If you would like additional information on how you can improve your home comfort with purification or filtration systems, or if you have some questions on how to find a solution for the quality of air in your home, give Contra Costa Heating & AC a call at 510-343-9841 to speak with one of our technicians.