Now that spring is finally here, allergy season won’t be far behind. Give yourself a better chance against spring allergies this year by using readily available equipment to reduce the effects of allergens in your home.
- Use your air conditioner: Air conditioners filter the air and reduce humidity inside your home. Cleaner indoor air means less exposure to allergy-causing dust, pollen and other particulates. Less humidity reduces the possibility of mold growth. Even if outdoor temperatures don’t yet require full-time air conditioning, you can use the unit to help keep your home’s air clean.
- Change cooling system filters: A dirty filter in your air conditioner will decrease the unit’s efficiency and effectiveness, and it can cause a system breakdown. However, since dirty filters are already full of particulates, they also let more allergens back into your indoor air. Change filters monthly.
- Install an air cleaner or purifier: Air cleaners and purifiers are designed to be installed within the airflow of your forced-air cooling system, where they capture allergens before they enter your indoor spaces. They hold mold and mold spores, bacteria, viruses and other biological contaminants that your regular air conditioner filter might not be able to capture.
- Apply a germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light: UV light destroys potentially harmful living microorganisms and is a strong defense against allergens. These lights are also positioned within the airflow of your cooling system. Exposure to UV light kills mold, bacteria, viruses and other tiny living organisms that aggravate allergies and cause disease.
- Use HEPA filters or double-layer bags in your vacuum cleaner: A HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner will be very effective at trapping large amounts of allergens such as dust, dust mites, pet hair and dander. Double-layer bags seal these allergens in and keep them from getting back into your indoor air.
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