Fall Allergies

Getting that irritable itchy and scratchy feeling that means it’s time again to break out the allergy medications?

While many people think of the spring when they consider the most allergy-prone times of year, the fall also is a season where allergy sufferers are likely to experience higher discomfort. Autumn brings back common allergy sources like leaves, ragweed and mold. There’s not much you can do on the outside of the house, but indoors you can become an allergy source exterminator.

If you like to open your windows when it’s too hot inside, you are letting all of those nasty allergens into your inner sanctum with you. And once it gets cold and you batten down with plastic and weather stripping, all of the particles are now trapped inside. Consider the installation of a central air conditioning system so you can keep those allergy symptom inducers at bay and outdoors where they belong.

Filters on all air processing machinery from air conditioners to furnaces to air cleaners and purifiers should be changed if they use throwaway types, or cleaned if they are permanent. And if the clean filter still doesn’t give you comfort from your allergy symptoms, consider a filter with a higher MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating — that’s the standard in the industry rating media type air filters, with the higher the MERV rating the more efficient the filter in removing smaller particles.

The best filters for removing the smallest particles and helping ease allergy suffering are the HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) filters. To qualify for the HEPA designation, the filter has to collect at least 99.97 percent of particles that are .3 microns in diameter — that’s around 300 times smaller than a single strand of human hair.

Central vacuum systems are also great allergy relievers. If you use an old upright or canister vacuum and want a real eye-opener as to just how inefficient it is, vacuum near the window as bright sunlight comes in. See all of that dust coming out in the exhaust from the vacuum? Those are all particles you just vacuumed on their way back into your air. A central vacuum system removes those particles more efficiently and effectively, taking them out of your carpets and upholstery and keeping them out.

For professional tips to relieve any of your allergy concerns, call Family Danz, and we will be happy to help.