Welcome to September! This month marks the official beginning of fall, which brings with it changing colors, cooler temperatures…and seasonal allergies. These allergies affect millions of people worldwide and can lead to frustrating symptoms like sneezing, coughing, itchy and/or watery eyes, headaches, sore throats, and runny or stuffy noses. So, how can you still enjoy this beautiful season despite your allergies? That’s where your HVAC comes into play. Fortunately, there are a few easy steps you can take to help keep the air in your home clear of allergens and keep everyone breathing easier this fall.
A Deep-Dive Into Indiana’s Fall Allergy Season
In Indiana, the most common fall allergens include weed pollen, mold, dust, and pet dander. Weed pollen in particular can wreak havoc, with one of the most common (and widespread) weed pollens being ragweed. Ragweed grows pretty much everywhere in the Midwest and its pollen is lightweight, which makes it easy to breathe in. Windy days can carry ragweed pollen for miles, making it even more difficult to get a reprieve during ragweed’s season, which runs from mid-August through October, with the pollen count peaking in September. Ragweed pollen can trigger allergy symptoms and asthma attacks, so checking your area’s daily pollen counts can help you be prepared before stepping outside.
Mold is another allergen that peaks in the fall. Since mold grows with moisture, it can appear on piles of fallen leaves that have gotten damp or on the wet soil itself. As these leaves decompose and the soil is disturbed, those mold spores then release into the air, which can cause those uncomfortable allergy symptoms to appear when breathed in.
Dust and pet dander are other common culprits of fall allergies. When turning on your heater for the first time after not using it all summer, the dust that has accumulated can stir up and move throughout your air ducts and into your rooms. Dust mites, another allergen, can be more prevalent in the fall as people spend more time at home with the windows and doors closed. The same can be said for pet dander. Because pets start spending more time indoors during the fall, their dander can start to accumulate more quickly inside your home, causing allergies to kick up.
How to Manage Your Fall Allergies
Some ways to help keep yourself and your family feeling better during this fall allergy season are to:
- Keep your windows closed (to keep pollutants out).
- Wash your bedding regularly.
- Vacuum and dust frequently (especially if you have pets).
- Bathe your pets regularly.
- After spending time outside, change your clothes and shower (to remove outdoor pollen).
- Avoid going outside on particularly dry or windy days (when pollen spreads the quickest).
- Avoid yard work, like mowing the lawn (which can stir up pollen), or wear a mask.
How Your HVAC Can Help
The great news is that your HVAC can really help reduce the intensity of your allergy symptoms this fall. Here are a few ways to use your HVAC to your advantage:
Prep for the first time you run your furnace.
Before you turn your furnace on for the first time this fall, prepare for the increase in dust that it will kick up by vacuuming and dusting around your air vents. Then, swap out your HVAC’s filter to a clean one and run your HVAC’s fan on circulate for a bit to help move the air through your new filter before you turn on your heater.
Replace your air filters regularly.
Regularly switching out your air filters is one of the best and easiest ways to keep the air inside your home clear of pollutants and allergens. If you have a standard 1-2” filter, we recommend swapping it out every 30 to 60 days—during allergy season, you might want to err on the more frequent side. This will help prevent dust, pollen, and dander build-up in your air ducts, keeping your air clearer and healthier to breathe all season long.
Get your HVAC system serviced.
One of the best ways you can keep the air inside your home clear is by having certified technicians come and service your HVAC system. At Appel, our technicians thoroughly inspect and clean every part of your heating equipment to make sure everything is running properly and that you won’t have any lingering dust or dirt be blown throughout your home when you finally turn on the furnace.
Maintain healthy humidity levels indoors.
The ideal humidity in your home is around 30–50%. If the humidity is regularly above that threshold, it could lead to mold growth, which can be irritating for those who suffer from allergies. Running your air conditioner is one way to decrease the humidity levels in your home. If there’s one room that seems particularly susceptible to higher humidity levels, you can also invest in a portable dehumidifier—if your whole home feels consistently muggy, though, you may want to consider investing in a whole-house dehumidifier.
Use air purifiers for extra support.
For an extra boost during those peak pollen days, consider investing in a portable air purifier, which helps filter out the allergens from the air in one room or general area of your home. If your household’s allergy symptoms are intense enough that you need additional filtration support throughout your entire home, you can also invest in a whole-home air purifier, which connects to your HVAC system to provide air filtration for every room.
Allergies can be uncomfortable to deal with, but they don’t need to follow you inside this fall. Use these tips to keep the air inside your home fresher and freer from pollen, mold, dust, and dander, and be sure to use your HVAC system to your advantage to keep your household breathing easier. From regular maintenance service to purchasing and installing whole-home dehumidifiers or air purifiers, we’re here to help your HVAC best support you this fall—give us a call today!