Suffering from spring allergies with the New Jersey “Pollen Tsunami?” Your initial instinct may be to stay inside, but what if your indoor air quality is actually worse than the outdoor air quality?
Whether you call it seasonal allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, hay fever or just plain misery, the spring and fall in the Garden State can be tough. Tree, grass and weed pollens become airborne and cause a plethora of uncomfortable symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, coughing, wheezing and itchiness in your eyes. But controlling the air quality in your home, office and car can reduce allergy and asthma symptoms.
Even on days that the pollen counts are at their highest, it is possible to find allergic relief by taking a few simple steps:
1. Remove your shoes. Leave your shoes at the door when you arrive home to lessen the amount of pollen you track into the house. Check the pollen count to plan your day and remember to vacuum once or twice a week for allergy relief.
2. Wash up at night. Shampoo your head before bed to remove the pollen that may have collected on your hair during the day so it won’t rub off on your pillow.
3. Keep the pollen out. Open windows can be refreshing, but they let the pollen inside. Close your windows and turn on the air conditioner. Also, keep the windows closed in your car – especially on high pollen days and flip on the AC.
4. Change HVAC filters. When you’re using the right air filter, these particles stay trapped, leading to less pollen, smoke, dander, dust and other particles floating around in the air of your home. Not only will changing your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning filters help eliminate allergens from your home, but it will improve the lifespan of your HVAC system. Change your air filter regularly to improve the air quality for your family.
5. Aim for a humidity level of less than 60%. According to the American Lung Association, the most effective ways to control humidity and remove excess moisture and pollution levels from your home, apart from source control, are the ventilation and filtration of circulating air. Turning on your air conditioner can help with that.
Service Your Air Conditioner Regularly
Keeping a cleaner home and giving regular attention to your air conditioning system can improve your home’s indoor air quality making it a more comfortable living space in an uncomfortable time of year for many in New Jersey. Routine AC maintenance service is a key component to ensure air pollutants are not building up on your air conditioning system. For more information about how to treat your allergies with HVAC services, contact us today.