May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, and this May is making it all too clear why the month was singled out for dubious recognition. The extreme snowfall of the past winter combined with several weeks of very warm weather has created the perfect storm of pollen for seasonal allergy sufferers. Experts say that this year will be exceptionally difficult for the 40 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies.
We all know that exercising outdoors can make our allergies worse, but many people do not realize that indoor air quality can be even more problematic. According to Mike Tringale, the Vice President of External Affairs at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, "A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the air inside our homes can contain more allergens and pollutants than the air outside."
So how do we ensure that our homes are safe havens where we can breathe easy? The EPA recommends three strategies for reducing indoor air pollution:
1. Controlling sources of pollution
2. Ventilating adequately
3. Cleaning indoor air
Let's look at the different options and products available for each of the recommendations:
Mold - In warmer months, eliminate sources of moisture or humidity to prevent mold growth. Mold spores are one of the most common, and most dangerous, indoor allergens. The Allergy Relief Center recommends that homes should have less than 40% humidity to deter the growth of mold. Making sure your Central Air Conditioning system or HVAC is properly running is the first step. If you still encounter problems, a central dehumidifier might be an option. The professionals at BAIR Necessities can help you decide on the right solution for your home.
Pollen - Make sure pollen does not enter inside your house. Never wear your outdoor shoes inside, and change your clothes and wash your hair if you have been outside for a longer period of time. Put dirty laundry into a sealed container or hamper and wipe off your pets with a damp rag before they come into your house.
Other allergens - Develop a weekly cleaning regime to attack pollen, dust mites, and other allergens. Damp-mop wood or hard flooring and vacuum carpets. Use a vacuum cleaner with a small-particle or a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and change the filter frequently. Use a damp cloth to clean tops of doors, windowsills and window frames. If you have severe allergies, wear a dust mask while cleaning.
During non-pollen season, it is a good idea to open your windows periodically to completely ventilate your home. Our modern homes are well insulated, trapping the toxic gases that seep from the chemicals used in paint, carpets, furniture, mattresses, sheetrock or drywall, treated wood used in construction, etc. In pollen season, however, it is unwise for allergy sufferers to open their windows. How then, to keep our homes properly ventilated?
There are many different products available to help your home circulate and ventilate its air. Again, a good Central Air Conditioning or HVAC system is your first line of defense. A second option, especially for allergy sufferers or those who live in new homes where there is a higher danger of toxins being leaked from new building materials, is to install a mechanized ventilation system. BAIR Necessities only uses the finest quality ventilation systems from AprilAire.
We all know that exercising outdoors can make our allergies worse, but many people do not realize that indoor air quality can be even more problematic. According to Mike Tringale, the Vice President of External Affairs at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, "A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the air inside our homes can contain more allergens and pollutants than the air outside."
So how do we ensure that our homes are safe havens where we can breathe easy? The EPA recommends three strategies for reducing indoor air pollution:
1. Controlling sources of pollution
2. Ventilating adequately
3. Cleaning indoor air
Let's look at the different options and products available for each of the recommendations:
Mold - In warmer months, eliminate sources of moisture or humidity to prevent mold growth. Mold spores are one of the most common, and most dangerous, indoor allergens. The Allergy Relief Center recommends that homes should have less than 40% humidity to deter the growth of mold. Making sure your Central Air Conditioning system or HVAC is properly running is the first step. If you still encounter problems, a central dehumidifier might be an option. The professionals at BAIR Necessities can help you decide on the right solution for your home.
Pollen - Make sure pollen does not enter inside your house. Never wear your outdoor shoes inside, and change your clothes and wash your hair if you have been outside for a longer period of time. Put dirty laundry into a sealed container or hamper and wipe off your pets with a damp rag before they come into your house.
Other allergens - Develop a weekly cleaning regime to attack pollen, dust mites, and other allergens. Damp-mop wood or hard flooring and vacuum carpets. Use a vacuum cleaner with a small-particle or a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and change the filter frequently. Use a damp cloth to clean tops of doors, windowsills and window frames. If you have severe allergies, wear a dust mask while cleaning.
During non-pollen season, it is a good idea to open your windows periodically to completely ventilate your home. Our modern homes are well insulated, trapping the toxic gases that seep from the chemicals used in paint, carpets, furniture, mattresses, sheetrock or drywall, treated wood used in construction, etc. In pollen season, however, it is unwise for allergy sufferers to open their windows. How then, to keep our homes properly ventilated?
There are many different products available to help your home circulate and ventilate its air. Again, a good Central Air Conditioning or HVAC system is your first line of defense. A second option, especially for allergy sufferers or those who live in new homes where there is a higher danger of toxins being leaked from new building materials, is to install a mechanized ventilation system. BAIR Necessities only uses the finest quality ventilation systems from AprilAire.
A third option for home with allergy sufferers is to actually clean the air that passes through your home. You can do this by installing an Electric Air Cleaner. An Aprilaire Whole-Home Air Cleaner will make your air as clean as possible by actually removing harmful particulates from the air, allowing you to breathe healthier air. These air cleaners are effective at removing dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, pollen, bacteria and viruses, smoke and more.http://www.allergy-zero.com/
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