Spring is often regarded as allergy season, but many homeowners suffer from allergy symptoms in the fall as well. Allergy-proofing your home can help mitigate allergic reactions and minimize symptoms in you and your family. Below, we’ll discuss the types of fall allergies, how allergens get into your home, and six ways to keep them out.
Types of Fall Allergies
While spring brings excessive pollen from trees, weeds, and grass, autumn can deliver its fair share of allergens as well. Many people are allergic to ragweed, which blooms in the fall and sheds excessive pollen into the air, triggering allergy symptoms.
The cooler weather also means more homeowners will keep their doors and windows closed. Dust naturally accumulates in a closed house, and a furnace firing up can push settled dust out of the vents and into your living space.
Finally, cooler autumn temperatures can trigger mold growth in your home, releasing spores into the air and cause allergy symptoms.
How Allergens Enter Your Home
Allergens like pollen can make their way into your house on shoes and clothes any time you or a family member come in from outside. When your windows or doors open, you invite additional pollen into your home as well. Dust naturally accumulates in your ductwork and throughout your home in any season, but it often gets trapped inside during the colder months.
Allergens are a severe issue in the fall, but homeowners can mitigate their exposure by following these six tips.
1 Keep Your Windows Closed
A simple trick to reduce the pollen inside your home is to keep your windows closed. Everyone enjoys the refreshing autumn air, but open windows can welcome excessive allergens.
2 Change Your Air Filters
If you have a hot air heating system, swap out your old filters for new ones at the beginning of fall. This will ensure that the air circulating in your home is scrubbed clean before you breathe it in.
3 Vacuum Often
Allergens like pollen and dust often fall out of the air and land on your floors, only to be kicked up later and cause symptoms. Vacuuming twice a week will help keep them at bay.
4 Look for Signs of Mold
Mold thrives in cool, dark, damp places, so inspect your home carefully for any signs of mold growth. Check under your sinks, behind your fridge, and in your cabinets. Visual spores and musty odors are reasonable indications that you have mold in your home.
5 Keep Your Lawn Clean
Make sure to rake up any leaves on a regular basis throughout the fall. Leaves can quickly rot and become moldy, which can leave you and your home more susceptible to allergens.
6 Install an Air Purifier
One of the best ways to keep your home clear of allergens is to install a whole-home air purifier. These scrub your air clean and remove the majority of allergens and other contaminants.
