4 Springtime Allergens and How to Handle Them

Spring in Peachtree City, Georgia, brings beautiful blooms and warming temperatures, but it also welcomes a wealth of allergens into the air. If you have family members who are sensitive to these irritants, spring can be a particularly frustrating time. Identifying the biggest allergy triggers can help you take a proactive approach to managing them for cleaner, healthier air.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are a common allergen year-round, but you may find that you’re stirring them up more than usual if you engage in traditional spring cleaning activities. If you’re sensitive to dust, vacuuming, dusting, and laundry can all be uncomfortable chores. Set your thermostat’s fan setting to “on” while you’re cleaning so it’s continuously pulling air through the filter and capturing some of the dust you’ve kicked up.

If you only lauder dusty drapes and comforters a few times a year, you might find that you’ll get some relief from dust-related allergies if you increase the frequency of these chores. Place allergen-proof covers on pillow and mattresses to prevent dust mites from settling within, and wash sheets at least once a week. In your closet, keep out-of-season clothes and other stored items in sealed containers so they’re not collecting dust in the off-season. These simple measures will go a long way toward keeping dust at bay.

Dander

Dander is another common allergen kicked up with spring cleaning. These tiny particles from both pets and people are very irritating for some allergy sufferers. The cleaning tasks mentioned above will also help with dander, which is likely to settle in many of the same places as dust mites.

You can also help keep dander and other allergens under control with regular HVAC maintenance. These irritants circulate regularly through your air conditioning and heating system, reentering the air if they’re not captured by your air filter. If you have allergy sufferers in your home, change your air filter once a month to minimize allergens in the air. Schedule annual HVAC maintenance with our NATE-certified technicians for a more thorough cleaning that will keep your system in prime condition.

Pollen

Pollen is a particularly troublesome allergen in spring. Though you’ll deal with some measure of pollen year-round in Georgia, this season brings more blossoms into the air — and a host of allergy triggers with them. Stop pollen at the door by having friends and family remove shoes and jackets as soon as they come in. Keep these in a mudroom or other designated space that you can clean with more frequency. This will stop some irritants from coming all the way into the home.

Head outside and inspect the outdoor unit of your HVAC system, as this is the part that’s exposed to pollen the most. Make sure grass, weeds, and flowers are cut back from the unit for at least three feet in all directions so it’s not pulling pollen and other debris inside. You can also rinse the unit off with a garden hose. These simple maintenance tasks will complement your professional maintenance nicely for a fresh, clean system.

Mold

Damp spring weather creates the ideal environment for mold and mildew. Running your air conditioner in warm weather will naturally lower the humidity levels in your home to help you keep them within a manageable range. Cool air holds less moisture than warm air, so simply maintaining the right temperatures will go a long way toward keeping your home comfortable and allergen-free.

Stay vigilant about watching for signs of microbial growth. Clean up any visible growth immediately and take steps to reduce moisture in that area. Use the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms to clear humidity after activities like cooking or showering. Enhancing your filtration with indoor air quality tools like CleanEffects or Perfect Fit filters will also help capture mold spores and stop these growths.

If you’re struggling with spring allergens in your home, we have an assortment of indoor air quality products and services that can help. Contact Trinity Air at (770) 691-5394 to learn more about how you can reduce your allergy symptoms and get cleaner, healthier air.

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