According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 24 million Americans suffer from fall allergies. However, that staggering figure doesn’t include the number of people who are allergic to commonly found substances in the home. Many people suffering allergies take medications to treat their symptoms, but many medications cause unpleasant side effects. So, how can millions of allergy sufferers find relief without suffering the side effects of medications? When you learn what causes fall allergies in your Eastern North Carolina home, you can learn how to best defend against them using your HVAC system.
What Causes Fall Allergies?
An allergy is a damaging response by the body’s immune system to a substance. Any substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Allergens are found practically everywhere, including inside your home. Allergens may originate in your home or be carried in via air, people, or pets.
Common allergens found in homes are mold spores, bacteria, pollen, fabrics, dust mites, bugs, pet dander, pet hair, cleaners, and house plants. There’s also dust, though, dust is actually a mixture of many or all of the preceding allergens (except for house plants). When any of these allergens come into contact with an allergy sufferer, an allergic reaction — such as itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, rashes, and difficulty breathing — occurs. This is what causes fall allergies.
Allergy Relief Through HVAC
Allergens in your home are going to be located in the air or on surfaces. Good cleaning practices can remove allergens found on surfaces. To remove airborne allergens from your home, it’s wise to use HVAC accessories that either capture allergens or prevent their proliferation by controlling indoor humidity. The following accessories may vastly improve indoor air quality in your home.
- The iWave air purifier is a whole-home air-purification device installed in the HVAC system which can remove 99.4% of airborne allergens and viruses in only 30 minutes.
- Whole-home dehumidifiers maintain indoor humidity at optimal levels, which helps inhibit mold growth.
For more on what causes fall allergies and how to utilize your HVAC system to reduce allergens in your Eastern North Carolina home, contact the HVAC pros at Jackson & Sons.