Year-Round Allergy Symptoms? Fight Back with Our Complete Indoor Allergy Guide

A Complete Guide to fighting Indoor Allergies

Your indoor environment could be the source of an abundance of allergy and asthma triggers, according to the EPA. Do you know what dangers are lurking in your home – and how to reduce your exposure? Knowledge is key to successful asthma and allergy management.

What are Indoor Allergies?

Extremely common, allergies effect an estimated 50 million Americans. And indoor allergies can be hard to pinpoint, because symptoms are often confused with the common cold. Drippy nose, itchy eyes, congestion and wheezing with symptoms that linger for weeks on end are prime indicators. What differentiates this from a cold? Fever, chills, body aches, and yellow/green nasal discharge that clears after a week or two.

What are the Most Common Indoor Allergens?

• Dust Mites
  A common trigger of allergy and asthma symptoms, dust mites are everywhere, consuming human skin flakes and thriving in warm, humid environments like bedding, upholstery and carpeting. Their body remnants and droppings cause a great deal of allergy woes.
• Cockroaches
  Roaches can be found anywhere, and are a big problem in inner-city environments – even in homes that aren’t dirty. The protein in their droppings is a common allergen.
• Pollen
  A variety of pollen can easily be carried into your home on shoes, clothing, and animals. Plants in the home can also produce pollen allergens.
• Mold
  Mold thrives in damp areas (bath, basement, kitchen, laundry). Mold releases tiny, allergen-inducing spores, and in some varieties, potent mycotoxins capable of causing severe reactions/sickness in sensitive individuals.
• Pets
  Because people are allergic to saliva, dander (dead skin flakes) and urine, there are no truly “hypoallergenic” breeds.

How Can I Reduce Indoor Allergies?

Avoiding allergens – or reducing exposure – is the most effective remedy.

• General Cleaning
  • Where a dust mask when you clean.
  • Opt for hard flooring and non-porous, easily washable surfaces, like leather.
  • Dust, and vacuum often with a HEPA filter.
  • Address water/moisture issues promptly (mold, mites, roaches).
  • Use your air conditioner to keep humidity low to guard against mold and dust mites. Dehumidifiers and exhaust fans are also helpful.
  • Change allergy-laden filters often.
  • Talk to your HVAC pro about upgrading to a high efficiency disposable pleated filter with a MERV 8-12, and system compatibility.
  • Clean and disinfect bathrooms, kitchens and basements regularly.
  • Don’t neglect carpet and upholstery. If it can’t be laundered, clean it with products that deactivate/denature dust mites/dander.
• Allergen Specific
  • Dust Mites
    Use allergen-proof fabric covers on mattresses, pillows and box springs. Wash bedding weekly in hot water (130° F) and dry on high heat. Place stuffed animals and a freezer bag, and freeze for 2-4 hours weekly.
  • Cockroaches
    Clean countertop crumbs and dishes regularly, empty the trash, and store food in tightly sealed, hard-sided containers. Contact pest management ASAP for infestations.
  • Pollen
    Leave shoes outside. Shed outerwear, before entry, for the wash. Shower if symptoms persist. Enjoy plants outdoors – leaving them out of the house if allergic.
  • Mold
    Properly ventilate moisture-prone areas via window or exhaust fan, employing a dehumidifier when necessary. Mold loves carpeting – avoid it in these areas.
  • Pets
    Wash hands after petting. Keep pets out of the bedroom, other areas where you spend a lot of time, and keep them outdoors when possible. Ask a non-allergic family member to clean pets weekly, as well as their habitats/belongings.

Do Air Purifiers Really Work for Allergies?

Air purifiers with HEPA filtration with MERV ratings of 17-19 are capable of trapping and removing 99.97-99.999% of particles 0.3 micron and larger from the air, including dust, mold, pollen, viruses, bacteria, and odors. UV light versions further reduce the likelihood of air pollutants, killing bacteria, germs and mold. To ensure a reduction of asthma and allergy symptoms, look for true HEPA filters and systems, not those labeled “HEPA-type” which don’t meet stringent standards. As with all air filters, changing them as recommended is key to preventing the redistribution of allergens throughout the home. Be aware, HEPA filters are not designed to work with residential HVAC systems without modification, and could result in system damage. Before installing a filter with a rating higher than MERV 8, consult your friendly neighborhood air conditioning technician.

Itching to improve the indoor air quality in your home? H&H Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Learn more about indoor air quality systems available from H&H today.

This blog was originally posted at https://www.delcohvac.com/complete-indoor-allergy-guide/.

Avoid Sneezing and Wheezing! We can help with your Indoor Air Quality

A silent enemy, poor IAQ (indoor air quality) can dangerously impact the health of you and your family, from the off-gassing of toxic VOCs to annoying allergens. Luckily, whether you live in an old or new apartment or single family home, there are an array of ways to easily and affordably protect and improve the air in your home.

What Causes Poor IAQ?
A tight building envelope, inadequate ventilation, poor indoor environmental conditions, and more can contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Who’s Most At-Risk?
Seniors, children, and those with disabilities and pre-existing health conditions are most at-risk. Parents and young children who spend most of their time at home are also at increased risk, suffering problems from irritation of the nose, eyes, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, increased incidence of allergy and asthma, and with prolonged or repeated exposure, respiratory diseases, heart disease and even cancer.

How Can You Protect IAQ in Your Home?

• Start with your air filters.
  A must for asthma and allergy sufferers, upgrading your air filter (which needs to be changed regularly) can help reduce harmful airborne particles in your home like viruses, bacteria, mold, pollen, dander, and even toxins from cleaning chemicals. Be sure to contact your friendly HVAC contractor before making the switch, however, as some HEPA filters may strain your system.
• Fight back with UV lights.
  Germicidal or UV lights are extremely effective at eliminating bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms, and are a snap to incorporate into your HVAC equipment.
• Amp-up purification with an air purifier.
  Standalone air purifiers as well as whole house systems that work in conjunction you’re your heating and air conditioning equipment can help remove additional harmful contaminants from the air.
• Keep humidity levels in check.
  Indoor humidity levels are best between 30 and 50 percent, as levels can affect the concentration of some pollutants. Dust mites and mold love moisture. However your body can react negatively to overly-dry conditions, suffering dry eyes, nose, and throat, experiencing skin irritations, and suffering from an increased susceptibility to upper respiratory infections and colds.
• Keep an eye on carbon monoxide.
  Colorless, odorless carbon monoxide from improperly ventilated or poorly maintained combustion appliances or fireplaces can quickly buildup in your home, causing headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, confusion, loss of coordination, and ultimately, unconsciousness and death. Regular annual maintenance and carbon monoxide tests and detectors are essential for safety.
• Stop VOCs at the source.
  Replace off-gassing pressed wood furniture, carpet, cleaning chemicals, air fresheners and synthetic candles with more natural alternatives: Solid wood furniture, natural hard floor surfaces, inexpensive and homemade chemical-free cleaning alternatives, essential oils, and beeswax candles…. Changing your buying habits to create a healthier, happier home.

Ensure clean, healthy air in your home all year round. Find the perfect air purification solution with the help of the EPA certified services of H&H Heating & Air Conditioning today.

This blog was originally posted at https://www.delcohvac.com/sneezing-wheezing-help-with-indoor-air-quality/.

How Many of These Airborne Elements do you Want Out of Your Home?

Today’s families spend 90% of their time indoors, making indoor air quality essential to overall health. Unfortunately, there are many things lurking in the air inside your home, eking away at your immune system and putting your health at risk.

What airborne elements are taking a toll on the health of you and your family?

1. Allergens & particulates
   Feeling under the weather? Dirt, dust, pollen, mold, mildew, and fungi, pet dander, dust mites, cockroach debris, smoke, vehicle exhaust, and more can cause you and your family a glut of issues commonly mistaken for a “cold” – runny nose, sneezing, congestion, nose and throat irritation, coughing and wheezing, and even asthma flare-ups, which may, in fact, be the result of poor indoor air quality in the home.
2. Infectious agents
   Germs, viruses and bacteria like streptococcus, pneumococcus, Legionella, tuberculosis, cold and flu viruses, RSV, and even SARS may be lurking inside your home, being distributed through your air ducts to result in frequent bouts of sinusitis, upper respiratory infections, throat and ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
3. Toxic compounds
   Everyday items in your home, from furniture and appliances to cleaning compounds and pesticides, release an array of toxic gases and odors including formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, methylene chloride, nitrogen dioxide, toluene, benzene, and even mold mycotoxins. Of particular concern in more recently built homes with tight building envelopes, these toxins can buildup to create air quality many times more toxic than outside air, causing significant health effects including depression, headaches, fatigue, blurred vision, memory lapse, and lung dysfunction. Toxins in homes are so common, of the 120 samples taken from homes undergoing an air quality study in New England, ALL tested positive for endocrine disrupting compounds.

Kicking contaminants to the curb
These above elements don’t just take their toll on your body, each of these items equally takes a toll on your heating and air conditioner too, resulting in poor heating and cooling efficiency and dirty air. Amazingly enough, the same system that suffers alongside you can help you mitigate these concerns…

• Improved air filters
  Utilizing a quality air filter – and cleaning or changing it frequently – is one of the best ways to improve the air quality in your home. Not just your average box-store bargain, today’s top-of-the-line air filters boast technology that offers unrivaled cleaning power and great bang for the buck.
• Air purification systems
  Installed in conjunction with your HVAC system, air purification systems can cleanse air throughout your home, instead of a single room as with standalone units, quickly and efficiently reducing bacteria, germs, mold and odors.
• UV (germicidal) lights
  Incorporated into your HVAC system’s ductwork (or as standalone systems), UV lights can help control illness-inducing bacteria and microorganisms, offering a great line of defense for your immune system.
• Dehumidifiers
  Dehumidifiers work wonders for controlling mold, mildew, and even dust mites, as well as asthma symptoms, and can even help protect the structure and contents of your home.

Ensure household health and keep allergies at bay. Improve indoor air quality with the expert help of H&H Heating & Air Conditioning. Contact us to learn more about our indoor air quality systems today.