Allergy Season Dos and Don'ts

 

It's that time of year again! You're outside enjoying the fresh air, or inside taking in the warm sun, when you start to sneeze uncontrollably. Your eyes are watering, and your nose is running like a faucet. You have just been struck with an allergy attack, but it doesn't have to be this way.

With these dos and don'ts, you can survive allergy season in one piece:

 

Don’ts:

• Avoid outdoor activities during the day when pollen counts are high.
• Don't assume all pollen is the same. Some people are more sensitive to certain types of pollen than others. Find out what kind of pollen affects you the most to know when it's time to take precautions.
• Try not to leave your windows open all day or night to avoid allergens entering the house.
• Don't go outside without your allergy medication.
• Try not to exercise outdoors in the morning or evening when pollen levels are highest.

Dos:

• Use a humidifier to keep your home's humidity levels at 40% or below, as high humidity can exacerbate allergy symptoms such as sinusitis, congestion, sneezing, and coughing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water to reduce the number of allergens that can make you sick.
• Make sure to change your air filters often so that allergens are not released into the air.
• Change your bedding often so that dust mites don't have time to build up and spread their allergens around the house.
• Remember that it's not just the outdoors that you need to worry about! Dust, pollen, and other allergens can build up in your air ducts and make the inside of your home unhealthy.

Why Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned This Allergy Season?

Why get your air ducts cleaned? Because they get dirty! In addition to normal accumulations of dust and dirt found in all homes through regular use, several other factors can increase the need for air duct cleaning:

• Pets
• Occupants with allergies or asthma
• Cigarette or cigar smoke
• Water contamination or damage to the HVAC system
• Home renovation or remodeling projects

Some occupants are more sensitive to these contaminants than others. Allergy and asthma sufferers, young children, and the elderly tend to be more susceptible to poor indoor air quality, which air duct cleanings can help address.

Get in Touch With us For All Your Air Duct Cleaning Needs

Getting your home and business ready for winter weather and protecting your heating can be time-consuming tasks, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and water damage.

The Real Reason You Suffer from Indoor Allergies

Most people welcome spring with open arms, but if you suffer from allergies, this season can be a nightmare. Many of us seek shelter in the sanctuary of our homes, but sometimes even that isn't enough.

But why? There are no trees or flowers spreading pollen around your living room, yet you still can't escape the constant sneezing and sniffling.

If you can't seem to shake your allergies, your air ducts may be to blame.

An afterthought for most homeowners, air ducts are a common hiding place for many allergens such as pet dander, dust, pollen, and mold. These contaminants can enter your air ducts in a variety of ways.

• Take dust for example: the average three-bedroom home generates over 40 pounds of dust per year through everyday activities. Much of this can get sucked into your vents and collect in your ducts.
• Pollen, on the other hand, commonly enters through your fresh air intake.
• Pet dander can be found in abundance in air ducts. Even if you don't have pets, dander could still be present from a previous homeowner.
• Mold can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present. The inside of air ducts are often wet with condensation due to the cold air passing through them. The dust provides food for the mold, and the dark environment is the perfect climate for it to thrive.

No matter how the pollutants get in your ducts, they can use them as a transportation system to spread throughout your entire home. This could be the reason you experience your outdoor allergy symptoms, even when you are inside.

If you are looking to improve the air quality in your home, experts recommend having your air ducts professionally cleaned every 3-5 years. If you are overdue for a cleaning for your Long Island home, contact the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration at (631) 940-8100.