Fighting Winter Allergies In Your Home | Kitchener ON

It’s a fact of life that allergens are found almost everywhere you go. There are some areas, however, that are especially allergy-inducing – and North Texas is one of them.  In fact, Dallas actually landed at No. 19 on the 2021 “Allergy Capitals” report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

Max Air Conditioning & Heating will be going over common fall and winter allergies in North Texas, as well as how to improve your indoor air quality to help you combat these allergies year-round. 

All About Allergies

North Texas has a variety of allergens that come and go based on the season. Here are some of the most common you can expect this winter: 

• Ragweed: This weed can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains year-round. The Dallas Fort-Worth area has been ranked as one of the top 5 worst places for ragweed allergies. 

• Mold: Present both indoors and outdoors, mold is known to increase around late winter to early spring, especially during periods of high moisture levels. While indoor air is usually drier during the winter, if your home is experiencing leaks or poor ventilation, this could lead to mold growth due to excess humidity.

• Cedar Tree Pollen: As its name suggests, this weed is found in Cedar Trees. Not many weeds pollinate and bloom during the winter months, but this one does. This weed is very common in North Texas and you can expect it to pollinate after a cold front.

Common Allergy Symptoms

• Itchy eyes/nose/throat
• Watery discharge from the nose
• Stuffy nose
• Ear infection
• Stuffed sinuses
• Headaches
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Wheezing

How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

If outdoor allergens levels are severe, there’s a good chance indoor allergen levels are high as well. In fact, according to the AAFA, indoor air quality can actually be worse than outdoor air quality!

Follow these steps to boost your home’s indoor air quality and keep allergies at bay:

Change Your Filters

The air filters in your air conditioning system are responsible for filtering out allergens that circulate through the home and lower indoor air quality. If your air filters are clogged, then air can’t pass through them as easily. To ensure your system is cleaning your air as efficiently as possible, be certain to change your filters at least every 3 months.

Keep Your Home Clean

While your air filters will catch allergens already circulating in your air, it won’t do much for what’s settled onto the surfaces of your home. Taking the time to vacuum these areas such as carpets, rugs, drapes and bedding, will help prevent dust and other dander from being kicked back into the air over time.

Keep Air Circulating

During the winter, we all rush to seal off our homes from the cold air. While this certainly keeps your home warmer, it leads to much less air circulation, which means allergens stay trapped within your home and start to accumulate over the season. After thoroughly cleaning your home, turn on your ceiling and vent fans to keep air circulating, and every so often, open the windows a bit and let in some fresh air. 

Air Quality Testing

If you’re looking for a more precise and accurate air quality diagnosis, then consider scheduling an indoor air quality test. This test will identify what allergens are found in your home, and at what levels. Once you know which allergens you’re dealing with, you’ll be able to choose the most effective methods to get rid of them!

Contact Max Air

Maintaining high indoor air quality has many benefits – not just for your comfort but your health as well. Max Air offers indoor air quality services that keep your workers, customers or family safe from airborne allergens and pollutants. Contact us to learn how to improve and optimize your home or business’s indoor air quality today!