Can you have allergies during the fall? You most certainly can! Allergens can hit at any moment. Although spring allergies can be more common, allergies in the fall are a significant problem for lots of people. Here, Epperson Service Experts strives to help you learn more about and better manage fall allergies. Sadly, the solution isn’t as simple as staying clear of the pollen-filled world surrounding your home. Fall allergy season finds different ways into your home. By determining what triggers fall allergies, you can fully understand the best ways to minimize them.
How to Identify Fall Allergy Symptoms
Determining your fall allergy symptoms can be trickier than it may seem. The symptoms of seasonal fall allergies are often subtle and mistaken for a mild cold. Coughing, sneezing and sinusitis are typical symptoms that appear in both fall allergies and the common cold. A doctor is always the most dependable source for confirming allergies. However, some common symptoms of fall allergies and sinusitis include:
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Headache
- Fatigue or tiredness
What Produces Fall Allergies?
When looking into what causes fall allergies in your exact case, there are various potential culprits. Dust mites and allergens can build up in countless places inside your home. Most of these sources of seasonal fall allergies can be minimized with professional air quality services such as those supplied by Epperson Service Experts. Having said that, the most likely sources of indoor fall allergies include:
- Airborne pollen
- Mold
- Dust mites
- Pets
- Wall-to-wall carpet
- Damp areas
- Indoor plants
- Stuffed toys
- Mattresses and other soft furniture
- Debris accumulation inside your air ducts
Remedies for Seasonal Fall Allergies
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that homeowners managing fall allergies can enhance their air quality in three ways. First, you should limit your exposure to airborne allergens inside your home. This involves installing a whole-house dehumidifier, ductwork cleaning and stopping your home from getting too warm. Second, you need to ventilate your house, ensuring that airborne contaminants don't accumulate in stagnant air. Third, you should consider installing an air cleaner to clear allergens from the air. Learn more about these solutions below.
Manage Your Home’s Humidity with a Whole-House Dehumidifier
When the air in your home is different from the EPA’s recommended humidity levels (30%-40% humidity), it encourages a perfect environment for mold, dust mites and numerous other sources of allergic reactions. With a whole-house dehumidifier, you have accurate control over the humidity levels across your entire home. These modern dehumidifiers permit you to control the humidity of your home within 1% of the preferred levels, removing the conditions for excess mold, dust mites, fungi, bacteria and other contaminants.
Keep Your Air Clear With Ultraviolet Germicidal Lights
Ultraviolet germicidal lights purify the air in your home before it moves from room to room. As the air flows out of your HVAC unit and enters the air ducts, it passes through a powerful ultraviolet light that deactivates contaminants before they can disperse. This system resolves the question, “What is the best air purifier for allergies?” This system will quickly make your air considerably cleaner. UV lights have been known to eradicate half of the concentrated bioaerosols within their first 45 minutes of use.
Eliminate Contaminants with HEPA Air Filters
When you need a top-of-the-line air filter, you need a HEPA air filter that can remove 99.97% of the pollutants in the air. Because of their specific design, these filters collect the most common sources of fall allergies from their air, like ragweed, pollen and dust mites. HEPA air filters also capture contaminants including:
- Tobacco smoke
- Dirt particles
- Pollen
- Ragweed
- Dust mites
- Various odors and airborne chemicals
Regularly Clean Your HVAC System’s Air Ducts
Traditionally, HVAC systems have not always done well with removing contaminants from the air. This means that debris routinely flows through ductwork for a very long time. Over time, a portion of that debris will pile up inside your ductwork. This is why some people suggest Epperson Service Experts and our duct cleaning services before turning on the heat for the first time in the fall. Taking care of this early in the season can minimize one of the most substantial sources of airborne contaminants inside your home.
The 10 Cities in the United States With the Most Severe Fall Allergy Seasons
Most of the time, your location has a significant impact on the extent of your fall allergy symptoms. Fall allergies are understood to be worse in certain areas of the country than others. For instance, ragweed (one of the most widespread sources of allergy-inducing pollen) is more common in the country’s eastern region along with the Midwest. Nonetheless, allergies can remain a significant problem regardless of where you live. Here are the 10 toughest cities for those managing seasonal allergies.
Getting Assistance From Epperson Service Experts
As you have now seen, the most comprehensive remedy for dust mites and fall allergies involves an all-out assault on the pollutants and other debris in the air within your home. Each home will require a focused approach suited for that home’s unique makeup and layout. With air quality professionals all over the United States, Epperson Service Experts can offer support in almost every part of the country. If you'd like one of our indoor air quality experts to help eliminate as many allergens as possible, call or fill out a contact form when you're ready to start.