According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, approximately 40 million individuals in the U.S. suffer from allergies. And for many of them, they battle air pollution outside their homes on a daily basis. But unbeknownst to some of them – perhaps even you – they might also be fighting air pollution right in their own homes.
Fortunately, you can turn your home into an allergy-free sanctuary with some practical modifications.
What Could Be Polluting Your Home?
To turn your house into an allergy-free zone, you need to find out what could be polluting it. Plenty of individuals who suffer from allergies are usually exposed to pollen from outdoors, pet dander, mildew, and mold inside the home.
Other usually suspects include building materials, tobacco, wood, coal, gas, oil, and kerosene products as well as furnishings like damp carpets, insulation that contains asbestos, lead paints, and cleaning chemicals.
Once you’ve narrowed down what could be causing your allergies, you can take the necessary steps to eliminate them.
Consider Purchasing an Air Cleaner
Air cleaners basically “clean” the air inside your home. The AHAM or Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers has developed a rating system for air cleaners known as the CADR or Clean Air Delivery Rate.
So when shopping around for air cleaners, look for the AHAM seal that displays three numbers that represent smoke, dust and pollen. Basically, higher numbers are better because it means that the device is capable of cleaning the air faster.
Before purchasing, make sure to get the dimensions of the room you’re placing the device in to ensure that the air cleaner you’re buying is appropriate to the size of the room. Essentially, get a device with a higher rating if the room is large or has high ceilings.
Other Things to Do Banish Air Pollution Inside Your Home
Upgrade the filter of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to a HEPA or high-efficiency particulate air filter. Ask your local air conditioning technician in Utah for the most appropriate type for your system.
All high-quality HEPA filters have MERVs or Minimum Efficiency Rating Values. Basically, the most efficient ones are those with higher ratings. Experts recommend a minimum of MERV 8 for most houses, but a MERV 12 is best because this rating means that the filter is 95% efficient in getting rid of allergens.
You should likewise consider placing a dehumidifier in rooms susceptible to dampness and humidity to prevent the growth of mold. Also, make sure that your bathrooms are adequately ventilated, and that you clean off visible mold and mildew that have accumulated on bathrooms fixtures, the shower, walls, etc.
If you or anyone in your household smokes inside the house, stop – consider quitting smoking altogether. Likewise, let fresh air inside your home whenever possible. Open all windows and move indoor pollutants out with the use of fans, especially to get rid of fumes from cooking.
Follow the guidelines mentioned above, and you’ll be having less allergic reactions in no time at all. If these don’t work, you might need to work with an allergist to create a more comprehensive allergy management plan.
