What About the Allergens in Your Ohio Home?

If you suffer from asthma or allergies, your Northeast Ohio home could be aggravating your symptoms. This is because the allergens inside your home, when left unchecked, are often worse than the amount outside. Here’s a quick list of what you should know about common household allergens, and what you can do about them:

• Dust mites. These microscopic insects are the most common allergy and asthma symptom trigger. They thrive in places with high humidity and temperatures, and are often found in your home’s bedding and soft furnishings. To rid yourself of these pests, it’s important to wash your linens in hot water every week, vacuum with a HEPA filter, and, if possible, use a dehumidifier to bring your home humidity down to a level less welcoming to dust mites.
• Mold. Mold spores are a problem for many people with allergies and asthma symptoms. Mold loves damp and dark environments, such as in your basement, laundry room, shower and bathtub. To reduce your interaction with mold and mildew, avoid using basements as a living space and put down tile or linoleum flooring instead of carpet in any area that may get wet or damp. You can clean out existing mold growth with a mixture of water, detergent, and 5 percent bleach. Contact an expert if mold growth in your home spreads over an area greater than 10 square feet.
• Pollen. While this doesn’t seem like an indoor problem, it most definitely can become one if you have a large family and/or pets. People bring in pollen on their clothes and shoes, while pets get it trapped in their fur. You can help reduce how much of these allergens invade your home by wiping your pets down before they come through the door, keeping windows closed, having family members change clothes and shoes before entering, and using an air purifier outfitted with a HEPA filter.

For more information about reducing the allergens in your home, and other HVAC products and solutions, contact your local HVAC experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning, proudly serving homeowners in Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about allergens and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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