Spring is here! With the Vernal Equinox comes the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and for millions of Americans, it means a battle against pollen and other allergens is about to begin. If you’re one of those millions of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, there are some steps you can take to keep the air in and around your house clean and reduced of those annoying airborne particles.
Let’s take a look at how you can prepare for allergy season.
Spring Cleaning
A great start to keeping seasonal allergies at bay is to do some deep spring cleaning. The winter months may mean less pollen and dust than we’re used to in the spring and summer months, but there can certainly be a rather large accumulation of allergens over the winter.
Start with a deep spring cleaning to help keep your house from accumulating more allergens. Deeply vacuum your rugs and furniture, dust and clean your baseboards and trim, and make sure those dust bunnies that have been hibernating underneath your furniture are eradicated. By eliminating these common household allergens, you stand a fighting chance when the flowers, trees, and weeds start to bloom and pollinate as the weather warms.
Service Your HVAC System
Your HVAC system is the primary source of allergen flow in your home, so it stands to reason that you would have a qualified HVAC technician perform a service of your system. HVAC systems are notorious hotbeds for dust, mold, and other airborne allergens and should be cleaned once per year.
An HVAC technician can diagnose your system for both air quality issues as well as efficiency issues, which may save you both money and sneezes throughout the year. Ask your technician to clean your air handler or furnace, treat your evaporator coil, and even clean the ductwork if it hasn’t been done in a while.
Add Filtration Systems
Along those lines, consider adding air purification systems to your home. Air purification devices come in all shapes and colors, but you’ll want something with HEPA filtration to eliminate any possible allergens. These systems can be very affordable for specific rooms, and many can run all day without issue.
If you are interested in a whole-home filtration system, then consider talking to your HVAC professional for recommendations. Most manufacturers make a whole-home filtration system, with many of them filtering 99% or more of allergens, viruses, and bacteria from your air. These devices can be somewhat expensive, but often are the best option for keeping your entire home’s air clean and free from allergens.
Maintain Your Property
Often, keeping your property clean, manicured, and free of debris, weeds, and other allergen centers can drastically improve your indoor air quality. By maintaining your property and keeping blooming lawn plants, including their flowers, under control, you reduce the likeliness of these allergens entering your home.
To do so, consider mowing your lawn more frequently, weed eat and eliminate to keep weed and yard growth more under control, and keep lawn debris at a minimum. Accumulations of lawn debris or even compost piles can be sources of mold and allergens, so try to maintain these areas to keep the allergy bugs away.
Buy the Home of Your Dreams
If you’re only dreaming of a home with a lawn to maintain (and home to sneeze in), then get in touch with the loan experts at Tidewater Mortgage Services, Inc. For over 20 years, Tidewater has helped homebuyers find the right mortgage solutions to purchase their dream homes. Apply today and get pre-qualified in as little as 24 hours!
