Winter Allergy Relief - Indoor Air Quality Tips

Posted in Air Quality, on January 26, 2018

This winter, keep you and your family comfortable and healthy by paying close attention to the winter allergy relief that high indoor air quality can bring you. Air quality isn’t just about the air we breathe outside and during the winter months especially, those of us in the northern hemisphere spend most of our days indoors, whether at the office or at home. While the winter months do bring with them more frequent occurrences of colds and cases of flu, you can lessen the impact these viruses have on you and give yourself some winter allergy relief by paying attention to your indoor air quality. Just as our natural environment changes throughout the year, so does our indoor air quality, and though allergies are more commonly associated with spring, summer, and fall, winter allergies can be exacerbated by poor indoor air quality.

Is the winter weather making you sick or is it poor air quality?

The first sign that you may have poor indoor air quality is your health - persistent colds or cases of flu or sneezing, itchy eyes, or running noses are all symptoms that something may be off in your indoor environment. Viruses and bacteria can spread and even get stuck in indoor environments without enough frequent ventilation, and existing or new dust, dirt, allergens, VOCs and other such irritants can as well.  Because many of the symptoms of the cold or flu match closely with that of allergies, poor indoor air quality can sometimes be missed as the culprit.

Is your HVAC impacting the air in your home?

Another way to get winter allergy relief is to regularly maintain your HVAC system. All those particles and chemicals that may be affecting your health could be originating from your heating and cooling system, which may be recirculating allergens or adding or removing too much humidity from your home. Too much humidity can cause mold growth, but too little can dry out your eyes, nose, and throat which need moisture to do their job, which is preventing viruses, bacteria, and other unwanted particles from reaching your lungs. The best thing to do for your HVAC system is to replace or clean your air filters and fans regularly to ensure that any built-up allergens are disposed of instead of being reintroduced to your environment.

Cleaning up winter allergies

Winter allergy relief can also come from good old-fashioned cleaning. Regularly sweeping, vacuuming, and cleaning your home helps keep those trapped particles from being stirred up into the air where they can irritate you. Being mindful of the cleaning products you use can also have a huge effect on your indoor air quality and winter allergies. Many products contain harmful chemicals that can irritate your respiratory system and stress already vulnerable systems. Using ‘green’ or unscented products and carefully reading labels can help reduce your exposure to harmful substances. Good health starts with clean air, and being mindful this winter season about how your indoor air quality affects your health can have a huge impact on how you and your family feel. If you have any concerns about your indoor air quality or how it might be best to improve the air in your home, give us a call at SafeAir - we’d be happy to help you find some winter allergy relief this season!