Given the year-round growing season in the Yuma area, allergies are common, especially in the spring, summer and fall. Besides the constant exposure to tree, grasses and weed pollen, there may be other allergens in your home that increase your discomfort.
The most common triggers in this region besides pollen include dust mites, pet dander and mold spores. The best way to start eliminating the causes of allergic reactions is to identify them through medical tests or through the process of elimination.
What to Do About Them
Besides taking antihistamines, you reduce your discomfort by tackling projects around your home, like:
- Filtering and treating the air.
- Eliminating their sources.
- Cleaning the home.
Air Quality Management
Since most allergic reactions occur with airborne particulates, it’s possible to reduce the particle load by using air filters for your HVAC system. Choosing an air filter for your cooling system that traps the particles to which you’re allergic will lower the amount in the air. You can also use a whole-house air filtration system that attaches to your HVAC equipment.
Ultraviolet (UV) lights can alleviate allergies to pollen and mold. When placed in the air handler or ductwork, they alter the composition of mold spores and pollen that makes them less irritating.
Source Elimination
Instead of removing the citrus trees and flowering plants from your yard, look instead to rye and Bermuda grass, weeds, and trees like olive, mulberry and willows. Removing them will lower the pollen load.
Cleaning the House
Dust mites thrive in homes with carpeted floors, upholstered furniture and heavy drapes. Changing your bedding weekly and vacuuming floors, furniture and drapes with a HEPA filter bag often will reduce their populations and eventually their waste products. Replacing carpeting with hard-surface flooring lowers allergens indoors, as long as you vacuum them instead of sweeping, which does little to lower their concentrations.
Airborne allergies can be managed indoors by using your HVAC system, and making changes inside and outside of your home. To learn more about making improvements to increase comfort, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company, providing HVAC services for Yuma-area homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
