The autumn months are a popular time for cozy sweaters, stunning leaf displays, hot cider and pumpkin spice. Unfortunately, this season can also bring some troublesome triggers for asthma sufferers. Learn how to best handle allergens and irritants in your Hampton, South Carolina, home. These tips can help you keep the air in your home clean this autumn so asthma sufferers can stay comfortable and healthy:
Know the Asthma Triggers
The autumn months bring a wide range of asthma triggers that can cause flare-ups. Understanding what you’re up against can help you identify problematic situations and avoid common triggers around your home. Some top autumn allergens include:
- Ragweed: Ragweed is a common problem in fall, particularly during the daytime hours. Avoid heading outdoors between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M. when ragweed is at its worst.
- Leaves: Leaves commonly harbor spores, dust and pollen. This is particularly problematic in large leaf piles. If you rake leaves or walk through leaf piles, shake out your outer layer of clothing before entering the house.
- Fires: Smoke is a major asthma trigger, making those cozy autumn fires disappointingly treacherous. Avoid campfires and fireplace fires at home if you have asthma sufferers in your house. If you do use the fireplace, make sure the chimney is clean and flue is open.
- Cold air: Easily overlooked, cold air is an asthma trigger that you have to deal with in autumn. As outdoor temperatures fall, asthma sufferers may notice painful constriction in their lungs from the chill. Make sure your heater is working efficiently so you don’t have to deal with uncomfortable temperatures inside your home.
Leave Problems at the Door
Set up a catch-all area near your door where you can deposit shoes, jackets, hoodies, hats and scarves as soon as you come inside. As a result, you’ll keep many allergens confined to your entryway. Clean this area often. Launder outerwear regularly, and scrub dirt from shoes. Sweep and mop frequently to remove the accumulated irritants around the door.
Schedule Heater Maintenance
Schedule heater maintenance in early autumn before you have to rely on your heating system for regular comfort. As part of our tune-up, we change your air filter and thoroughly clean your furnace. Regular maintenance won’t only improve your system’s efficiency. It’ll also help you enjoy cleaner air in your home.
Upgrade Your Air Filtration
A standard HVAC air filter can remove some allergens and irritants from the air. But it may not capture the smaller ones. Consider upgrading to a more specialized filter for better indoor air quality. The Trane Perfect Fit reusable air filter captures more allergens and irritants than a traditional air filter. The Trane CleanEffects Air Cleaner removes up to 99.98% of airborne allergens.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to enhance filtration in your home, contact our service technicians. We can evaluate your current air filter and help you choose an upgrade that’ll give you cleaner, fresher air. As a result, you’ll help reduce asthma symptoms this fall.
Add Whole-Home Ventilation
Mechanical ventilation systematically removes stale air from the home and brings in fresh, preconditioned air from outside. This is especially important in well-sealed homes where your insulation, weatherstripping and sealing keeps air inside. While these measures improve your heating and cooling efficiency, they’re not ideal for fresh air. Fortunately, a ventilator can solve the problem.
We carry the Trane FreshEffects Energy Recovery Ventilator to help you remove asthma triggers from your house. A ventilator will also decrease odors for a noticeably fresher atmosphere in the home. Installed as part of your HVAC system, this is a whole-home enhancement that’ll deliver healthier air to every room.
If you have asthma sufferers in your home, it’s important to actively combat the irritants that can cause flare-ups. To learn more about improving indoor air quality in your home, contact Coastal Air Technologies, Inc. at (803) 914-0900. We’ll work with you to evaluate your needs and help you select the best system for your home.
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