The weather is beginning to warm up here in Western North Carolina, although we can still expect occasional cold spells throughout the rest of March and even into April. But the trend toward hotter temperatures will continue until the peak of summerb and this early stage of warmer weather means itb s also allergy season!
The Causes of Allergy Season
b Allergy seasonb has no specific set of dates. It can start as early as the end of winter, or it might happen in April. It lasts until around early summer. The increase in allergies is tied to the change in the weather from winter to spring. As the temperatures start to rise, plants begin to pollinate. This pollen is one of the prime sources of allergy attacks. If the spring is especially rainy, it will further add to the allergens in the air because of the rise in mold growth. Mold problems can last through the entire summer and into the fall. Even though the rain can wash away pollen, the pollen count tends to spike right after the rainfall.
There are many different plants that create allergy problems as they pollinate. Ragweed is the major problem for us on the East Coast. There are many other types of plants that trigger allergies, including mugwort, thistle, and cocklebur.
Decreasing Allergies with IAQ Solutions
You can take many roads to lower allergy problems during the season, such as medical treatments recommended by an allergist. But your local HVAC specialist can provide you with methods to reduce the allergens circulating through your house. There are a couple of different options available for allergen control, and itb s best if you allow professionals to find out which ones are the best fit for your house.
- Air filters: This is the standard method of removing contaminants from the air moving through a homeb s ventilation system. Air filters use fiber mesh to trap particles, and are effective at stopping allergy triggers such as pollen and dander. The more powerful the filter, however, the more restriction it puts on airflow, and this can be a problem.
- Air purifiers: Electronic air purifiers are an effective way to remove the smaller particles that can slip through filters. Purifiers work through a variety of methods, such as the ionization of particles or oxidization.
- UV germicidal lights: Dealing with mold spores can be especially challenging for a house, and a method we recommend when mold is a major source of allergens (and other problems) is to have UV germicidal lights installed. These lights use kill ultraviolet radiation to kill organic contaminants. This is a clean method that doesnb t place chemicals into the air.
To learn more about improving your indoor air quality in Arden, NC and elsewhere in Western North Carolina, reach out to our experienced team. We provide numerous installations that help with removing allergens as well as other pollutants, and we work with dehumidifiers as well, which are a great help with comfort during humid spring and summer weather and prevent mold growth.
Comfort Central, Inc. is here to serve your heating, cooling, and indoor environmental needs.