Tips For Surviving Allergy Season

Sniff, sniff…achoo! This is the dreaded time of year for seasonal allergies. Those of us who have suffered from allergies know the feeling of wanting to scratch our itchy eyeballs out of their sockets; the misery of a nose that runs like a faucet; and dry and itchy coughing fits that hit us at the worst possible times.

We’ve rounded up a number of tips, many from the Mayo Clinic website, to help you survive allergy season.

We’ve listed one of our favorites first: take your allergy medication before symptoms start! Some of us with milder allergies have had success taking over-the-counter antihistamines with diphenhydramine (such as Benadryl) in the evening–it has a sedative effect to help with sleep, and the antihistamine effect seems to carry over into the next day. But remember, we are HVAC professionals, not doctors, so check with your physician first!

A properly running air conditioning system can do wonders for seasonal allergies as well, by helping to keep pollen out of the air. Check with your Daffan tech to see what kind of filters are recommended for your HVAC system, and an ideal schedule for replacing filters.

Now on to the tips:

• Take your allergy medication before symptoms start.
• Check the pollen count before leaving your house. Stay indoors if the concentration is high.
• Stay indoors on dry, windy days.
• Change into fresh clothes in your garage or mudroom to avoid bringing pollen into the house, or remove clothes and shower to wash away pollen from your skin and hair.
• Wear a pollen mask when you’re doing chores outside or in dusty areas like sheds and garages.
• Pollen counts are usually highest in the early morning, so avoid outdoor activity at that time.
• Maintain about 60 percent humidity in the home. A portable dehumidifier can help keep air dry.
• Ensure that your air conditioning unit is working properly. Change the air filters as recommended by the equipment manufacturer or you Daffan Cooling & Heating technician.
• Clean floors with a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum.
• Check with Daffan for indoor air quality solutions like PureAir Whole House Air Purification systems, UV PhotoMax Air Purification and High Performance Media Filters