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If you’re one of the thousands of Americans who deal with seasonal allergies each spring and fall, by now, you probably know you aren’t alone. But if you are alone in how hard your symptoms are to handle, you could be missing a key step in protecting your home from indoor allergens.
Causes of Indoor Allergies
What do you think of when you think about allergies? Probably the fresh, spring blooms the season is known for. However, pollen and other irritants from the outdoors aren’t the only contaminants making your symptoms feel so aggressive.
Some of the more common sources of allergens indoors include:
- Pet hair and dander
- Dust mites
- Mold spores
- Artificial fragrances
Allergies caused by indoor sources can seem more aggressive due to the fact that we spend all winter closed up in our homes to avoid the cold weather. Thankfully, there’s a simple solution to the problem.
Can an air filter help reduce allergy symptoms?
Air filters do what they’re named for — filtering air. But not all air filters are created equal. The higher the MERV rating on your air filter, the smaller the particle size that the filter can remove from your home’s air.
HEPA air filters are the recommended choice for a household that struggles with severe allergy symptoms. These filters are designed to catch 99.97% of all particles — even those as small as 0.3 microns.
Even if you don’t want to change the grade of your air filter, simply changing the filter every 30 - 90 days as recommended by most manufacturers and reducing indoor contaminants by airing out your home, keeping pets well-groomed, and vacuuming regularly can help to reduce indoor contaminants.