Allergy Symptoms In Winter — What Could Be Causing It

A lot of people that suffer from allergies get some relief during the winter months. With lower pollen counts, sinuses clear, eyes stop burning, and the sneezing comes to a stop. Unfortunately, sometimes, your home can actually trigger your allergies during the winter. If you're suffering from increased symptoms even though you'd typically be feeling better by now, there's something going on in your home that needs to be addressed quickly. Here, you'll find a few things to consider to improve the situation and clear up your winter allergy symptoms.

Mold Inspection and Removal

All of that summer moisture could have caused mold to grow somewhere in the home. It could be behind the walls, in your basement, in your ceilings, under the bathtub, in the ductwork — it can be anywhere. Unless you are trained to identify the mold that can cause problems, you probably won't be able to find it and treat it unless it's really bad.

Contact a mold removal service and explain the situation. They'll come out, perform an inspection, and point out any areas that could be contributing to the problems.

HVAC Cleaning

How long has it been since you've had your HVAC system cleaned? This doesn't mean just changing out the filter, which should be done monthly, it involves cleaning every component of the equipment, including the ductwork that carries the heat through your home.

Dust mites, mold spores, rodent feces, and so many more disgusting things can be found in the ductwork and each time the furnace fan kicks on, those spores are pushed out into the air that you breathe. This is why the system could be contributing to the symptoms that you're experiencing.

Tip: After you have the system cleaned, install vent-filters on each vent leading into your living space. This will catch any particulates that come through the system before they become airborne in the home.

Carpet Steaming

Now, if you have carpeting in the home, it's important that you have it steamed at least once each year. Dander and mites will become trapped in the fibers. Steaming the carpeting will kill anything that could be contributing to your symptoms. Just make sure that the carpeting is completely dry before placing any furniture back on it — failure to wait will result in mold growth under the furniture.

Winter should be the time of year that you can breathe freely. Hopefully, the tips above will help you clear up your symptoms so you can enjoy the rest of winter before spring blossoms bloom.