Ross and Witmer As if the Charlotte winter isn’t enough to deal with, allergies can affect you during colder temperatures just as they do during the spring and summer. Knowing some of the best winter allergy tips can help protect your family and keep you healthy during the chilly season.
Air Filters
One of the best things is to use high-efficiency furnace filters. They have minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV) of 14 to 16. Some contaminates proliferate in colder temperatures, and these high-efficiency filters help remove harmful particles from your air. Another of the winter allergy tips to follow in conjunction with better filters is to leave your system fan running all the time. This allows more air to be processed and cleaned by your filtration system.
Ventilation
Another good tip to limiting winter allergy symptoms is to provide proper ventilation. Use exhaust fans when cooking or showering to help remove moisture and harmful particles from the air. Using a ceiling fan or box fan can also help circulate air and reduce molds. Most ceiling fans can be reversed to push warm air downward, lowering your energy usage and heating bill.
Humidity
To keep the growth of mites and molds to a minimum, keep the humidity level in your home between 30 and 50 percent. A humidity monitor can be purchased inexpensively and will help you determine if you need to use a humidifier or dehumidifier. Whichever you choose, make sure to keep the filters clean and the water replaced to keep any contaminants from growing.
Allergy-Proof Your Home
Make sure you do a thorough inspection of your home for any extra sources of allergens. Firewood piles and musty basements can be breeding grounds for a number of airborne allergens. Washing your hands often and laundering your bedclothes and linens in hot water can also help.
If you need more information on winter allergy tips, or if you have any questions involving your heating or filtration systems, contact us at Ross & Witmer. We’ve been one of the most respected names in the Charlotte and Hendersonville/Asheville areas since 1945.