Fall allergies aren’t as prominent as spring and summer allergies; however, this time of year can be the worst for those allergic to ragweed pollen and mold. Lower temperatures and more rain means increased plant and pollen growth. On top of that, when trees begin to lose their leaves the stagnant organic matter can effortlessly produce mold.
Some of the common fall allergy symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Hives
- Itchy skin
- Itchy, puffy and red eyes
Causes
The seasonal components of fall aren’t the only causes that can make your allergy symptoms worse. Here are four of the lesser known triggers to be cautious of this time of year.
Hay fever
Allergic rhinitis (or hay fever) is the general term for late summer allergies, having absolutely nothing to do with hay. The most common cause that begins to pollinate mid-August and peaks around Labor Day is Ragweed. During this period, ragweed sends billions of pollen grains into the air that travels many miles thanks to the wind. Not only does it travel far, but it also stays around until the first freeze of the winter. Your best bet is to do your hard work early in the morning when fall rolls around.
Raking Leaves
Ever wonder why raking leaves was so important? It was long believed that leaves would kill the grass if we didn’t rake them. However, for those of us who suffer from allergies raking leaves isn’t on our priority list. Raking can agitate pollen and mold into the air worsening common allergy symptoms. Thankfully the new recommendation is to start mulching and stop raking. The fallen leaves supply quality, organic matter to the soil.
Back to School Allergies
The beginning of another school year can be filled with a lot of new allergies and asthma issues. Mold, dust mites, and pet dander can all be triggers for students. Gym class is can be another big source for kids due to the increased exercise that may result in bronchoconstriction (EIB) allergy symptoms. Most people with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction can remain in a normal routine with allergy medication. Lear more about this here. You can also track the pollen count to know when allergy symptoms will be worse by watching the local news.
Indian summer
Usually a period of warm weather during fall is celebrated, but if you have allergy symptoms you might not love this return of warm weather. This is because prolonged warm temperatures can actually cause lingering allergy symptoms due to the added pollen in the air.
Our solution
To help subsidize allergy symptoms you can check the allergy forecast for your area here. As a heating and cooling company we provide residential air quality services, including tests to see how your home matches up against the allergies in the air and we have indoor air quality products that help reduce these symptoms.
One of these products is the iWave air purifier. When air passes over the iWave, ions produced by the device reduce pathogens, allergens, particles, smoke and odors in the air, creating a healthy environment without producing any harmful byproducts. When these ions are injected into the air stream, they break down passing pollutants and gases into harmless compounds like oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor. The ions also attach to allergens like pollen and other particles, causing them to band together until they are large enough to be caught by your ventilation system’s air filter. Some benefits of the iWave include:
- No ongoing maintenance or replacement parts
- Installs in any HVAC system
- Kills viruses, mold and bacteria
- Actively purifies the whole house
Contact CW Suter Services for Sioux City furnace and air conditioning installations or maintenance. Be sure to ask us about our indoor air quality solutions. Call 712-252-3007 or contact us online by filling out this form.