What are Allergens?

If you are a Midwest native, you are likely no stranger to seasonal allergies. Regardless of season, there are allergens in your Cleveland home affecting your indoor air quality. An allergen is any substance that is recognized by your immune system as an ‘invader’ and causes a reaction. These reactions can look like many different symptoms such as a stuffy nose, watery eyes, sneezing, a scratchy throat, coughing, wheezing, and tightness in the chest. What you may not know is that there are at least four common allergens in your Cleveland home right now! If you’ve been feeling lousy or have any of the above symptoms, check your indoor air quality for these allergens!

Front view young female manager with short haircut coughing or sneezing in elbow while working on laptop in office room.

Mold

Mold is a fungus that grows in damp, warm places that will directly affect your indoor air quality. Mold doesn’t have roots, a stem, or seeds. To reproduce, mold releases spores into the air which is then inhaled by you and your family. These spores in your respiratory system can cause irritation and inflammation that will lead to annoying allergy symptoms. You often won’t be able to see mold in your home as it is often in your flooring, wallpaper, or around windows. Signs that you have serious mold problems are dark spots on your walls and ceilings, your air conditioning and/or heating system smells odd, your wallpaper is peeling, or you have a ‘cold’ that just won’t go away. Because mold needs a humid, warm, and wet environment, the best way to eliminate mold is to cut off its water source and dehumidify the air. 

Dust/ Dust Mites

Dust is a mixture of all kinds of allergens such as particles from soil, plant material, human dander, hair, fibers from fabric, mold spores, and dust mites. Some level of dust will always be present within your Cleveland home, but it is important to minimize it as much as possible to improve your indoor air quality. Another concern is dust mites. Dust mites can be found in beds, bedding, carpet, rugs, and any furniture made of cloth. When these mites die, their waste and their bodies break down and become particles in the dust. Most people actually have more of an allergic reaction to dust mites specifically rather than to dust in general. 

Animal Dander

Contrary to popular belief, pet fur isn’t what people have allergy problems with, it is their dander or dead skin. The most common pets to give allergic reactions are cats and dogs, however, some people will even have an allergic reaction to birds. There is no real way to avoid your pet losing their dead skin cells, however, bathing your pets frequently as well as keeping them off of your bed might help with allergies slightly. The best way to reduce pet dander in your Cleveland home is the use of air purifiers and filtration systems to improve indoor air quality.         

Pollen

Pollen allergies are usually diagnosed as ‘seasonal allergic rhinitis’ and are very common. More than 25 million Americans are allergic to pollen in some capacity. The pollen that often gives people symptoms comes from trees, grass, and weeds. Flowering plant pollen does not typically irritate people’s allergies. Pollen allergies usually affect susceptible people during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. During high pollen count days, it is best to keep your windows closed, shower regularly, and change out of the clothes you wore outside when coming into your home. You may also need to talk to your doctor about taking an antihistamine during stretches of high pollen counts. 

Tired of Dealing with Bad Allergies?

If you are fed up with the allergens in your Cleveland home and not feeling your best, Stack Heating is here to help. Let us take care of those pesky allergens and drastically improve your air quality. You will breathe better, sleep better, and feel better. For more information, take a look at our website or give us a call at (440) 294-8709. We look forward to hearing from you! 

Have Any Questions?

If this is an emergency please call 440-937-9134.

Otherwise, please feel free to call us or submit this form to schedule an appointment for service or request an estimate. We will contact you shortly!