Many people in Columbia, Maryland, wake up with allergy symptoms, even when it’s not allergy season. The reason you have a stuffy nose in the morning might have to do with allergens trapped in your HVAC system or home. Take a look at your home environment to get to the bottom of this problem.
You’re Using a Cheap Air Filter
Flat HVAC filters don’t clean small allergens from your indoor air. Dust mites, pet dander and pollen all make it through a flat cardboard filter.
Instead, opt for a pleated fabric filter. A MERV rating between 10 and 13 will remove significant allergens from your home’s air without forcing your blower to work too hard to pull air through the filter.
High Home Humidity Has Caused Mold
High humidity in your home throughout the summer creates the right environment for mold growth. You might not see the mold yet, but the spores cause respiratory issues that can leave you with a blocked or dripping nose when you wake up each morning.
To figure out if mold is the cause, you can perform an at-home mold test. But it’s safer to talk with an HVAC service technician or a professional mold inspector.
You Have Allergens in Your Bedroom
Pollen clings to your clothes when you come inside and scatters into your home. Dust mites love mattresses and bed sheets, and they contribute to your allergy symptoms. Sleeping in this environment for eight hours every night puts you at constant exposure to your allergens, so you wake up with sinus problems.
Use an air cleaner in your bedroom to tackle your allergens. Sleeping in HEPA-filtered air will help you feel better when you awake.
Your Griffith Energy Services technician is here to help you address your IAQ issues. When you schedule your fall maintenance appointment, ask how we can help you improve the air in your home. Call us today to set up an appointment: 888-474-3391.
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