Fall is finally here! This cozy season brings cooler weather, cozy vibes, and fun holidays, but fall can also bring some unwanted guests to the air. Many associate spring with being the worst time of year for allergies, and while pollen counts are definitely highest when everything is in bloom, fall brings its own allergy related challenges. Add on to that cold and flu season, less fresh air as homes are sealed up for winter, and wildfires in some parts of the country and you can start to see why air purification is essential during the fall months.
Understanding Fall's Respiratory Threats
Fall Allergies
Fall allergies may have different triggers than spring allergies, but they are annoying and uncomfortable nonetheless. Peak fall allergy season lands around September to November. Pollen can be a factor in fall allergies - especially for the 23 million people allergic to ragweed. Fall is often the time when those sensitive to mold and dust mites experience the strongest allergy symptoms. Damp weather conditions, decaying leaves, and increased time spent indoors can all contribute to an increase in fall allergy symptoms. Even though the triggers may be different than spring allergies, fall allergy symptoms often manifest in similar ways including sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes and throat, runny nose, and a general feeling of fatigue.
Flu Season
Unfortunately, flu season is quickly approaching. Cold and flu season usually lasts from about October to March because we tend to spend more time indoors and in close contact with others during these colder, winter months. These viruses are spread through airborne droplets that can travel from a cough, sneeze, or even just normal conversation. Poor ventilation, close contact with someone who is sick, and dry air can all contribute to increased risk of sickness or worse symptoms when a virus does strike. Young children, elderly populations, immunocompromised individuals, and those with preexisting health conditions are most at risk of severe infection.
The Compound Effect
Although fall allergy and cold and flu symptoms have different sources, many of their symptoms are similar. Flu symptoms tend to be much more severe, but allergies and the common cold often both consist of congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and general fatigue. It can be hard to determine the cause of your symptoms, especially if you suffer from allergies frequently. Allergic reactions also increase inflammation in the body which can weaken the immune system making you more susceptible to infections. It is crucial to be aware of how your air quality can contribute to allergies, illness, and worsening of symptoms in order to reduce your risk and improve your comfort this fall season.
The Indoor Air Quality Connection
Indoor air quality can be up to 2-5x worse than outdoor air. In the winter, this can cause detrimental effects on our respiratory health. In warmer months, opening windows can be a great way to freshen up the air in your home and increase air circulation. During chilly months, this can be impossible. Without fresh air coming in, you are relying on your HVAC filter or any additional purifiers to freshen the air in your home. Without proper filtration, pollutants, allergens, and pathogens are trapped indoors with no way to get out.
HVAC Systems
During colder months, sources of pollution from combustion increase as people are more likely to light a fire in their fireplace or light scented candles around their home. Even gas appliances like your stove top are releasing toxins into the air as you cook a cozy fall soup. When it is chilly, our heating systems kick into high gear circulating heat throughout your home, but without a proper HVAC filter you could be spreading these pollutants around instead of filtering them out of your air.
Now is a great time to check your HVAC filter and think about making an upgrade. PuroAir’s new HVAC Mega Filter is a great choice if you want to take your HVAC filtration up a notch. The Mega Filter is a MERV 13 rated HVAC filter that is 4x more effective than a typical fiberglass HVAC filter.*
Air Purifiers
While an HVAC filter can offer a whole home solution, particles can accumulate quickly in certain situations, making an air purifier essential as a second layer of defense. Having air purifiers in strategic locations can help maintain clean air while your HVAC circulates. Consider adding a purifier in your main living spaces, kitchen, and bedrooms to ensure that cooking fumes, candle combustion, and allergens are no match for your indoor air.
Who's Most at Risk?
Anyone can be at risk for dealing with fall allergies and flu symptoms, but certain groups of people are more at risk. Children, elderly adults, and those with pre-existing conditions often experience these symptoms most severely. Additionally, certain factors can put your home more at risk. Poor ventilation, moisture problems, and old HVAC systems can all contribute to poor air quality in your home. Depending on your family and home’s particular risk factors, you may want to consider investing in air purification and even a dehumidifier to improve indoor air quality and reduce risk of mold, dust mites, and allergens.
Taking Control of Your Health this Fall
This fall, take matters into your own hands and ensure that the air in your home is safe and healthy for everyone living there. With high quality air purification you can stop problems before they start and make sure that your home is free from pollutants, allergens, and particles that can build up when air circulation is reduced during winter months. Even if winter is when you struggle with air quality the most, an air purification strategy can help your health year round. Spring and summer bring with them a whole new set of allergens, and pollutants from cleaning sprays, cooking, and candle burning are present year-round.
PuroAir’s HVAC filters and air purifiers benefit the whole family. The high quality filters filter out up to 99.9% of particles down to 0.1 microns in size. With a whole home strategy combining HVAC filtration with strategic purifiers, you can relax knowing your family’s air is clean and easy to breathe this fall.
Get started by protecting your family before peak allergy and flu season hit. Now is the perfect time to check filters and assess your family’s needs going into the busy holiday season. Make indoor air quality a top priority, and check out PuroAir’s collection of purifiers today.