Indoor Air Quality Tips to Fight Fall Allergies in Des Moines

Updated: August 2nd, 2024

Understanding Fall Allergies & the Importance of Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality becomes even more important during the fall season, when allergens like ragweed, mold, and dust mites reach their peak. While it’s common to hear complaints about allergy symptoms in the spring, fall allergies are just as real — and often just as miserable.

Ragweed is the biggest offender this time of year — about 75 percent of people allergic to spring plants also react to ragweed in the fall. Meanwhile, mold spores thrive in damp outdoor environments like leaf piles, and dust mites accumulate indoors as we close up our homes for cooler weather. These hidden irritants can turn your home into a hotbed of allergy symptoms during September and October.

1. Keep your windows closed.

Fall temperatures and breezy evenings might tempt you to open your windows, but doing so can invite ragweed pollen and other allergens into your home. Before you enjoy that crisp autumn air, remember what it feels like to endure a full day of sneezing and congestion.

The most effective way to maintain indoor air quality during the fall season is to keep your windows closed. This helps block allergens from entering and keeps your HVAC system from circulating contaminated air.

That said, no one expects you to stay indoors all season. But as the weather cools and you naturally spend more time inside, it’s crucial to keep a clean living environment. Regular vacuuming, dusting, and laundering of linens are simple ways to reduce allergens in your home and limit allergic reactions.

2. Try a dehumidifier for relief.

Dust mites and mold thrive in moist, humid environments. If you are experiencing humidity control issues in your home, a dehumidifier can help you find a good balance and reduce your indoor allergy symptoms during the fall.

3. Change and/or upgrade your furnace air filter.

If you can’t remember the last time you changed your furnacefilter, the first thing you should do when you finish reading this post is go change it. We talk a lot about the benefits of changing your furnace filter, but that’s only because a clean filter is imperative to a functioning heating and cooling system.

Have you changed your filter recently and are still struggling with severe fall allergy symptoms? It might be time to upgrade to a high-efficiency filter. Upgrading to high-efficiency furnace air filters is one of the most affordable ways to improve your indoor air quality during allergy season. These filters collect more dirt, dust, mold, and pollen than standard filters — a crucial step in reducing fall allergies — especially if you change them monthly as directed.

4. Invest in indoor air quality solutions.

Feel like you’ve tried everything to deal with your allergies? You might benefit from installing a home air cleaner — a solution that works with your existing heating and cooling system to improve the air quality of your home.

We recommend the Dynamic Air Cleaner, which can remove up to 95 percent of particles like dust, dirt, mold and pollen from the air in your home. The result is much cleaner, purer air and more relief during the peak of allergy season.