The weather's starting to warm up and there's the irresistible urge to throw open the windows and enjoy the fresh air.
However, if you suffer from allergies, asthma, or other sensitivities, it can be a big mistake. Check out this list of 4 allergens and irritants that can invade your home through open windows. We also offer a few strategies to help you get some fresh air without sending everyone into a sneezing frenzy.
1. Pollen
Pollen is the usual suspect when you're looking for the cause of your hay fever attack. This includes runny noses, sneezing and itchy eyes. Sources of the pollen are trees, shrubs, weeds and grass.
Sever hay fever suffers are smart to keep physical barriers between themselves and pollen, like having all the windows closed and using a good dust mask when working outside. However, there are a few things that can be done to help suffers deal with their problems and still get some fresh air.
First, know the specific pollens that cause your runny nose and itchy eyes. Check your local pollen forecast at a weather website. When your specific offenders are out of season, maximize your outdoor activities. This is also the time you can throw open your windows and enjoy the fresh breeze.
Second, find the time of day when the air is more still. Pollen from nearby trees won't be whipping around your yard as much during these times. Often the early morning hours are the best because they are more still and moisture in the air can keep the pollens from floating around as much.
2. Sunlight
A good number of people suffer from polymorphous light eruption—they break out in a rash when exposed to UV radiation. Here the challenge is a little different than dealing with pollens. Those who find sunlight irritating can enjoy the fresh air, but would like to block the sunlight beaming into their homes.
Shutters can be the ideal solution to this problem inside the home, and outside on a patio or deck, an awning works beautifully. Shutters can be adjusted in a variety of ways to let in as little or as much sunlight as can be tolerated. Added benefits of products like shutters and awnings are that they can help families reduce their energy bills, they look good and they can even add to property value.
3. Mold
Many allergy suffers know or at least suspect that they are sensitive to household mold. However, outdoor mold can cause symptoms as well. If it's the middle or late summer and all the trees and weeds are past their pollen producing days and you're still suffering hay fever symptoms, it's possible that an outdoor mold could be invading your home through your open windows.
Scout around your yard and your neighbor's yards for mold growing on rotting logs or leaves. If this turns out to the be case, the fix is easy: get rid of them.
Before leaving the topic, household molds can cause allergic symptoms all year long. Examine your home for molds and clean as necessary. And, keep your central air unit clean and fitted with fresh filters. Have a professional check it out once or twice a year.
4. Smoke and Odors
Strictly speaking, the coughing and sneezing caused by smoke or an odor, like a perform or after shave, are not allergic reactions. By definition allergies are when a protein, like pollen, enters your body and your immune system kicks in to get rid of it. Smoke and fragrances cause an irritation that can seem the same to the person who starts sneezing.
Smoke and odors can easily invade your home through open windows. Fortunately once the windows are closed, the problem should quickly dissipate. However, make sure your air conditioning unit is clean and working. You don't want to exchange outdoor smoke for indoor mold.
Carrie Thompson loves the outdoors, but knows well about the need for shutters as she has a friend with allergies to UV light which can be absorbed from flourescent light fixtures as well. Her friend recommends shutters wholeheartedly as a solution. They are not only much nicer to surround yourself with than a dark cloak in summer, but they also add tremendous beauty and value to a home.
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