Seasonal allergies cause your eyes to itch and water while increasing your need to sneeze and cough. While this is most common in the spring due to the massive amount of pollen outdoors and inside your home, you may also suffer allergies in the fall. If you are part of the 35 million Americans who suffer with seasonal allergies, you may be searching for ways to reduce your symptoms without using toxic medications. Using this guide, you can reduce the symptoms of your fall allergies by improving your home's indoor air quality.

Improve your HVAC

Proper maintenance on your home's heating and air conditioning system can decrease the allergens floating around inside your home. In addition, seasonal maintenance is a great way to increase your system's efficiency, reducing energy bills, ensuring a comfortable temperature, and prolonging the life of your system. In the fall, complete the following tasks to reduce your allergy symptoms and improve your heating and air system:

• Replace or Clean Filters – Seasonal allergens can quickly build up inside your filters, blocking the flow of clean, conditioned air into your home. If you suffer with severe allergies, replace your system's filters each month. However, the fall season is a great time to replace your filters, as well, since you are most likely dealing with the problematic symptoms.
  Remove the filter from under the register cover and vacuum out the interior opening of the vent to remove visible dirt and dust. If using a disposable filter, replace with a HEPA filter, which removes 99.7 percent of particles .3 microns or larger in diameter. If using a reusable filter, vacuum away surface residue before soaking in a solution containing warm water and liquid dish detergent. Allow to dry before reinserting.
• Clean Your Ducts – Your system's ductwork is series of tunnels used to move conditioned air in and through your home. In most homes, the ductwork is located in the walls, ceiling, crawlspace, and attics, so it can be difficult to inspect and clean. In the fall, hire a technician to complete a duct-cleaning service, which suctions out dust, dirt, and dander. This prevents allergens from flowing through your home, increasing your allergy symptoms.

If you have any trouble with your HVAC system, visit Century Heating & Air Conditioning Services.

Reduce your VOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are found in a variety of cleaning products, paints, air fresheners, and furnishings. These compounds are harmful to the environment, but they can also affect your health, triggering headaches, skin and eye irritations, and breathing difficulty. If you suffer with seasonal allergies, the VOCs inside your home can increase your symptoms.

While removing stained flooring and repainting your home may not be possible, you can reduce the VOCs in your home by using natural cleaning products. A solution containing vinegar and water is an effective option for cleaning glass and windows. In addition, essential oils in diffusers are safer, non-toxic options for freshening your home's odor.

Reducing your fall allergies is possible without prescription medications that may do more harm than good. Using these simple solutions to improve your home's air quality, you can reduce the symptoms of your fall allergies.