Blog

Updated: July 2025

Many people suffer from allergies and asthma without realizing that poor indoor air quality might be worsening their symptoms, especially during spring and summer when pollen and mold counts are higher. If you find yourself sneezing more indoors than outside or constantly dealing with itchy eyes or nasal congestion, it could be time to check your home’s air quality.  

Modern homes are often tightly sealed for energy efficiency, but this can trap pollutants indoors and worsen indoor air quality issues. Without proper ventilation and filtration, allergens and irritants continue to recirculate around your home. 

Knowing how to improve indoor air quality can significantly reduce allergy and asthma triggers. At A-Abel, we specialize in diagnosing and treating indoor air quality issues in Dayton, Ohio. From home air quality testing to implementing the best indoor air quality solutions, we’re here to help your household breathe easier. 

Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality

Poor indoor air quality can go unnoticed until symptoms worsen or these common signs appear:

• Increased allergy or respiratory issues
• Excessive dust build-up
• Visible mold
• Musty or unpleasant odors
• High humidity.

Poor indoor air quality can also result in other, less specific symptoms, like fatigue, headaches, or lightheadedness, particularly with long-term exposure. 

If you notice any of these, especially alongside seasonal allergies in Dayton’s humid spring and summer months, you could be experiencing the effects of poor indoor air quality. 

Do you need professional indoor air quality testing in Dayton, Ohio?
Contact A-Abel’s air quality specialists today. 

What Are Allergens?

Allergens are airborne substances that trigger allergic reactions and/or asthma. Symptoms can include:

• Sneezing or a runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Coughing or wheezing
• Scratchy or sore throat 
• Sinus headaches
• Skin rashes or hives.

The common sources of allergens in a home include:

• Pet dander
• Dust mites in carpet and bedding
• Mold spores
• Pollen entering through windows or HVAC systems
• Indoor plants with damp soil and/or dust. 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaning products, paints, and new furniture can also worsen the health effects of indoor air pollution. Understanding these causes of poor indoor air quality is essential to alleviating your allergy symptoms. 

Now you know what allergens might be affecting your home, we’ll examine practical steps to reduce them and help you breathe more easily indoors.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality at Home

Eliminating allergen sources and keeping your living areas well-ventilated is vital for improving indoor air quality. 

Fortunately, a range of indoor air quality solutions, from air purifiers to spring cleaning, can help reduce allergens in your home.

Air Purifiers

Air purifiers help improve indoor air quality by cleaning the air as it circulates through your home. They remove airborne pollutants like dust, pollen, mold, and pet dander. Look for models with HEPA filters or those designed specifically to combat allergens and VOCs.

Dehumidifiers 

Dust mites and mold love humidity! A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air in your home and reduces humidity levels, preventing mold and mildew growth, condensation, and musty odors. The ideal indoor humidity level for Dayton, Ohio, and much of the US is between 30% and 50%. Keeping your indoor humidity at this level can drastically cut down on allergens. 

HVAC Maintenance

The best way to prevent pollen from entering your home is to keep your windows and doors closed. This means using air conditioning in the warmer months to stay cool while controlling dust mites and keeping humidity levels down. That’s why it’s essential to maintain your HVAC system and use the correct air filter, replacing it regularly to reduce allergy triggers. 

Most people benefit from changing their air filters every 30-90 days, but depending on the thickness of your filter and the severity of your allergies, you may need to replace it more or less often.

An annual HVAC tune-up can keep your system in top condition and make it harder for pesky allergens to sneak through. 

You can also ask your technician about indoor air quality testing to identify specific pollutants and tailor solutions for your home. Testing is especially helpful if you’ve recently moved, renovated, or introduced new furniture or carpet. 

Consider upgrading to a high-efficiency HVAC filter that captures smaller particles, or adding a whole-home air purifier to your system for enhanced protection. Contact A-Abel for all your HVAC maintenance needs.

Managing Pet Dander

While you may love your furry best friend, they could be unintentionally aggravating your symptoms. While many doctors suggest people with allergies avoid keeping pets, there are still ways to reduce pet dander in your home:

• Keep pets off furniture and out of bedrooms.
• Bathe and brush them regularly. 
• Wash pet bedding and toys weekly (opt for plastic/rubber-based toys instead of plushies or ropes).
• Consider air purifiers with pet dander filters. 

Spring Cleaning for Allergy Relief

Spring is the perfect time to clean and declutter your home. To help keep your home allergen-free:

• Declutter to reduce dust collection.
• Remove or replace wall-to-wall carpet. If you must have carpet (to protect flooring from children, pets, or guests), use low-pile carpets or throw rugs that can be put into the laundry to be washed. 
• Switch to washable curtains or blinds.
• Use allergy-proof mattress and pillow covers.
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water (130°F or higher) and dry it on a hot dryer cycle to kill any dust mites that might be present.
• Vacuum your home at least once a week, especially with a HEPA-filtered vacuum designed to prevent allergens and dust from pushing back into the air. 
• Use a damp microfiber cloth to trap dust while cleaning. 
• Clean vents and ducts annually. 

If you’re especially sensitive, wear a mask while cleaning and leave your house for a few hours afterward so the disturbance of dust and allergens from cleaning doesn’t trigger your allergy or asthma symptoms.

Mold Prevention

Mold is a significant trigger for allergies and asthma. It’s attracted to moisture, so it’s essential to keep in mind the moisture that typically builds up in the bathroom, kitchen, and other areas around your home (like the basement or attic) where moisture, condensation, or leaks are common. Here are a few ways to help ensure mold doesn’t start growing rampantly:

• Don’t run your shower before bathing (only turn it on long enough to warm the water, then hop in).
• Use dehumidifiers and humidity monitors, especially in basements and bathrooms.
• Keep your houseplant count to a minimum (mold spores can build up on damp soil).
• Repair leaks in roofs, windows, and pipes that are causing dampness.
• Clean any visible mold with mold-killing products, then continually check and clean the same surface each week to ensure the mold isn’t returning.

Scheduling Home Air Quality Testing

If you’re experiencing allergy symptoms and suspect poor indoor air quality, A-Abel offers comprehensive home air quality testing, HVAC inspections, and personalized indoor air quality solutions. 

Contact our trusted air quality specialists in Dayton today to improve indoor air quality in your home and protect your family against allergies.