Expert Shares Tips To Help Keep Allergens Out Of Your Home
By Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - If your allergy symptoms are raging, there could be some quick remedies that don't involve popping pills.
It's all about keeping pollen and other problem particles out of your home:
"Every house is going to leak, but most homes leak a lot more than they should. It's equivalent to almost a window being open year-round."
Chris Bobbit, Vice President at Mark Group, an energy efficiency consultancy based at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, says the basement and attic are frequent offenders, but small cracks and crevices can be eliminated with caulks and sealants.
"One of the keys is that you still want a certain amount of air to transfer in your home, which is why it's very critical to make sure you're doing it in a safe way."
Replace ventilation system filters. And, after all the rain we've had, check gutters and downspouts:
"If you have too much water next to the house, you have the likelihood for infiltration. That could lead to other problems which could compromise not only the integrity of the home but also introduce molds and so forth into the house."
Bobbit says even kicking off your shoes after yardwork can help -- keeping you from tracking inside more allergens than the ones you're already inhaling.
