“AAAA-CHOOO!”
That’s an all-too-familiar sound here in Tampa, thanks to our almost year-round pollen problem.
Luckily, you can take a few steps to combat your allergies caused by pollen in the air.
In this article, we’ll share…
We’ll share some easy tips to fight pollen in your home:
When you get home from work, you should remove your shoes and consider changing your clothes.
Here’s why: Pollen in the outside air clings to shoes, shirts, jackets, and pants. By removing clothing that’s been exposed to the outdoor air you’re preventing pollen that clings to your clothes from spreading throughout your home and indoor air.
When it’s time for bed, hop into the shower and wash your hair before you hit the hay.
This will get all of the pollen off your body so you can sleep without the risk of breathing pollen into your lungs all night.
If your pets have been outside during the day, brush them off before you let them into your home. Animal fur is a perfect home for pollen, and you don’t want your pet to bring all that pollen inside.
A HEPA filter catches super small particles like pollen and holds it in its dust bag. Vacuums with regular air filters will pick pollen off the floor and send it back into your home’s air, which means you’ll end up breathing it in.
You can purchase HEPA vacuum filters at through online retailers or at your local department store.
During heightened times of pollen pollution, wash your pillowcases, sheets, and blankets weekly to eliminate pollen and other allergens like dust mites and bacteria.
You can tell if the daily pollen levels are high by searching “pollen levels in Tampa” in Google (Google gives a weekly forecast of pollen levels).
Did you know an appliance you use every day—your air conditioner—can help you fight off pollen?
Here’s how: When you run your AC, it’s constantly pulling in warm air from inside your home to be cooled. And that air passes through a filter which can catch dust and small particles like pollen.
What filters are best for catching pollen?
Not all filters are equal—some filters are better at catching pollen than others.
If you want to reduce pollen in your home’s air, go with a filter with a MERV rating of 8 to 12.
An air filter’s MERV rating tells you how good the filter is at catching tiny pollutants. The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter.
Most homeowners use fiberglass filters (MERV 1–4), but they aren’t great at catching pollen. But filters that range from MERV 8–12 do a much better job at catching pollen and other pollutants like:
How to get a MERV 8–12 air filter: Go to your local home improvement store and purchase an air filter that’s compatible with your AC system.
Not sure which air filters work with your system, or don’t know how to change your filter?
Contact an HVAC specialist to help you pick the right filter for your AC system. Some high-MERV filters can create a pressure drop so it’s always best to consult with a professional before getting a MERV 8+ filter.
If you suffer from allergies frequently, you may consider a whole-home air purifier, which is even more effective at removing pollen from your home’s air than a MERV 8–12 air filter.
Whole-home air purifiers are installed directly into your home’s HVAC system and can remove almost any pollutant from your home’s air (even including tobacco smoke).
To learn more about whole-home air purifiers, read our blog, “How Much Does a Whole House Air Purifier Cost in Tampa?”.