I think it’s pretty safe to say a lot of us have begun to realize over the past month or two just how much mold really bothers us. After the Memorial Day floods, mold allergies shot through the roof, and they’ve remained in the high-moderate range ever since.
So what can you do? Here are a few tips from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Avoid outdoor activities on “high” days: Check the mold counts every day. If it’s in the high range, try to limit your outdoor activities. There are plenty of ways to check allergen rates each day. One, you can check in with the National Allergy Bureau’s San Antonio page.
Second, your air conditioning system can play a big role in reducing mold issues inside your home. The biggest key – keeping humidity low inside. Air conditioners reduce indoor humidity (that’s actually how they help keep you cool), and the ideal range is 30-50% indoor humidity. Many smart thermostats will provide information about the indoor humidity level for you. If not, you can get a humidity meter for just a few bucks at a hardware store.
Finally, don’t forget the importance of indoor air quality. Clean air filters and UV lights, for instance, can have a huge impact on your health.
Thankfully, we’re starting to see a bit of relief. Tuesday’s count, according to Dr. Ratner, is 430 – which is in the low range. Let’s hope it continues to drop.