The Encyclopedia Britannica defines an allergen as:

A substance that in some persons that induces the hypersensitive state of allergy. (www.britannica.com)

Most people who suffer from this ‘state of allergy’ might offer a definition such as:

Those ‘things’ that cause itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, congestion, rash and misery.

Allergen’s most often falls into one or more of the following categories:

• Airborne allergies (pollen, dust, mold)
• Animal or insect allergies (animal dander)
• Cosmetic or chemical allergies

For those who suffer allergies, each new season brings its own special irritant! You may think that retreating indoors is the best way to escape that pesky pollen but often the indoor air quality is actually worse than what you’re breathing outside! Homes and offices are being built or refitted to be energy efficient. This means sealing cracks, insulating walls, windows and doors to keep your heated or cooled air inside rather than wasting energy dollars by having it escape to the outdoors.

Perhaps your allergens have been identified as animal dander. Like many people when you hear the word ‘animal dander’ you might think that relates to pet hair or fur. Actually, animal dander consists of the old skin scales that are constantly being shed into your pets’ hair or fur. Animal dander is hard to see and very easy to miss during regular cleaning. It’s extremely tiny and lightweight and can remain floating in the air for hours.

It’s estimated that 10-15% of the entire population may have an allergy to animal dander. Considering that some 70% of US households have a dog or cat it’s no wonder so many people suffer with sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing, rashes and congestion. Since animal dander is very sticky and can adhere to clothing, carpets and upholstery, even homes where no pets have lived for months or schools and offices where no animals are present can present a problem for those who suffer from allergies. To make matters worse, animal dander becomes air borne when disturbed so it can be circulated throughout the indoor environment by the heating and air conditioning system.

So, what can should you do…wear a surgical mask inside your home or office? Shave the dog and get rid of the cat? No. An often overlooked yet critical link to controlling allergic reactions due to allergens could be your HVAC (Heating-Ventilation-Air-Conditioning) The air circulated through your HVAC system is by design being ‘conditioned’ to be warmed during cold months or cooled during the summer. As air is pulled through your ventilation system (duct work) even a tiny hole or tear can pull allergens into the ducts thereby introducing them into the air your breath. For example, if your ductwork is located in your attic you could be circulating dust, pollen, mold, insect pieces or fumes from any chemicals you have stored.

So, what can you do to improve the IAQ in your home or office? While regular filter changes or installing a HEPA filter can help trap much of the allergens including animal dander as it moves through your air handler, only AirWashIAQ is formulated to neutralize the allergens they contain. You can have your ductwork cleaned but unless every hole or tear is found and patched you must have a plan for neutralizing the harmful allergens before they enter your air. This is what AirWashIAQ was designed to do. When used as directed AirWashIAQ acts as a barrier to harmful allergens helping you breath easier!