Pure Maintenance Austin TeamQuick answer: Stop pollen at the door, catch it in the filter, and clear what settles. Shoes off at the entry, windows shut on windy days, a well-fitted pleated filter checked monthly, and a HEPA vacuum twice a week keep far more of Austin's cedar and oak pollen where it belongs: outside.
When are Austin's two pollen seasons?
If you've lived in Central Texas for a winter or two, you know the orange-brown haze. Mountain cedar (really Ashe juniper) releases huge clouds of pollen from about December through February, usually peaking in January. Just as cedar winds down, oak trees take over in March and April, coating cars, patios and porches in green-yellow dust. Grasses follow in late spring, and ragweed arrives in the fall.
That's a long stretch of the year with heavy pollen in the air. You can't control what's outside, but you can do a lot to keep it from settling into your home.
How does pollen get inside?
Pollen grains are tiny, and they ride in on almost everything:
- Open doors and windows, especially on windy days
- Clothes, hair and shoes
- Pets' coats and paws
- Gaps around doors, windows and attic hatches
- Leaky ductwork in a hot attic, which can pull in dusty attic air
Once inside, pollen settles on floors, furniture and bedding, and your HVAC system moves it around the house. It adds to your home's bio-load: the microscopic particles and microbes that build up in the air, on surfaces and in the HVAC system over time. Pollen isn't the only thing that builds up. Our guide to indoor allergens in Central Texas homes covers dust, dander and other year-round sources.
Which entryway habits make the biggest difference?
Most pollen comes in through the front door, so start there.
- Take shoes off at the door. A rack or basket by the entry makes it easy.
- Use two mats. Put one outside and one inside, and shake them out or vacuum them often.
- Change clothes after yard work. Toss them straight in the hamper, not on the bed.
- Shower before bed on high-pollen days so you don't carry pollen onto your pillow.
- Keep windows closed on windy days during peak season. It's hard in a mild Austin January, but it helps.
- Dry laundry inside during peak weeks. Sheets on a line catch a lot of pollen.
How do I keep pets from tracking in pollen?
Dogs and outdoor cats are pollen magnets. Wipe their paws, belly and chest with a damp towel or pet wipe after walks, and much of it stays off your carpet and couch. Brush them outside a few times a week, and wash pet beds and blankets often during cedar and oak season.
Which air filter helps most in pollen season?
Your air filter does much of the work of pulling pollen out of the air.
- Check your filter every month during cedar and oak season. Change it when it looks gray or dusty, and at least every one to three months.
- Pick the right filter. A pleated filter catches far more fine particles than a thin fiberglass one. Not every system can move air through a denser filter, so ask an HVAC pro before you upgrade.
- Make sure it fits. A filter that's too small lets air slip around the edges, carrying pollen with it.
- Write the date on it. It's the easiest way to remember when you changed it.
Our sister company, Gold Eagle Services, can help you choose a filter that fits your system, check your ducts for leaks that pull in attic air, and talk through whole-home air cleaners.
Should the HVAC fan be on "Auto" or "On" in pollen season?
Most thermostats offer two fan settings.
- Auto runs the fan only when the system is heating or cooling. This is usually best for humidity control in the Austin summer.
- On runs the fan all the time, so air passes through the filter more often. Some people like this during peak pollen weeks, when the heat and AC may not run much.
If you switch to "On" in cedar season, check the filter more often, and go back to "Auto" once humid weather returns. Our guide to HVAC fan settings explains the trade-offs.
How should I vacuum and dust during pollen season?
- Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter so fine pollen doesn't blow right back into the room.
- Vacuum at least twice a week during peak season, including rugs, upholstery and pet spots.
- Dust with a damp cloth. A dry duster just moves pollen into the air.
- Wash bedding weekly in hot water, if the label allows.
- Clean the vents. Wipe supply vents and vacuum return grilles.
What about a fresh start after the season?
Even with great habits, a long pollen season leaves a lot behind on surfaces, in closets and in the ductwork. The end of oak season, usually in late April or May, is a good time for a whole-home fresh start.
Pure Maintenance Austin uses the patented Pure Maintenance VaPURE dry fog system in two steps: a fine dry fog of a hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid solution that breaks down into water, oxygen and vinegar, then a surface protectant. The fog reaches every room, closet and surface, plus the HVAC ductwork, without getting things wet. It temporarily reduces airborne particulates as the fog settles, and it helps freshen the whole house. The dry fog treatment is done in one day.
What to do next
- Set up a shoe rack and two mats at your main door this week.
- Check your air filter now, then every month until oak season ends.
- When the pollen clears, call us about a whole-home fresh start.
This guide covers home care, not medical advice. If pollen season bothers someone in your family, talk with your doctor.
Get a free phone consultation
Want a fresher home after cedar and oak season? Book a free phone consultation. A Comfort Advisor will call you, learn what's going on in your home and send a written quote based on square footage. We serve all of Central Texas, out to College Station (about 2.5 hours), including Round Rock, Georgetown, San Marcos, Bastrop and Marble Falls.
Call 512-904-4646 or email IAQ@goldeagleservices.com. We're open Monday through Saturday, 7am to 7pm.