Five Ways To Take Control of Indoor Air During Pollen Season

Spring in Connecticut looks great on social media, but in real life, pollen season can be a pain for allergy sufferers. If your eyes are itchy, your throat feels scratchy, and your sleep is off, that’s not just “spring vibes.” That’s your body reacting to what’s in the air.

And here’s the part most people miss: you can shut your front door, but pollen still gets in. It rides in on your clothes, your kids, your dog, your groceries and then settles into your rugs, couches, and vents. So now your “safe space” is basically recirculating the problem.

The fix for indoor air isn’t complicated, but you do have to be a little intentional.

1. Start with the air you’re actually breathing. A HEPA air purifier isn’t a luxury this time of year, it’s a baseline. These filters are built to catch the stuff that’s making you miserable: pollen, dust, and pet dander. Put one in the rooms you use the most, especially bedrooms, and let it run. Constantly. Not “once in a while when it feels bad.” If you want to go one step further, look for a unit with a carbon filter. It’ll help with odors and other irritants that pile onto the problem.

2. Next: stop inviting pollen inside. Yes, open windows feel amazing. They also undo everything you’re trying to fix. On high pollen days, keep them closed and run your AC instead. Your HVAC system should have a decent filter (MERV 11 or higher) and it needs to be changed regularly. I recommend every month or two during peak season.

3. Create a drop zone and actually use it. Shoes off at the door, jackets stay by the entry, and bags don’t make it to the kitchen counter. This isn’t about being tidy; it’s about stopping pollen from spreading through your house. Also, if you’ve been outside for a while, change your clothes and think about changing your shower routine to nighttime so you’re not sleeping with pollen in your hair. 

4. Clean like it matters, because it does. Pollen settles into everything soft. Vacuum at least once or twice a week with a HEPA vacuum, and don’t just hit the obvious spots. Upholstery counts, so do corners and edges. If you want to go further, steam cleaning can help pull out what regular vacuuming leaves behind.

5. Be smart about “fresh air” inside. Plants can help, but not all of them. Skip anything heavily fragrant or pollen-producing and stick with low-maintenance options like snake plants or peace lilies. And keep an eye on the soil, mold in a plant pot will absolutely make things worse.

You’re not going to eliminate pollen. But you can stop your home from becoming a storage unit for it. A few targeted changes like cleaner air, better filters and tighter routines can mean better sleep, clearer sinuses, and fewer days feeling like you’re fighting your own house.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Painting Over Mold? The Truth About ‘Quick Fixes’

Mold is unsightly, and I understand that nobody wants to stare at a dark, blotchy patch on their bathroom ceiling or basement wall. Sure, a quick coat of paint seems like an easy way to make the problem disappear. But here’s the thing about “quick fixes”: they’re rarely fixes at all. Especially when it comes to mold.

Painting over mold is one of those home myths that just won’t die. It looks better for a little while, sure. But underneath that shiny new layer of paint, the problem is still there and it’s growing, spreading, and getting ready to bubble its way back to the surface.

Let’s talk about why this happens, what it means for your home, and the right way to deal with it (so you’re not repainting again next month).

Why Paint and Mold Don’t Mix

Mold is a living organism, not a stain. It feeds on organic material like drywall paper, wood, dust, and anything else it can digest. It also thrives in damp, humid environments. When you paint over mold, you’re basically trapping that living organism under a layer of latex and giving it a warm, dark place to multiply.

Even paints labeled as “mold-resistant” don’t kill existing mold; they simply make it harder for new spores to take hold. Think of them as preventive, not curative. Once mold has already started to grow, those spores will continue doing what they do best - eating, spreading, and eventually breaking through the surface again.

That’s why the dark spots you “covered up” always seem to come back, no matter how many coats you roll on. You didn’t solve the problem. You just hid it temporarily.

The Real Risk Isn’t Just Cosmetic

Mold isn’t just an eyesore. Prolonged exposure to mold spores can aggravate allergies, trigger asthma, and cause respiratory irritation, especially in kids, older adults, and anyone with a compromised immune system. Even if your home’s air feels fine, hidden mold can create ongoing air quality problems that only get worse over time. And if it spreads into insulation, behind drywall, or under flooring, you’re looking at a much bigger repair bill later.

So no, it’s not “just a little spot.” It’s a sign of a deeper moisture issue that needs your attention.

How to Fix It the Right Way

Before you paint, you have to address two things: the mold itself and the source of the moisture that caused it. Here’s the right order of operations:

1. Find the moisture source. Is there a roof leak, poor ventilation, a plumbing issue, or a condensation problem? Fix that first. Otherwise, the mold will just come back.

2. Kill the mold. For small areas (less than 10 square feet), you can usually handle it yourself. Wear gloves, a mask, and goggles, and use a cleaner designed to kill mold, not just bleach. Bleach can discolor mold, making it look gone when it isn’t.

3. Remove damaged material. If the mold has eaten into drywall, insulation, or wood, those materials need to go. Scraping and cleaning won’t cut it if the spores have taken root inside porous surfaces.

4. Dry the area completely. Fans and dehumidifiers are your friends. Moisture left behind is an open invitation for mold to start over.

5. Seal and repaint. Once the area is clean, dry, and sound, use a high-quality primer made for problem areas before painting. Products designed for bathrooms or basements help prevent future issues.

Prevent, Don’t Patch

Once you’ve done the hard work, prevention is your best defense. That means improving ventilation, keeping humidity below 50%, and addressing leaks immediately. It also means thinking long-term. Proper insulation, vapor barriers, and routine roof and gutter maintenance all play a role in keeping moisture (and mold) out.

Final Thoughts

Painting over mold might make things look better for a while, but it’s the home-improvement equivalent of spraying air freshener in a garbage can. The only real solution is to stop the problem at the source.

So, before you pick up that roller, step back, figure out what’s causing the moisture, and deal with the mold properly. It’ll save you time, money, and maybe even your lungs.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Tackling Humidity Hazards at Home

With a solid mix of heat, humidity, and rain so far this summer season, now is the perfect time to talk about what high moisture can do to your home. 

Let’s start with a bit of background on mold, which is the biggest threat to homes that hold a lot of humidity. Mold is made up of thousands of microscopic spores that travel through the air until they land on a surface. They love to live in places that hold water, which is why you often see mold growing on trees, roofs, and other places that stay warm and damp. Indoor mold generally develops after being carried in from the outdoors or because of a leak that hasn’t been remedied. Homes that tend to hold a lot of humidity are more susceptible to mold infestation, something that no homeowner wants to deal with. 

Many people can get sick from mold and mildew, especially children and the elderly. It grows and spreads incredibly quickly and cannot be contained without removing its food source, which is water. Once it settles inside a home, mold can cause illness, asthma, and a host of other respiratory issues that can affect a person’s health for life.

So how can you get rid of mold in your living space, or prevent it from making a home in yours? Here are my top tips.

1. Run a dehumidifier in your basement constantly. I have an air-tight finished basement and I still run a dehumidifier 24/7. The goal here is to keep your air humidity at or below 50%. When it’s raining or super humid, don’t be surprised if you have to dump the water collection bucket twice a day. 

2. Always use the extractor fan while showering or cooking. With so much water in the air from the weather, the last thing you want to do is add more moisture inside your home. Be sure that your fans vent outside, not in the attic. Otherwise, you’re just redirecting the moisture to another part of the house. 

3. An air conditioner is not a dehumidifier. Yes it will remove some humidity but an air conditioner’s main function is to cool the air, rather than remove the water. If you find yourself running your A/C unit to control your humidity, you’re going to end up with an expensive energy bill and not too much to show for it.

4. Store unused clothing and linens in airtight plastic. People often put winter clothes and bedding up in the attic, which can be a breeding ground for mold if the area is not ventilated properly. Keeping the attic vented is key, good airflow can slow or even prevent mold growth.

5. Check the drainage around your home. Gutters should be clean and in working order and your landscaping should slope away from the foundation so you don’t have standing water at the base of your house. Make sure your downspouts extend at least four feet out and away from that foundation.

In short, a house with high humidity is nothing to ignore. If you suspect that your home might be susceptible to mold, it’s worth purchasing an inexpensive humidity gauge to find out. Remember, a mold problem can be a serious health risk to your family if not dealt with properly. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.