Creating an Asthma‑Friendly Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Asthma is common in West Michigan, and many triggers are found right inside the home. With our cold, dry winters, humid summers, and changing seasons in Grand Rapids, managing indoor air quality is especially important for people with asthma.

This guide explains how to make your Grand Rapids home more asthma‑friendly, with practical tips you can use in apartments, older homes, and newer builds across Kent County.

Common Asthma Triggers in Grand Rapids Homes

Asthma triggers in the home can include:

  • Dust and dust mites
  • Mould, especially in damp basements and bathrooms
  • Pollen that comes in through open windows or on clothing and pets
  • Pet dander (fur, skin flakes, feathers)
  • Strong scents (cleaning products, air fresheners, incense, candles, essential oils, perfumes)
  • Smoke (tobacco, wood stoves, fireplaces, outdoor fire pits)
  • Cold, dry air in winter or very humid air in summer

Because Grand Rapids has long heating seasons and many homes with basements, paying attention to moisture, ventilation, and heating systems is critical.

Make Your Grand Rapids Home a Smoke‑Free Zone

To improve air quality and reduce asthma symptoms:

  • Do not smoke or vape inside your home or car.
  • Ask visitors to smoke outside, away from doors and windows.
  • Avoid burning incense or scented candles.
  • Use unscented or low‑odor cleaning products and laundry detergents when possible.

Local help to quit smoking is available through:

  • Kent County Health Department – Tobacco cessation resources
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs
  • Your primary care provider at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health

Heating Systems and Asthma in West Michigan Winters

Grand Rapids winters are cold and long, so heating is essential—but some heating methods can worsen asthma.

Gas and Wood Heating

  • Un‑flued gas heaters and older gas appliances can release chemicals such as nitrogen dioxide, which can trigger asthma.
  • Wood‑burning stoves and fireplaces produce smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) that can irritate airways, even if you don’t see visible smoke.

If you use gas or wood heat:

  • Ensure appliances are properly vented and serviced regularly.
  • Have a professional inspection before each heating season.
  • Avoid using wood as your main heat source if someone in the home has asthma.
  • Keep the person with asthma away from the room when adding wood or cleaning out ash.

Ducted and Forced‑Air Heating

Many Grand Rapids homes use forced‑air furnaces:

  • Dust, pet dander, and other particles can collect in ductwork.
  • When the furnace starts, these particles can be blown through the home and trigger asthma.

To reduce dust exposure:

  • Change furnace filters regularly (often every 1–3 months during heavy use).
  • Consider high‑efficiency filters (discuss options with your HVAC professional).
  • Have ducts inspected and cleaned if they are very dusty or have not been serviced in years.
  • Schedule cleaning when the person with asthma can be out of the home.

Electric Heating Options

Electric heating methods may be better for some people with asthma because they do not burn fuel or circulate combustion gases:

  • Panel heaters
  • Radiant heaters
  • Hydronic (hot water) systems

These options do not emit smoke or gas and typically stir up less dust, but still keep them clean and dust‑free.

Cooling, Humidity, and Asthma in Grand Rapids Summers

Michigan summers can be warm and humid, which can increase mould growth and dust mites—both common asthma triggers.

Fans

  • Clean ceiling fans and portable fans before first use in spring or summer.
  • Dust fan blades regularly or have someone else do it if you have asthma.
  • Use a damp cloth to prevent dust from becoming airborne.

Air Conditioners and Humidity

Different cooling systems affect humidity differently:

  • Evaporative and some refrigerated air conditioners can increase indoor humidity, which may raise the risk of mould and dust mites.
  • Reverse‑cycle air conditioners (heat pumps) can help lower indoor humidity and maintain more stable temperatures.

Tips for asthma‑friendly cooling:

  • Keep indoor humidity ideally between 30–50% (use a hygrometer to monitor).
  • Clean or replace air conditioner filters regularly—at least every season, more often with heavy use.
  • Have your system serviced by a professional before peak summer.
  • Fix any leaks or condensation around windows, basements, and AC units promptly.

There is not enough evidence to say one type of air conditioning is best for everyone with asthma. The right choice depends on your individual triggers and how your body responds.

Dust and Asthma: Reducing Allergens in Your Home

Dust in Grand Rapids homes often contains:

  • Dust mites
  • Pet dander
  • Pollen
  • Mould spores
  • Tiny fabric and carpet fibers

These can all trigger asthma symptoms.

Flooring and Carpets

  • Avoid wall‑to‑wall carpeting if possible, especially in bedrooms.
  • If you choose carpet, select short‑pile or loop‑pile, solution‑dyed nylon carpet, which is easier to clean.
  • Vacuum or mop floors regularly—ideally when the person with asthma is not nearby.
  • Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to trap fine particles.

Bedding and Soft Toys

Dust mites thrive in warm, moist environments like bedding and stuffed animals.

To reduce dust mites:

  • Wash all bedding (sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers) in hot water above 55°C (130°F) every week.
  • Wash soft toys in hot water weekly or rotate toys and freeze them overnight, then wash if possible.
  • Dry bedding and toys in a hot dryer or in direct sunlight, which helps kill dust mites.
  • Consider dust‑mite‑proof covers for mattresses and pillows.

Curtains, Furniture, and Surfaces

  • Replace heavy fabric curtains with vertical or roller blinds, which are easier to wipe clean.
  • Dust with a damp cloth instead of dry dusting, which spreads particles into the air.
  • Vacuum and clean upholstered furniture frequently.
  • Put doors on open shelving units to reduce dust collection.
  • Regularly clean ceiling fans, light fixtures, and air conditioning vents.

Drafts and Leaks

Older Grand Rapids homes can be drafty:

  • Use damp towels or weather‑stripping around leaky doors and windows.
  • This can reduce outdoor dust and pollen entering your home.

Research shows that reducing dust can lead to a small but meaningful improvement in asthma symptoms for both adults and children.

Pets and an Asthma‑Friendly Home

Pets are a common trigger for asthma due to their dander (skin flakes), saliva, and urine. If you live in Grand Rapids and don’t want to rehome your furry family members, you can still reduce exposure.

Ways to minimize pet‑related asthma triggers:

  • If possible, have pets live outdoors or spend most of their time outside (weather permitting and considering pet safety).
  • Keep pets out of bedrooms, especially the bedroom of the person with asthma.
  • Do not allow pets on beds or upholstered furniture.
  • Brush or groom pets outside to keep loose hair and dander out of the home.
  • Bathe furred animals regularly, as recommended by your veterinarian.
  • Clean or vacuum floors, curtains, and upholstery often—ask someone without allergies to do this, if possible.
  • Clean cages, tanks, and litter boxes frequently to reduce odors and airborne particles.

Growing a Low‑Allergen Garden in Grand Rapids

Outdoor allergens can easily make their way indoors, especially in spring and summer when pollen counts are high across West Michigan.

Reduce Pollen and Mould Outdoors

  • Replace some lawn areas with brick, pavers, or gravel to reduce grass pollen.
  • Choose native or low‑pollen grasses that grow slowly and require less mowing.
  • Use inorganic mulches like pebbles or gravel instead of wood mulch, which can harbor mould.
  • Weed the garden regularly to prevent weeds from flowering and seeding.
  • Avoid compost heaps, which can produce mould spores.

Choose Asthma‑Friendly Plants

  • Select American native plants and brightly colored, large flowering plants that are pollinated by birds or insects rather than wind. These release less pollen into the air.
  • Avoid plants with strong fragrances (such as many jasmines), especially near doors and windows.
  • Roses are usually better tolerated despite their scent.
  • Avoid rye grass and other high‑pollen grasses.

Gardening Habits

  • Garden in the morning, when the ground is often damp and pollen is less likely to be airborne.
  • Avoid gardening on windy days, when pollen and dust are easily spread.
  • Have dedicated gardening clothes and remove them before going inside.
  • Shower and change clothes after gardening to avoid bringing pollen and mould into your home.

If a particular plant seems to worsen symptoms, consider removing it and replacing it with a low‑allergen option. Local garden centers and botanical gardens in West Michigan can help you choose suitable plants.

Monitoring Pollen and Weather in Grand Rapids

Because Michigan’s seasons are distinct, outdoor conditions can change quickly and affect asthma control.

  • Check pollen forecasts using local weather apps or allergy/pollen websites that cover the Grand Rapids area.
  • Pay attention to air quality alerts for West Michigan, especially in summer when ozone and particulate levels can rise.
  • On high‑pollen or poor air quality days:
    • Keep windows closed.
    • Use air conditioning with clean filters.
    • Shower and change clothes after spending time outdoors.

Keeping Asthma Well Controlled

An asthma‑friendly home is only one part of good asthma management. It’s important to:

  • Have a written asthma action plan from your doctor.
  • Take prescribed preventer (controller) medications regularly, even when you feel well.
  • Use your reliever (rescue) inhaler as directed for sudden symptoms.
  • Learn proper inhaler technique—your doctor, pharmacist, or asthma educator can show you how.
  • See your healthcare provider regularly to review your asthma control.

Local Asthma Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you or your child has asthma, you don’t have to manage it alone. Local support includes:

  • Primary Care Provider or Pediatrician
    • At Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Pulmonologists and Allergy Specialists
    • Available through major health systems in the Grand Rapids area
  • Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (Spectrum Health)
    • Provides education and video resources to help families understand and manage childhood asthma
  • Kent County Health Department & Grand Rapids Public Health
    • Community programs, education, and referrals for asthma and environmental health
  • Pharmacists
    • Can review inhaler technique, medications, and over‑the‑counter products that may affect asthma

For additional educational materials, you can also refer to national asthma organizations and fact sheets recommended by your healthcare provider.

By understanding and reducing asthma triggers in your Grand Rapids home—especially dust, mould, pets, smoke, and pollen—you can improve indoor air quality and help prevent asthma flare‑ups throughout Michigan’s changing seasons. Always discuss major changes to your home environment or treatment plan with your doctor or asthma specialist.