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LEXINGTON, SC -- Go outside around the Midlands and chances are residents will see pollen on cars, or meet someone suffering from allergies more than usual.

But residents are also battling it inside their homes.

Ductz Air Duct Repair Owner Timothy Mozley said he has been getting a lot of calls for help these days.  The main way to battle back is with the right type of filter.

"You've seen the filters that are $1-$2. They are the blue or green fiberglass ones you can see through. If you can see through then, pretty much everything besides golf balls is going through it. You can go to a hardware store and spend $25 on a one inch wide filter. It is great for filtration, but you really have to watch to make sure you are not starving your air handler of air it needs to operate."

Mozley said the best thing to do is to have your duct system checked for leakage and proper filtration. Some companies including Ductz do not charge for the visual inspection.

"If your system is 15 years or older, chances are its got some leakage in it. Overtime, the joints are going to crack, things shift. That leakage can lead to ingesting more of that outside air, leading to pressurization issues in the house."

Another issue can come from doing something as simple as cleaning the laundry.

"If your dryer vent is disconnected or clogged and you're getting backflow, maybe the dryer is exhausting into the home. It is absolutely terrible not only for humidity but also for dust.

People can call a ventilation expert of SC&G for tests. These measures will not completely protect homes, but can temporarily shield them in the fight against pollen.