Suffer From Allergies? How Your HVAC System Can Help Your Symptoms

Do you or one of your family members suffer from allergies? In addition to other remedies, like medication or even eating local honey, consider using your HVAC system to help alleviate your allergy symptoms. Your heating and cooling system can be a big player in helping win the fight against allergens in your home.

Allergens In Your Home

There is a vast array of allergens floating around your home, and they all seem to hone in on your nose. Here are a few:

  • Pet dander (dead skin cells) is one allergen.  However, you may actually be allergic to proteins in your pet's skin, urine, and saliva.
  • Pollen from flowering trees, grass, weeds and other plants is present nearly year-round, depending on where you live. As each plant produces flowers, pollen is released into the air, ultimately entering your home. 
  • Inside and outside your home are millions of mold spores. Fungus might be growing, releasing spores that cause your allergic reaction, in dark or damp places in your home, including bathrooms, cabinets, and basements.
  • Dust particles themselves are not the cause for your misery, but the mites that flourish on them. Waste from dust mites hide in carpet, upholstered chairs and couches, and bedding.

When you are indoors, you want your air to be as free from allergens as possible, reducing your likelihood of suffering from allergies. Your HVAC system moves air throughout your home as it cools or heats your home, so why not use that system to eliminate or at least block allergens indoors? Here's how you can use your HVAC system to lessen allergens inside your home.

Keep Ducts Clean                

Air ducts acts as veins and arteries inside your home, carrying heated or cooled air to different rooms. Dedicated air intake duct-work takes in fresh air, which gets distributed through a separate system of ducts. All those linear feet of duct-work trap dust, mold, animal droppings, and other debris over time. When ducts are clean and free from the majority of debris, fewer allergens are spread as your home is heated or cooled. Look into getting your duct-work cleaned.

Check Those Filters

When air enters your home, it goes through air filters before it reaches your furnace or AC. This is where any allergens like pollen and mold in the air are prevented from entering. Inside, filters screen the air as it circulates, further slowing down the travel of dust, mold, and dander allergens.

These filters are designed to be easily removed and replaced. Put in new filters every month or more often if allergy season is in full swing. You can purchase high-efficiency allergy filters capable of filtering very fine particles. Talk to companies like A & E Heating and AC Inc to discuss purchase options or for help maintaining your HVAC system.

Run Your HVAC Continuously

It might seem like common sense to turn off your system when temperatures are mild. However, an HVAC that is always running is always filtering out those allergens. Also, using a ceiling fan instead of your HVAC system kicks up a lot of allergens present in the room, aggravating your symptoms. Make sure your system is always on to keep your air as clean as possible.


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