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How Your Furnace Can Spark Your Allergies

Have you ever felt when you turn on your furnace for the first time in the fall, you’re wheezing more frequently? While spring allergies usually get a harsher reputation, fall allergies are still very typical and many people struggle with them. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring thanks to temps weakening our immune systems and from starting up our furnaces. This might leave you thinking, can furnaces make allergies worse in the U.S., or even trigger them? 

While furnaces can’t cause allergies, they sometimes aggravate them. How? During the hotter months, dust, dander and other allergens can collect in heating ducts. When the cooler conditions start and we flip our furnaces on for the first time, all those allergens are now pushed out of the ventilation and circulate within our residences. Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent your furnace from aggravating your allergies. 

How to Keep Your Furnace from Affecting Your Allergies

  1. Get a New HVAC Filter. Regularly replacing your filters is one of the best things you can complete to alleviate your allergies at any time of the year. Fresh filters are ideal for snagging the allergens in your residence’s air, helping to keep you healthier. 
  1. Freshen Up Your Air Ducts. Not only do pollutants harbor in your HVAC filters, but in your ductwork as well. An air duct cleaning could help minimize allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system perform more efficiently. When you request an air duct cleaning, repair techs check and clean components such as your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers. 
  1. Keep Your Furnace Well Maintained. Adequate HVAC maintenance and regular checkups are another great way to both enhance your house’s air quality and keep your heating running as smoothly as possible. Before turning your heating on for the first time, it tends to help to have an HVAC technician perform a maintenance examination to verify your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in working shape. 

Allergies and recurring illness can be discouraging, and it can be difficult to learn what’s creating or aggravating them. Here are some extra FAQs, complete with answers and suggestions that can help.  

Is Forced Air Detrimental for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are usually told that forced air heating may irritate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can push allergens through the air, leading you to breathing them in more frequently than if you had a radiant heating system. While it’s true forced air systems can make your allergies more severe, that is only if you don’t take suitable maintenance of your heating equipment. Other than the tasks we included previously, you can also: 

  • Dust and vacuum your house often. If there aren’t dust, dander or mold spore particles to collect in your air ducts, your air system can’t carry them into the air, and you can’t inhale them. Some added cleaning suggestions involve: 
  • Ensure your vacuum has a HEPA filter. 
  • Dust prior to vacuuming. 
  • Clean your curtains routinely, as they are a typical collecto of allergens. 
  • Remember to clean behind and under furniture. 
  • Watch your house’s moisture levels. High humidity levels can also result in aggravating your allergies. Humidity supports mold growth and dust mites. Adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system keeps moisture levels under control and your indoor air quality much healthier. 

What is the Ideal Furnace Filter for Allergies? 

Typically, HEPA filters are the best if you or someone in your home struggles with allergies. HEPA filters are rated to remove 99.97 to 99.99% of particles, such as dust, pollen and dirt. These filters have a MERV rating of 17-21, depending on the brand or filter material. This rating reveals how well a filter can take pollutants from the air. Because of their high-efficiency filtration performance, HEPA filters are thick and can restrict airflow. It’s wise to touch base with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to ensure your heating and cooling system can work correctly with these high efficiency filters. 

Can Dirty Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick? 

Old filters can harbor particles and allow poor quality air to move throughout your home. This also applies to dirty ductwork. If you inhale these particles it can cause sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related problems, depending on your sensitivity. 

It’s beneficial to swap out your HVAC filter after 30-60 days, but here are some indications you may need to more frequently: 

  • It’s taking more time for your system to cool or heat your house. 
  • You notice more dust in your home. 
  • Heating and cooling expenses are going up with no clear reason. 
  • Your allergies are popping up more often. 
  • Symptoms your air ducts need cleaning include: 
  • The metal is covered in dust. 
  • Dirty supply and return vents. 
  • Mold in your furnace, air conditioner, heat pump or air handler. 
  • Dust coming from your vents when your HVAC system is working. 
  • Your residence is always dusty, despite continuous cleaning. 

Your health and comfort are our greatest priority at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. Whether it’s furnace repair now. 

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