How Your Furnace Can Spark Your Allergies

Have you ever noticed when you start your furnace for the first time in the fall, you’re wheezing more often? While spring allergies seem to get a more severe reputation, fall allergies are still very typical and affect many. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring brisk weather weakening our immune systems and from winding up our furnaces. This may leave you considering, can furnaces make allergies worse in the U.S., or even lead to them?

While furnaces can’t lead to allergies, they could make them worse. How? During the summer months, dust, dander and other debris can build up in heating ducts. When the winter conditions begin and we switch our heat on for the first time, all those allergens are now circulated through the ventilation and circulate through our residences. Luckily, there are things you can do to stop your furnace from irritating your allergies.

How to Keep Your Furnace from Affecting Your Allergies

1. 1. Replace Your HVAC Filter. Routinely replacing your filters is one of the best tasks you can do to alleviate your allergies at any time of the year. New filters are ideal for trapping the allergens in your house’s air, helping to keep you in better health.

2. 2. Freshen Up Your Air Ducts. Not only do pollutants harbor in your HVAC filters, but in your air ducts as well. An air duct cleaning can help reduce allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system perform more efficiently. When you call for an air duct cleaning, repair techs inspect and clean components like your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers.

3. 3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Condition. Quality HVAC maintenance and routine tune-ups are another easy way to both increase your residence’s air quality and keep your heating working as efficiently as possible. Prior to flipping your furnace on for the first time, it could help to have an HVAC tech perform a maintenance checkup to ensure your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in good shape.

Allergies and frequent illness can be annoying, and it can be tough to pinpoint what’s leading to or aggravating them. Here are some common FAQs, including answers and ideas that can help.

Is Forced Air Harmful for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are typically told that forced air heating could affect 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 accurate forced air systems may make your allergies more severe, that is only if you don’t take proper care of your system. Other than the tasks we mentioned already, you can also:

• • Dust and vacuum your home frequently. If there aren’t dust, dander or mold spore particles to clog your air ducts, your air system can’t circulate them into the air, and you can’t inhale them. Some extra cleaning tips involve:

• • Make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter.

• • Dust before vacuuming.

• • Clean your curtains periodically, as they are a typical collecto of allergens.

• • Make sure to clean behind and under furniture.

• • Watch your residence’s moisture levels. Higher humidity levels can also contribute to worsening of allergies. Humidity causes mold growth and dust mites. Adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system keeps moisture levels in check and your indoor air quality much fresher.

H2: What is the Ideal Furnace Filter for Allergies?

In general, HEPA filters are a strong option if you or someone in your household deals with allergies. HEPA filters are rated to filter 99.97 to 99.99% of particles, like dust, pollen and dirt. These filters have a MERV rating of 17-21, depending on the type. This rating reveals how successfully a filter can remove pollutants from the air. Due to their high-efficiency filtration materials, HEPA filters are thick and can restrict airflow. It’s wise to touch base with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to confirm your heating and cooling system can perform correctly with these high efficiency filters.

Can Dirty Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick?

Worn filters can harbor particles and allow poor quality air to circulate. This is also applicable for filthy ductwork. If you inhale these particles it can trigger sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related symptoms, depending on your sensitivity.

It’s recommended to replace your HVAC filter after 30-60 days, but here are some indications you could need to more frequently:

• • It’s taking a longer amount of time for your system to cool or heat your house.

• • You discover more dust in your residence.

• • Utility expenses are going up with no obvious reason.

• • Your allergies are acting up.

• • Clues your air ducts could use cleaning include:

• • The metal is coated in dust.

• • Filthy supply and return vents.

• • Mold in your furnace, air conditioner, heat pump or air handler.

• • Dust flowing from your vents when your HVAC system is working.

• • Your residence is always dusty, in spite of continuous cleaning.

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