How Your Furnace Can Trigger Your Allergies

Have you ever noticed when you start your heating for the first time in the fall, you’re sniffling more frequently? While spring allergies often get a worse reputation, fall allergies are still very typical and affect many. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring brisk temps weakening our immune systems and from starting up our equipment. This can leave you considering, can furnaces make allergies worse in the U.S., or even trigger them?

While furnaces can’t lead to allergies, they sometimes make them worse. How? During the hotter months, dust, dander and other debris can build up in heating ducts. When the cold temps arrive and we switch our heating on for the first time, all those allergens are now pushed out of the vents and travel within our houses. Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep your furnace from aggravating your allergies.

How to Keep Your Furnace from Worsening Your Allergies

1. 1. Get a New HVAC Filter. Routinely replacing your filters is one of the best tasks you can perform to alleviate your allergies at any time of the year. Fresh filters are better at snagging the allergens in your home’s air, helping to keep you healthier.

2. 2. Clean Your Air Ducts. Not only do small particles gather in your HVAC filters, but in your ventilation as well. An air duct cleaning can help ease allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system work more efficiently. When you schedule an air duct cleaning, our experts survey and clean components like your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers.

3. 3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Order. Adequate HVAC maintenance and periodic tune-ups are another good way to both boost your house’s air quality and keep your furnace working as smoothly as possible. In advance of switching your furnace on for the first time, it tends to help to have an HVAC tech run through a maintenance inspection to confirm your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in tip-top working order.

Allergies and continuous illness can be irritating, and it can be difficult to learn what’s leading to or triggering them. Here are some extra FAQs, along with answers and suggestions that might help.

Is Forced Air Bad for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are frequently told that forced air heating might aggravate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can circulate allergens through the air, causing you to breathe them in more frequently than if you used a radiant heating system. While it’s accurate forced air systems may make your allergies more severe, that is only if you ignore suitable upkeep of your heating equipment. Other than the practices we included already, you can also:

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

• • Confirm your vacuum has a HEPA filter.

• • Dust in advance of vacuuming.

• • Clean your curtains routinely, as they are a frequent harbor of allergens.

• • Remember to clean behind and under furniture.

• • Watch your house’s moisture levels. High humidity levels can also lead to aggravating your allergies. Humidity causes mold growth and dust mites. Adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system keeps moisture levels balanced and your indoor air quality much better.

H2: What is the Top Furnace Filter for Allergies?

Generally, HEPA filters are a great fit if you or someone in your home 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 illustrates how successfully a filter can clean pollutants from the air. Due to their high-efficiency filtration performance, HEPA filters are dense and can restrict airflow. It’s helpful to contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to confirm your heating and cooling system can perform properly with these high efficiency filters.

Can Dusty Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick?

Clogged filters can hold on to particles and allow poor quality air to move throughout your home. The same goes for filthy vents. If you inhale these particles it can cause sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related issues, depending on your sensitivity.

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

• • It’s taking longer for your system to cool or heat your home.

• • You find more dust in your home.

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

• • Your allergies are getting worse.

• • Symptoms your air ducts require cleaning include:

• • The metal is coated in dust.

• • Dusty supply and return vents.

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

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

• • Your home is often dusty, regardless of continuous cleaning.

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