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 often? While spring allergies seem to get a worse reputation, fall allergies are still very typical and many people are affected by them. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring due to temperatures affecting our immune systems and from starting up our heating. This might leave you thinking, can furnaces make allergies worse in the U.S., or even trigger 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 start and we flip our heat on for the first time, all those allergens are now pushed out of the ductwork and travel throughout our houses. Fortunately, there are things you can do to stop your furnace from worsening your allergies.

How to Keep Your Furnace from Worsening Your Allergies

    1. Replace Your HVAC Filter. Routinely replacing your filters is one of the best tasks you can complete to minimize your allergies at any time of the year. Clean filters are superior when snagging the allergens in your residence’s air, helping to keep you in better health.
    1. Dust Your Air Ducts. Not only do particulates harbor in your HVAC filters, but in your ductwork as well. An air duct cleaning may help reduce allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system perform more efficiently. When you schedule an air duct cleaning, our experts survey and clean components including your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers.
    1. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Condition. Quality HVAC maintenance and routine checkups are another easy way to both improve your home’s air quality and keep your system performing as smoothly as possible. Prior to switching your heat on for the first time, it can help to have an HVAC technician run through a maintenance inspection to confirm your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in good working order.

Allergies and frequent illness can be irritating, and it can be hard to discover what’s leading to or triggering them. Here are some extra FAQs, including answers and tips that might help.

Is Forced Air Harmful for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are frequently told that forced air heating may affect your allergies even more. Forced air systems can circulate allergens through the air, causing you to breathe them in more frequently than if you owned a radiant heating system. While it’s accurate forced air systems might make your allergies not so good, that is only if you ignore proper care of your furnace. Other than the things we included already, you can also:

    • Dust and vacuum your house often. If there aren’t dust, dander or mold spore particles to accumulate in your air ducts, your air system can’t circulate them into the air, and you can’t inhale them. Some extra cleaning suggestions are:
    • Make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter.
    • Dust before vacuuming.
    • Clean your curtains routinely, as they are a common hiding place of allergens.
    • Remember to clean behind and under furniture.
    • Check your house’s moisture levels. Increased humidity levels can also result in 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.

What is the Ideal Furnace Filter for Allergies?

Typically, HEPA filters are ideal if you or someone in your home deals with allergies. HEPA filters are rated to take out 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 kind. This rating illustrates how well a filter can remove pollutants from the air. Due to their high-efficiency filtration performance, HEPA filters are deep and can reduce airflow. It’s helpful to talk to Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to confirm your heating and cooling system can operate properly with these high efficiency filters.

Can Clogged Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick?

Dirty filters can harbor particles and allow poor quality air to recirculate. The same goes for dusty vents. If you inhale these particles it can cause sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related problems, depending on your sensitivity.

It’s beneficial to replace your HVAC filter around 30-60 days, but here are some signals you could need to sooner:

    • It’s taking more time for your system to cool or heat your house.
    • You come across more dust in your house.
    • Heating and cooling bills are going up with no clear reason.
    • Your allergies are popping up more often.
    • Clues your air ducts need cleaning include:
    • The metal is covered in dust.
    • Filthy 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 residence is frequently dusty, regardless of continuous cleaning.

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

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