How Your Furnace Can Worsen Your Allergies

Have you ever caught when you turn on your heat for the first time in the fall, you’re sniffling more often? While spring allergies often get a worse reputation, fall allergies are still very prominent and affect many. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring brisk temps impairing our immune systems and from starting up our equipment. This can leave you wondering, can furnaces make allergies worse in the U.S., or even cause them?

While furnaces can’t cause allergies, they sometimes aggravate them. How? During the summer months, dust, dander and other allergens can build up in heating ducts. When the winter temperatures start and we flip our heating on for the first time, all those allergens are now circulated through the ductwork and move within our houses. Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent your furnace from irritating your allergies.

How to Keep Your Furnace from Triggering Your Allergies

1. 1. Change Your HVAC Filter. Regularly replacing your filters is one of the best things you can complete to help your allergies at any time of the year. Fresh filters are better at trapping the allergens in your house’s air, helping to keep you in better health.

2. 2. Clean Your Air Ducts. Not only do pollutants harbor in your HVAC filters, but in your air ducts as well. An air duct cleaning could help minimize allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system perform more efficiently. When you call for an air duct cleaning, our experts review and clean components including your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers.

3. 3. Keep Your Furnace Well Maintained. Adequate HVAC maintenance and routine tune-ups are another easy way to both strengthen your residence’s air quality and keep your heater performing as smoothly as possible. Prior to switching your furnace on for the first time, it can help to have an HVAC technician perform a maintenance checkup to confirm your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in good working order.

Allergies and continuous illness can be discouraging, and it can be tough to discover what’s creating or triggering them. Here are some extra FAQs, complete with answers and ideas that could help.

Is Forced Air Bad for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are usually told that forced air heating can irritate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can push allergens through the air, resulting in you breathing them in more often than if you had a radiant heating system. While it’s accurate forced air systems might make your allergies worse, that is only if you avoid suitable care of your furnace. Other than the practices we included previously, you can also:

• • Dust and vacuum your house frequently. 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 additional cleaning ideas include:

• • Ensure your vacuum has a HEPA filter.

• • Dust in advance of vacuuming.

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

• • Remember to clean behind and under furniture.

• • Watch your home’s moisture levels. High humidity levels can also contribute to aggravating your allergies. Humidity supports mold growth and dust mites. Getting a dehumidifier with your HVAC system keeps moisture levels under control and your indoor air quality much fresher.

H2: What is the Top Furnace Filter for Allergies?

Generally, HEPA filters are ideal if you or someone in your home struggles with allergies. HEPA filters are rated to take out 99.97 to 99.99% of particles, like dust, pollen and dirt. These filters have a MERV rating of 17-21, depending on the brand or filter material. This rating demonstrates how well a filter can clean pollutants from the air. Due to their high-efficiency filtration materials, HEPA filters are dense and can restrict airflow. It’s important to contact 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?

Dirty filters can trap particles and allow poor quality air to circulate. The same goes for filthy air ducts. If you inhale these particles it can trigger sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related issues, depending on your sensitivity.

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

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

• • You notice more dust in your home.

• • Energy costs are increasing with no apparent reason.

• • Your allergies are popping up more often.

• • Symptoms your air ducts could use cleaning include:

• • The metal is coated 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 starting.

• • Your home is frequently 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.