Your Furnace May Be Making Your Allergies More Severe

Have you ever felt when you turn on your furnace for the first time in the fall, you’re sniffling more often? While spring allergies usually get a harsher 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 cooler temps impairing our immune systems and from starting up our furnaces. This could leave you wondering, can furnaces make allergies worse in Daytona Beach, or even cause them?

While furnaces can’t lead to allergies, they sometimes aggravate them. How? During the hotter months, dust, dander and other pollutants can accumulate in heating ducts. When the winter temps arrive and we flip our heating on for the first time, all those allergens are now circulated through the vents and circulate within our residences. Luckily, there are things you can do to stop your furnace from worsening your allergies.

How to Keep Your Furnace from Worsening Your Allergies

1. Change Your HVAC Filter. Regularly replacing your filters is one of the best tasks you can do to minimize your allergies at any time of the year. Clean filters are better at snagging the allergens in your home’s air, helping to keep you in better health.
2. Freshen Up Your Air Ducts. Not only do particulates gather in your HVAC filters, but in your vents as well. An air duct cleaning may help ease allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system work more efficiently. When you schedule an air duct cleaning, repair techs check and clean components such as your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers.
3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Order. Proper HVAC maintenance and periodic service are another excellent way to both improve your home’s air quality and keep your heating performing as effectively as possible. In advance of switching your heating on for the first time, it could help to have an HVAC tech complete a maintenance examination to ensure your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in good shape.

Allergies and continual illness can be discouraging, and it can be difficult to figure out what’s causing or aggravating them. Here are some common FAQs, complete with answers and suggestions that might help.

Is Forced Air Bad for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are typically told that forced air heating can affect your allergies even more. Forced air systems can carry allergens through the air, resulting in you breathing them in more often than if you used a radiant heating system. While it’s correct forced air systems might make your allergies worse, that is only if you ignore suitable maintenance of your heating equipment. Other than the practices we included above, you can also:

• Dust and vacuum your house 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 additional cleaning tips involve:
  • Confirm your vacuum has a HEPA filter.
  • Dust in advance of vacuuming.
  • Clean your curtains routinely, as they are a common harbor of allergens.
  • Remember to clean behind and under furniture.
• Watch your home’s moisture levels. High humidity levels can also result in worsening of allergies. Humidity enables mold growth and dust mites. Installing a dehumidifier with your HVAC system keeps moisture levels balanced and your indoor air quality much fresher.

What is the Ideal Furnace Filter for Allergies?

Usually, HEPA filters are ideal 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 illustrates how thoroughly a filter can take pollutants from the air. Because of their high-efficiency filtration materials, HEPA filters are dense and can restrict airflow. It’s beneficial to talk to All American Air Service Experts to confirm your heating and cooling system can work properly with these high efficiency filters.

Can Clogged Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick?

Clogged filters can trap particles and allow poor quality air to circulate. This is also applicable for dusty vents. If you inhale these particles it can cause sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related symptoms, depending on your sensitivity.

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

• It’s taking more time for your system to cool or heat your residence.
• You discover more dust in your home.
• Utility expenses are rising with no obvious reason.
• Your allergies are popping up more often.

Symptoms your air ducts require cleaning include:

• The metal is sitting in dust.
• Dirty 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 running.
• Your residence is frequently dusty, in spite of continuous cleaning.

Your health and comfort are our top priority at All American Air Service Experts. Whether it’s furnace repair today.