Spring is a wonderful time of year. It’s when we all can enjoy nice cooler weather and time gardening, and enjoying the great outdoors. With the nice spring weather, we also have the return of pollen and other allergens. We all enjoy the beautiful blooms spring brings, but dealing with the allergies that follow is no fun. You may be particularly frustrated when you deal with allergies in your own home. So the question is, Can you help relieve allergies within your own home through your HVAC system? In one word, yes…. Actually let’s make that two words, yes if. If you properly maintain your AC system.
Air conditioners can help filter your home’s air and control its humidity, which both help in the allergy world. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, it is estimated there are approximately 50 million allergy sufferers in America, so any and all help is welcomed.
Properly maintaining your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning(HVAC) system is the difference between your air conditioner helping with these allergies and aggravating them.
How your HVAC systems helps improve indoor air quality
Whether you suffer from seasonal allergies or year-round allergens like pet dander, dust, and other irritants, your air conditioner can help you breathe easier. Having an air filter in your HVAC system that is able to filter out allergens, is one of the most important components to good indoor air quality. Allergens get stopped by the filter and they are not allowed to continue through the system to make their way to your lungs, improving your air quality.
Indoor air quality is also improved because your air conditioner helps control your home’s humidity. Higher levels of humidity breed additional allergens like bacteria, mold, and mildew. Your air conditioner works hard to balance your home’s humidity, thereby reducing the instances of these additional allergens.
When your HVAC system does not help indoor air quality
If your HVAC system is not properly maintained, or maintenance is neglected, it can actually make your indoor air quality worse. So in turn, your allergies may get worse.
If your filter is not changed on a regular basis, the filter will clog and not filter out allergens properly. These allergen particles then build up, having nowhere to go except to blow back through your home.
If the humidity builds up and moisture is unable to drain out of your system properly, the additional mold and bacteria allergens have free rein to flow through your home’s air. This results in added allergens you’re breathing while in your own home.
What you can do to improve your indoor air quality in your home
To keep your air conditioner helping, rather than hurting your air quality, take these steps:
Change your air filters regularly
Use a higher MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rated filter. (at least a MERV 8)
Clean/dust all indoor registers and returns on a regular basis
Have your air conditioner cleaned and maintained regularly, at least once a year
Inspect your ductwork and HVAC unit (secondary drain pan, drain, evaporator coils, air handler/furnace) for signs of leaks, corrosion, or mold.
Keep doors and windows closed while your air conditioner is running
Consider upgrading your air conditioner if over 10 years old
Consider adding on an air purifier
Let us help you with your allergies!
Keeping your air conditioner properly maintained throughout the year can help with airborne allergies. Not only will regular maintenance help curb allergies, it will also help ensure you and your family have the comfortable air you want and need. Uni-Serve Air Conditioning will help shield your home from having additional allergens and maintain a healthy HVAC system through our Uni-Shield maintenance plan. Give Uni-Serve Air Conditioning a call at 281-360-9898. We care about your air!
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