Your Furnace Can Be Making Your Allergies Worse

Have you ever felt when you run your heating for the first time in the fall, you’re sneezing more often? While spring allergies seem to get a harsher reputation, fall allergies are still very common and affect many. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring because of colder weather impairing our immune systems and from winding up our furnaces. This might leave you wondering, can furnaces make allergies worse in Pierre, or even cause them?

While furnaces can’t cause allergies, they can intensify them. How? During the warmer months, dust, dander and other debris can accumulate in heating ducts. When the cold temperatures begin and we flip our heat on for the first time, all those allergens are now pushed out of the ventilation and move throughout our homes. Thankfully, there are things you can do to stop your furnace from aggravating your allergies.

How to Keep Your Furnace from Triggering Your Allergies

1. Change Your HVAC Filter. Routinely replacing your filters is one of the best things you can complete to minimize your allergies at any time of the year. Fresh filters are ideal for snagging the allergens in your house’s air, helping to keep you breathing easy.
2. Clean Your Air Ducts. Not only do pollutants collect in your HVAC filters, but in your ductwork as well. An air duct cleaning could help minimize allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system perform more efficiently. When you request an air duct cleaning, technicians inspect and clean components such as your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers.
3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Condition. Proper HVAC maintenance and periodic service are another easy way to both increase your home’s air quality and keep your furnace working as effectively as possible. Before flipping your heating on for the first time, it can help to have an HVAC technician complete a maintenance examination to confirm your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in excellent working order.

Allergies and frequent illness can be discouraging, and it can be tough to learn what’s causing or triggering them. Here are some extra FAQs, including answers and suggestions that could help.

Is Forced Air Harmful for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are often told that forced air heating might aggravate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can carry allergens through the air, resulting in you breathing them in more frequently than if you had a radiant heating system. While it’s true forced air systems can make your allergies not so good, that is only if you avoid suitable upkeep of your system. Other than the practices we included previously, you can also:

• Dust and vacuum your house regularly. If there aren’t dust, dander or mold spore particles to accumulate 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 regularly, as they are a typical harbor of allergens.
  • Make sure to clean behind and under furniture.
• Keep an Eye on your residence’s moisture levels. Higher humidity levels can also contribute to aggravating your allergies. Humidity enables mold growth and dust mites. Adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system keeps moisture levels under control and your indoor air quality much better.

What is the Best Furnace Filter for Allergies?

Most often, HEPA filters are ideal if you or someone in your household suffers from 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 type. This rating illustrates how thoroughly a filter can remove pollutants from the air. Because of their high-efficiency filtration performance, HEPA filters are deep and can limit airflow. It’s beneficial to touch base with Peitz Service Experts to confirm your heating and cooling system can operate right 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 move throughout your home. This is also applicable for dirty ductwork. If you inhale these particles it can produce sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related symptoms, depending on your sensitivity.

It’s smart to switch out your HVAC filter every 30-60 days, but here are some signs you may need to sooner:

• It’s taking longer for your system to cool or heat your home.
• You notice more dust in your house.
• Energy bills are increasing with no obvious reason.
• Your allergies are getting worse.

Clues your air ducts require cleaning include:

• The metal is sitting in dust.
• Dusty 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 house is frequently dusty, in spite of constant cleaning.

Your health and comfort are our highest priority at Peitz Service Experts. Whether it’s furnace repair today.