Allergens can be a horrible pain. Itchy, watery eyes, congestion, and coughing can keep you up all night and make you miserable all day. But while you’re likely to blame pollen and other allergens outdoors, your home heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system–or HVAC, for short–could be responsible for your symptoms. Technicians who specialize in HVAC installation often find that people who complain of poor outdoor air quality should actually work on their indoor air quality.
Here are the ways that your HVAC system may be contributing to your allergy symptoms, and what you can do to make your indoor air cleaner and safer to breathe.
Improve Your Filter
HVAC systems tend to recycle the same air over and over again in order to keep temperatures comfortable. The filters in your heater or return air vent are designed to help remove contaminants like dust and pet dander so you don’t continue breathing the same nasty air. Upgrade to a HEPA-style filter with a MERV rating of at least 10 for better filtration performance.
Clean Your Filter
Even if you choose a high-quality, high-performance filter, you still have to keep it clean. Change it or clean it every 1-3 months for better, less irritating air. Clean air also contributes to a more efficient and reliable heating and cooling system. You can call one of our technicians at JJM Heating & Cooling to help you with the process of cleaning your filter.
Improve Filtration
Electronic air filters, ionizers, and air purifiers are often used to remove allergens and contaminants in HVAC systems. These filters use electricity to attract and trap particles. As with ordinary filters, look for an MERV rating of 10 or higher for a more reliable purifier. Talk to a professional for product recommendations and installation.
Clean Air Ducts
If you keep your air ducts clean, you can experience cleaner, less irritating indoor air. Give us a call, our team of technicians will be happy to help with thorough duct and vent cleaning. They’ll eliminate debris that can make your indoor air just as allergy-inducing as the outdoor air you’re hoping to avoid.
Keep Humidity Balanced
Too much or too little humidity can irritate your allergies. Very dry or very moist air can make you feel terrible allergy symptoms like headaches or eye redness. Use humidifiers and dehumidifiers to balance your indoor air to a relative humidity of around 40%, which is the recommended level for comfortable, healthy air.
Hire our professionals at JJM Heating & Cooling to help diagnose your heating and cooling systems and determine how to best keep your indoor air allergen-free.