Using Your HVAC to Help Prevent Allergies

Different seasons affect people and their allergies in different ways. Many of these folk experience their worst allergies in the springtime, but there are those who have it worse in the fall. Regardless of when your allergies are at their peak, here are a handful of HVAC allergy solutions you can use as a solution to the problem.

Springtime allergies can begin much sooner in February. Normal triggers include the pollination of trees and grass, and when the pollen is released they travel by wind through the air. These aggressive allergens will hit your respiratory and immune systems the hardest.

During the fall, allergies are the worst because of ragweed. While it does bloom for several months, it is not until September when it releases most of its pollen. Ragweed is the primary cause of allergies, but in the fall burning cocklebur, bush, pigweed, mugwort, and sagebrush can also affect you.

For all seasons, you will want to keep your home well protected from harmful allergens. To do so, you need to keep them outside of the house. One of the first things you want to check on is the area around your HVAC unit. You will need proper airflow to prevent allergy causing particles to enter your home, meaning you should clean the area around that unit. Clear away any debris outdoors and do not allow any furniture or drapery to block any units indoors.

Proper airflow is best when your filters are clean. Keeping an old air filter in place will make things worse, both for your allergies and for your HVAC system. You will want these air filters to stop any dust or particles from recirculating throughout your house, while your system wants clean air filters so it won’t have to work so hard. 

Any dust or mold present in the house can be a problem. Clean out your vents with a damp rag or by using a vacuum and do the same with the registers and return vents. Check for mold in areas that moisture levels could be higher. This is more likely to happen in the basement, near where you have your HVAC system. At the first sight of mold, you need to take action to remove it.

Adjusting the humidity levels will also provide benefits to you and your family’s health. Air conditioning is great to help your home feel cooler, and it does so with the added effect of dehumidifying. In the cooler months, you could also add a dehumidifier to your current HVAC unit to help regulate the levels in your home.

You don’t need a fortress to protect you from your allergies, your house should already be well equipped to keep your home safe. But if you find that your HVAC system could use a boost in keeping the air quality in your home at its best, call the professionals at Sunrise Heating and Plumbing at (616) 293-9326. We pride ourselves in providing nothing but exceptional customer service.