How Your Furnace Can Spark Your Allergies

Have you ever caught when you turn on your heating for the first time in the fall, you’re wheezing more often? While spring allergies often get a harsher reputation, fall allergies are still very prominent and many people are affected by them. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring colder temps weakening our immune systems and from starting up our heating. This can leave you considering, can furnaces make allergies worse in the U.S., or even trigger them? 

While furnaces can’t create allergies, they sometimes make them worse. How? During the summer months, dust, dander and other pollutants can collect in heating ducts. When the cold temperatures hit and we switch our furnaces on for the first time, all those allergens are now distributed through the ventilation and circulate within our homes. Luckily, there are things you can do to keep your furnace from irritating your allergies. 

How to Keep Your Furnace from Triggering Your Allergies

1. Get a New HVAC Filter. Regularly replacing your filters is one of the best things you can do to alleviate your allergies at any time of the year. Clean filters are better at trapping the allergens in your home’s air, helping to keep you breathing easy. 

2. Dust Your Air Ducts. Not only do small particles collect in your HVAC filters, but in your air ducts as well. An air duct cleaning could help ease allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system work more efficiently. When you request an air duct cleaning, our experts inspect and clean components including your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers. 

3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Condition. Quality HVAC maintenance and routine checkups are another good way to both increase your house’s air quality and keep your furnace running as effectively as possible. Prior to flipping your furnace on for the first time, it could help to have an HVAC technician perform a maintenance inspection to confirm your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in excellent condition. 

Allergies and recurring illness can be discouraging, and it can be difficult to learn what’s creating or aggravating them. Here are some additional FAQs, including answers and tips that could help.  

Is Forced Air Bad for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are frequently told that forced air heating could aggravate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can circulate allergens through the air, causing you to breathe them in more often than if you had a radiant heating system. While it’s true forced air systems may make your allergies worse, that is only if you avoid appropriate care of your system. Other than the practices we mentioned above, you can also: 

• Dust and vacuum your home often. If there aren’t dust, dander or mold spore particles to accumulate in your air ducts, your air system can’t circulate them into the air, and you can’t inhale them. Some additional cleaning ideas involve: 

• Check your vacuum has a HEPA filter. 
• Dust ahead of vacuuming. 
• Clean your curtains regularly, as they are a frequent harbor of allergens. 

• Make sure to clean behind and under furniture. 

• Check your house’s moisture levels. Higher humidity levels can also contribute to aggravating your allergies. Humidity supports mold growth and dust mites. Installing a dehumidifier with your HVAC system keeps moisture levels balanced and your indoor air quality much better. 

What is the Best Furnace Filter for Allergies? 

Typically, HEPA filters are the best if you or someone in your home 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 well a filter can clean pollutants from the air. Because of their high-efficiency filtration construction, HEPA filters are thick and can reduce airflow. It’s helpful to touch base with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to make sure your heating and cooling system can perform correctly with these high efficiency filters. 

Can Dusty Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick? 

Dirty filters can hold on to particles and allow poor quality air to recirculate. This is also applicable for filthy ductwork. If you inhale these particles it can produce sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related symptoms, depending on your sensitivity. 

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

• It’s taking longer for your system to cool or heat your home. 

• You come across more dust in your residence. 
• Heating and cooling costs are rising with no obvious reason. 
• Your allergies are getting worse. 
• Signs your air ducts require cleaning include: 
• The metal is covered in dust. 

• Filthy 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 working. 
• Your house is always dusty, despite frequent cleaning. 

Your health and comfort are our first priority at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. Whether it’s furnace repair today.