How Your Furnace Can Worsen Your Allergies

Have you ever noticed when you start your heating for the first time in the fall, you’re sniffling more often? While spring allergies seem to get a harsher reputation, fall allergies are still very typical and many people are affected by them. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring brisk weather weakening our immune systems and from winding up our furnaces. This might leave you considering, can furnaces make allergies worse in the U.S., or even trigger them? 

While furnaces can’t lead to allergies, they sometimes make them worse. How? During the warmer months, dust, dander and other allergens can collect in heating ducts. When the cold temps arrive and we flip our heating on for the first time, all those allergens are now pushed out of the vents and travel within our residences. Luckily, there are things you can do to keep your furnace from worsening your allergies. 

How to Keep Your Furnace from Triggering Your Allergies

1. Replace Your HVAC Filter. Frequently replacing your filters is one of the best chores you can complete to alleviate your allergies at any time of the year. New filters are ideal for catching the allergens in your house’s air, helping to keep you in better health. 

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

3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Order. Quality HVAC maintenance and routine checkups are another good way to both improve your home’s air quality and keep your heater performing as smoothly as possible. Before flipping your furnace on for the first time, it could help to have an HVAC technician complete a maintenance inspection to verify your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in excellent condition. 

Allergies and continuous illness can be annoying, and it can be hard to pinpoint what’s creating or aggravating them. Here are some extra FAQs, complete with answers and tips that could help.  

Is Forced Air Detrimental for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are usually told that forced air heating could irritate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can carry allergens through the air, leading you to breathing them in more regularly than if you used a radiant heating system. While it’s accurate forced air systems can make your allergies more severe, that is only if you avoid appropriate maintenance of your heating equipment. Other than the things we listed 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 circulate them into the air, and you can’t inhale them. Some additional cleaning suggestions involve: 

• Make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter. 
• Dust in advance of vacuuming. 
• Clean your curtains periodically, as they are a typical harbor of allergens. 

• Make sure to clean behind and under furniture. 

• Check your residence’s moisture levels. High humidity levels can also lead to worsening of allergies. Humidity causes mold growth and dust mites. Installing a dehumidifier with your HVAC system keeps moisture levels in check and your indoor air quality much healthier. 

What is the Top Furnace Filter for Allergies? 

Typically, HEPA filters are a strong option if you or someone in your household struggles with allergies. HEPA filters are rated to filter 99.97 to 99.99% of particles, such as dust, pollen and dirt. These filters have a MERV rating of 17-21, depending on the kind. This rating reveals how thoroughly a filter can take pollutants from the air. Because of their high-efficiency filtration materials, HEPA filters are deep and can restrict airflow. It’s wise to contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to make sure your heating and cooling system can work properly with these high efficiency filters. 

Can Clogged Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick? 

Dirty filters can hold on to particles and allow poor quality air to move throughout your home. This also applies to dusty ductwork. If you inhale these particles it can cause sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related symptoms, depending on your sensitivity. 

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

• It’s taking more time for your system to cool or heat your house. 

• You find more dust in your residence. 
• Energy costs are going up with no clear reason. 
• Your allergies are acting up. 
• Signs your air ducts could use 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 starting. 
• Your house is always dusty, in spite of constant cleaning. 

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