How Your Furnace Can Worsen Your Allergies

Have you ever caught when you start your heating for the first time in the fall, you’re sneezing more frequently? While spring allergies often get a worse reputation, fall allergies are still very common and many people struggle with them. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring thanks to temps impairing our immune systems and from starting up our heating. This could leave you thinking, can furnaces make allergies worse in Jacksonville, or even trigger them? 

While furnaces can’t create allergies, they could aggravate them. How? During the summer months, dust, dander and other pollutants can build up in heating ducts. When the cold temps arrive and we switch our heating on for the first time, all those allergens are now circulated through the ventilation and move through our residences. Luckily, there are things you can do to stop your furnace from worsening your allergies. 

How to Keep Your Furnace from Worsening Your Allergies

1. Replace Your HVAC Filter. Regularly replacing your filters is one of the best things you can perform to minimize your allergies at any time of the year. Fresh filters are ideal for catching the allergens in your residence’s air, helping to keep you breathing easy. 

2. Dust Your Air Ducts. Not only do particulates harbor in your HVAC filters, but in your vents as well. An air duct cleaning may help minimize allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system work more efficiently. When you request an air duct cleaning, repair techs review and clean components such as your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers. 

3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Order. Adequate HVAC maintenance and routine tune-ups are another excellent way to both boost your residence’s air quality and keep your furnace working as smoothly as possible. Before flipping your heat on for the first time, it could help to have an HVAC technician complete a maintenance inspection to ensure your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in excellent condition. 

Allergies and recurring illness can be annoying, and it can be tough to learn what’s creating or worsening them. Here are some extra FAQs, including answers and ideas that could help.  

Is Forced Air Harmful for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are usually told that forced air heating might irritate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can circulate allergens through the air, causing you to breathe them in more frequently than if you used a radiant heating system. While it’s true forced air systems might make your allergies more severe, that is only if you ignore suitable maintenance of your furnace. Other than the things we listed previously, you can also: 

• Dust and vacuum your residence regularly. If there aren’t dust, dander or mold spore particles to clog your air ducts, your air system can’t carry them into the air, and you can’t inhale them. Some extra cleaning tips are: 

• Ensure your vacuum has a HEPA filter. 
• Dust before vacuuming. 
• Clean your curtains periodically, as they are a frequent hiding place of allergens. 

• Remember to clean behind and under furniture. 

• Keep an Eye on your residence’s moisture levels. Increased humidity levels can also lead to aggravating your allergies. Humidity causes mold growth and dust mites. Installing a dehumidifier with your HVAC system keeps moisture levels under control and your indoor air quality much fresher. 

H2: What is the Top Furnace Filter for Allergies? 

In general, HEPA filters are ideal if you or someone in your family struggles with allergies. HEPA filters are rated to remove 99.97 to 99.99% of particles, including 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 clean pollutants from the air. Due to their high-efficiency filtration performance, HEPA filters are thick and can reduce airflow. It’s wise to contact Air Engineers Service Experts to ensure your heating and cooling system can run correctly with these high efficiency filters. 

Can Dusty Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick? 

Old filters can harbor particles and allow poor quality air to circulate. This also applies to filthy vents. If you inhale these particles it can cause sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related issues, depending on your sensitivity. 

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

• It’s taking a longer amount of time for your system to cool or heat your residence. 

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

• Dusty supply and return vents. 
• Mold in your furnace, air conditioner, heat pump or air handler. 
• Dust coming from your vents when your HVAC system is running. 
• Your residence is often dusty, regardless of continuous cleaning. 

Your health and comfort are our greatest priority at Air Engineers Service Experts. Whether it’s furnace repair now.