How Your Furnace Can Trigger Your Allergies

Have you ever noticed when you start your heating for the first time in the fall, you’re sneezing more than usual? While spring allergies usually get a worse reputation, fall allergies are still very prominent and affect many. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring colder temps impairing our immune systems and from winding up our heating. This might leave you considering, can furnaces make allergies worse in Fort Lauderdale, or even lead to them? 

While furnaces can’t create allergies, they could make them worse. How? During the warmer months, dust, dander and other allergens can collect in heating ducts. When the cold conditions arrive and we turn our heat on for the first time, all those allergens are now pushed out of the ventilation and travel throughout our homes. Thankfully, there are things you can do to prevent your furnace from aggravating your allergies. 

How to Keep Your Furnace from Triggering Your Allergies

1. Replace Your HVAC Filter. Regularly replacing your filters is one of the best tasks you can complete to alleviate your allergies at any time of the year. Fresh filters are superior when catching the allergens in your home’s air, helping to keep you healthier. 

2. Clean Your Air Ducts. Not only do particulates harbor in your HVAC filters, but in your ventilation 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, our experts check and clean components such as your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers. 

3. Keep Your Furnace Well Maintained. Adequate HVAC maintenance and scheduled checkups are another easy way to both strengthen your home’s air quality and keep your furnace working as smoothly as possible. Prior to turning your furnace on for the first time, it can help to have an HVAC mechanic perform a maintenance inspection to ensure your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in excellent working order. 

Allergies and recurring illness can be discouraging, and it can be hard to figure out what’s causing or triggering them. Here are some extra FAQs, along with answers and tips that can help.  

Is Forced Air Bad for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are often told that forced air heating might irritate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can circulate allergens through the air, resulting in you breathing them in more often than if you used a radiant heating system. While it’s accurate forced air systems might make your allergies more severe, that is only if you ignore suitable upkeep of your heating equipment. Other than the practices we listed previously, you can also: 

• Dust and vacuum your house frequently. If there aren’t dust, dander or mold spore particles to clog your air ducts, your air system can’t transport them into the air, and you can’t inhale them. Some added cleaning suggestions are: 

• Confirm your vacuum has a HEPA filter. 
• Dust ahead of vacuuming. 
• Clean your curtains periodically, as they are a common collecto of allergens. 

• Remember to clean behind and under furniture. 

• Check your residence’s moisture levels. High humidity levels can also lead to more severe allergies. Humidity enables mold growth and dust mites. Adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system keeps moisture levels in check and your indoor air quality much healthier. 

What is the Ideal Furnace Filter for Allergies? 

Generally, HEPA filters are a strong option if you or someone in your family struggles with allergies. HEPA filters are rated to take out 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 brand or filter material. This rating reveals how successfully a filter can take pollutants from the air. Due to their high-efficiency filtration materials, HEPA filters are deep and can restrict airflow. It’s important to talk to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to confirm your heating and cooling system can perform properly with these high efficiency filters. 

Can Dusty Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick? 

Dirty filters can trap particles and allow poor quality air to recirculate. This is also applicable for dusty vents. If you inhale these particles it can cause sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related issues, depending on your sensitivity. 

It’s beneficial to swap out your HVAC filter after 30-60 days, but here are some signs you could need to sooner: 

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

• You notice more dust in your house. 
• Heating and cooling bills are increasing with no clear reason. 
• Your allergies are acting up. 
• Clues your air ducts need cleaning include: 
• The metal is coated in dust. 

• Filthy 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 starting. 
• Your house is often dusty, regardless of constant cleaning. 

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