How Your Furnace Can Worsen Your Allergies

Have you ever felt 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 typical and many people struggle with them. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring brisk temps impairing our immune systems and from starting up our furnaces. This could leave you thinking, can furnaces make allergies worse in Dallas, 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 pushed out of the ductwork and travel within our houses. Luckily, there are things you can do to stop your furnace from worsening your allergies. 

How to Keep Your Furnace from Affecting Your Allergies

1. Change Your HVAC Filter. Frequently replacing your filters is one of the best tasks you can complete to minimize your allergies at any time of the year. Fresh filters are ideal for snagging the allergens in your house’s air, helping to keep you in better health. 

2. Dust Your Air Ducts. Not only do particulates gather 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 including your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers. 

3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Order. Adequate HVAC maintenance and routine service are another excellent way to both boost your house’s air quality and keep your furnace working as smoothly as possible. Before switching your furnace on for the first time, it could help to have an HVAC tech run through 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 annoying, and it can be tough to learn what’s creating or worsening them. Here are some extra FAQs, complete with answers and suggestions that could help.  

Is Forced Air Bad for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are usually told that forced air heating might aggravate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can carry allergens through the air, leading you to breathing them in more frequently than if you owned a radiant heating system. While it’s accurate forced air systems might make your allergies worse, that is only if you ignore appropriate maintenance of your furnace. Other than the things we listed previously, you can also: 

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

• Ensure your vacuum has a HEPA filter. 
• Dust before vacuuming. 
• Clean your curtains routinely, as they are a typical harbor of allergens. 

• Make sure to clean behind and under furniture. 

• Check your house’s moisture levels. Increased humidity levels can also lead to worsening of allergies. Humidity causes mold growth and dust mites. Adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system keeps moisture levels under control and your indoor air quality much fresher. 

H2: What is the Best 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 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 type. This rating illustrates how thoroughly a filter can take pollutants from the air. Due to their high-efficiency filtration construction, HEPA filters are thick and can restrict airflow. It’s helpful to contact Levy & Son Service Experts to ensure your heating and cooling system can run correctly with these high efficiency filters. 

Can Dirty Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick? 

Old filters can hold on to particles and allow poor quality air to circulate. This also applies to filthy air ducts. 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 every 30-60 days, but here are some indications you might need to more regularly: 

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

• You find more dust in your residence. 
• Heating and cooling bills are rising with no obvious reason. 
• Your allergies are getting worse. 
• Symptoms 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 emitting from your vents when your HVAC system is working. 
• Your residence is always dusty, regardless of continuous cleaning. 

Your health and comfort are our greatest priority at Levy & Son Service Experts. Whether it’s furnace repair now.