How Your Furnace Can Trigger Your Allergies

Have you ever noticed when you turn on your heat for the first time in the fall, you’re sneezing more than usual? While spring allergies often get a more severe reputation, fall allergies are still very prominent and affect many. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring thanks to weather affecting our immune systems and from cranking up our equipment. This could leave you wondering, can furnaces make allergies worse in Fort Lauderdale, or even trigger them? 

While furnaces can’t cause allergies, they could make them worse. How? During the summer months, dust, dander and other pollutants can accumulate in heating ducts. When the winter temps begin and we turn our heat on for the first time, all those allergens are now pushed out of the ventilation and circulate throughout our residences. Fortunately, there are things you can do to stop your furnace from aggravating your allergies. 

How to Keep Your Furnace from Triggering Your Allergies

1. Replace Your HVAC Filter. Routinely replacing your filters is one of the best things you can do to alleviate your allergies at any time of the year. New filters are better at snagging the allergens in your house’s air, helping to keep you breathing easy. 

2. Clean Your Air Ducts. Not only do particulates harbor in your HVAC filters, but in your vents as well. An air duct cleaning can help ease allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system run more efficiently. When you call for an air duct cleaning, technicians check and clean components such as your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers. 

3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Order. Proper HVAC maintenance and routine service are another easy way to both boost your house’s air quality and keep your heating working as efficiently as possible. Prior to turning your heat on for the first time, it can help to have an HVAC tech complete a maintenance checkup to verify your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in great condition. 

Allergies and continual illness can be annoying, and it can be hard to discover what’s leading to or triggering them. Here are some common FAQs, complete with answers and suggestions that could 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 push allergens through the air, causing you to breathe them in more often than if you used a radiant heating system. While it’s correct forced air systems might make your allergies not so good, that is only if you don’t take suitable care of your system. Other than the tasks we listed already, you can also: 

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

• Confirm your vacuum has a HEPA filter. 
• Dust before vacuuming. 
• Clean your curtains regularly, as they are a common harbor of allergens. 

• Remember to clean behind and under furniture. 

• Keep an Eye on your residence’s moisture levels. Higher humidity levels can also lead to more severe allergies. Humidity supports mold growth and dust mites. Getting a dehumidifier with your HVAC system keeps moisture levels balanced and your indoor air quality much healthier. 

What is the Top Furnace Filter for Allergies? 

Usually, HEPA filters are a great fit if you or someone in your family struggles with allergies. HEPA filters are rated to filter 99.97 to 99.99% of particles, like dust, pollen and dirt. These filters have a MERV rating of 17-21, depending on the brand or filter material. This rating illustrates how well a filter can take pollutants from the air. Because of their high-efficiency filtration construction, HEPA filters are deep and can limit airflow. It’s smart to touch base with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to ensure your heating and cooling system can work right with these high efficiency filters. 

Can Dirty Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick? 

Dirty filters can harbor particles and allow poor quality air to circulate. This is also applicable for dirty air ducts. If you inhale these particles it can cause sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related symptoms, depending on your sensitivity. 

It’s smart to replace your HVAC filter every 30-60 days, but here are some signs you might need to more frequently: 

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

• You discover more dust in your home. 
• Utility bills are going up with no obvious reason. 
• Your allergies are acting up. 
• Symptoms your air ducts require cleaning include: 
• The metal is sitting 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 starting. 
• Your home is frequently dusty, despite frequent cleaning. 

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