Can an HVAC System Help Control Indoor Allergens?

Are indoor allergens getting you down? Do you wonder whether you have poor indoor air quality? Common allergens include pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and biological growth, and can be spread through your house by an improperly maintained HVAC system. You may be surprised at how effective a healthy HVAC system can be at reducing allergens in your home with just a few simple steps.

Control Humidity

Humid air is the perfect environment for biological growth and dust mites. Run your air conditioning unit, aiming for 40 to 60 percent humidity in your home. Not only does your HVAC control humidity, it pulls old air through the filter and brings in fresh air in from outside, also reducing airborne allergens.

Keep HVAC Components Clean

Just like other areas of your home, your air conditioning unit needs to be dusted. The AC register and return vents should be dusted before and after dusting the rest of the home, as these areas quickly gather dust and debris.

In addition to dusting your system, check for any biological buildup in your system.  Specific areas are more likely to have this unhealthy condition. Air ducts, evaporator coils, air handlers, and condensate drip pans and drains can all provide hospitable environments for it. Check these areas of your HVAC system and remove any small growths you find. A large buildup of biological growth in your system might be an indicator that professional help is needed.

Use High-Quality Air Filters

Though necessary for allergy sufferers, frequent mopping, vacuuming, and dusting can put surface allergens back into the air. A high-quality air filter in your HVAC system is an excellent defense against airborne allergens, as even the smallest irritating particles are filtered out of the air.

Your air filter should be replaced every two to three months. Finding a dirty air filter means that your unit is doing its job, but leaving an old, clogged filter too long may keep your system from being effective. Set a reminder to help you keep track.

Pull Fresh Air In

Take a look around your outside unit. The outdoor unit will pull any particles near it into your home, so clearing any debris on or around the unit is a must. Rake back any leaves and cut back branches and vegetation at least two feet in all directions.  This will allow proper airflow around the unit and minimize allergens being pulled into your home.

Spring Clean your HVAC

Having a professional clean and maintain your HVAC system is an important step in keeping your system operating properly.  An HVAC professional can clear any blockages and ensure proper functioning.  Schedule a maintenance visit for spring, the best time of year for a tune-up.

Don’t sit back and wait for the miserable sneezing, congestion, and itchy, watery eyes. Maintaining your HVAC system can help eliminate allergens from your home, leading to improvement in your allergy symptoms. Contact a local HVAC professional to keep your system healthy so your system can keep you healthy too.