How to Ensure Your HVAC System Helps Relieve Your Allergy Symptoms

Allergens in your Sulphur Springs, Texas, home can make you and your family uncomfortable all year. You could experience eye irritation, rashes, nosebleeds, headaches, a sore throat, a stuffy nose, fatigue or other health problems. Make sure your HVAC system can relieve your allergy symptoms by controlling your home’s humidity, cleaning your ductwork, changing your air filter, and maintaining your unit.

Controlling Humidity

If the humidity in your home is too high, the air will feel hot and sticky. People cool themselves by sweating, and sweat can’t evaporate as quickly in humid air. Moisture also encourages biological growth and pests like cockroaches, silverfish, rats and dust mites. Many people are allergic to pest droppings, and they often create bad smells.

You should install exhaust fans in or near your bathrooms and kitchen to get rid of steam from showering or cooking. A dehumidifier can also help remove moisture. You can install a whole-home dehumidifier in your ductwork or use a portable model in one or two rooms. Humidifiers work well during dry periods.

Use a hygrometer to monitor your humidity, or choose a programmable thermostat that includes this instrument. A variable-speed HVAC system will run longer at a lower speed and dehumidify your home better than a standard system.

Cleaning Ductwork

Without cleaning at least every few years, allergens will build up in your ductwork and spread to the rest of your home. Pests and biological growth can also reduce your HVAC system’s airflow and waste energy by forcing you to use your system more.

To check your ductwork, remove one of your vents or air registers. Then, look for dust, biological growth or cobwebs. If you notice dirt or other similar particles, you should schedule duct cleaning. Call an expert who has the equipment and tools needed to reach all parts of your ductwork without damaging it. During the cleaning, your service technician can also find and seal any leaks that can reduce air quality and efficiency.

Changing Your Air Filter

You can avoid dirty ductwork and have your ducts cleaned less often by changing your HVAC system’s air filter once per month. A clean filter will capture as many allergens as possible instead of letting them spread through your home. If you continue to experience allergy symptoms after changing your air filter, switch to one with a higher minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating. You can also add an air purifier.

Maintaining Your HVAC System

Have your air conditioner checked by a professional before you start using it in the spring, and get your heater inspected in the fall. You can find out about leaks, poor insulation, a malfunctioning fan, or any other problems before they cause allergy symptoms. Regular maintenance can also prevent costly breakdowns and extend your system’s life. Upgrading to a more efficient unit can improve your indoor air quality as well.

If you notice bad smells, uncomfortable areas or strange noises, contact an HVAC professional to avoid more significant problems. Use a garden hose to rinse grass clippings, dirt, dust, pollen, and leaves away from your outdoor unit before they can reduce your system’s efficiency or impact your health. Trim any vegetation around your unit, and remove plants or trees in your yard that can worsen allergies. Clean your air registers and exhaust fans often, and dust your home regularly to keep contaminants from building up.

Wood Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Inc. has decades of heating and cooling experience, and we use state-of-the-art equipment and technology. We can help improve your home’s indoor air quality and reduce your allergy symptoms by installing, maintaining, and repairing a variety of HVAC equipment and accessories. For friendly, honest service from our professionally trained service technicians, call us anytime at 903-285-6550.

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