HVAC Maintenance Tips to Fight Seasonal Allergies

Spring is generally a great season – after all, it is the season of warm weather, fresh flowers, and more. Unfortunately, spring isn’t so great for people who suffer from seasonal allergies, even when they never leave the house.

Allergens such as pollen, insect stings, etc. can enter the house, and if the HVAC unit isn’t properly maintained, they can trigger severe allergies and symptoms such as coughing, nasal congestion, postnasal drainage, and so on.

Luckily, making sure that your HVAC is “spring-ready” isn’t as challenging as you might think. Let’s take a look at the ways to fight seasonal allergies using your heating and cooling unit.

#1 Clean the Air Ducts

The air ducts are designed to keep allergens such as mold and mildew out of the indoor air, but if they’re dirty, they won’t be able to work at peak performance. Over time, allergens will accumulate inside the ducts, and this increases their chances of escaping through the vents. What’s worse is that mold can develop on the ducts, which can be a severe problem as mold inhalation has been known to cause intense side effects like shortness of breath.

If you’re uncertain when your HVAC unit’s ducts were last cleaned, schedule a duct cleaning service with an HVAC professional.

#2 Replace the Air Filters

Similar to air ducts, air filters catch allergens so that they don’t flow into the home. Unfortunately, homeowners often forget that the filters need to be changed, otherwise, they will become clogged with mold, mildew, and more. As a general rule, the air filters should be changed every ninety days, but this largely depends on the type of air filter installed.

If possible, invest in filters with a fine structure as these can catch smaller particles such as pollen. If you’re susceptible to allergies, it would be best to invest in HEPA filters that can catch 99.97 percent of microscopic particles. In short, there’s a slim chance for particles to escape the HEPA filter!

#3 Clean the Outdoor Unit

It’s not only the interior of your HVAC that needs cleaning – the outdoor unit needs regular cleaning, too. The exterior of your HVAC is exposed to the elements year-round, so it won’t be a surprise if it’s now blocked by dirt and debris. If these aren’t removed, they may enter your home through your HVAC unit.

Remember to turn the HVAC off before you clean it. From there, you can remove any dirt, debris, and more that may have gotten lodged, or use a vacuum if you’re having a hard time cleaning specific areas. Be gentle, as the condenser and blades can easily get bent out of shape. If you’re worried about breaking anything, you might want to hire a third-party contractor instead.

The Best Way to Clean Your HVAC for the Allergy Season

If you want to be absolutely sure that your heating and cooling unit will help you fight seasonal allergies, consider scheduling a tune-up with your HVAC professional, Beeson Mechanical Service, Inc. at 317-535-9338. They will thoroughly inspect your unit to ensure that it will perform efficiently, and pinpoint problem areas that need to be addressed as soon as possible.