5 Ways To Control Allergies With Your HVAC System

Most of us welcome springtime with blooming flowers and the promise of summer. But for people with allergies, rising outdoor temperatures mean stuffiness, headaches, watery eyes and all-over misery.

5 Ways To Control Allergies With Your HVAC System

You can’t change the weather or the outdoor allergens. Fortunately, you can minimize the effects of allergens inside your home with these HVAC tips.

1. Ensure you have proper ventilation

Fresh air is critical for allergy sufferers and the right ventilation system will keep the allergens to a minimum. Despite the outdoor triggers for your symptoms, the answer is not to keep stale air in your home. Indoor allergens can build up and make you just as sick! 

2. Upgrade your filter to HEPA

HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and it works by forcing air through a mesh that traps allergens like dust, pollen and pet dander. No HEPA filter is created equal so make sure to ask a HVAC professional about your options.

3. Use a room or whole-house air purifier

Air purifiers can be portable units placed in various rooms in your home, or they can be integrated into your HVAC distribution system. Besides filters, you can choose from ionizers, UV Light purifiers or adsorbents like activated charcoal. Ionizers charge dust and other particles. There are so many on the market it can be challenging to decide which one is best for your home, however research never hurt anyone--so I recommend reading the specifications and descriptions on each unit.

4. Clean your ductwork

If you're like me, I don't like dirt anywhere in my home even if I can't see it! Dust and other allergens can build up in your ductwork and get distributed throughout your home. Have your ductwork cleaned regularly to keep your air clean and free from these particles. 

5. Add humidifiers or dehumidifiers

You need the right humidity levels in your home to fight allergy symptoms. Too much moisture causes mold that worsens symptoms and too little can dry out mucus membranes, giving easy entry to allergens and germs. Installing a humidifier or dehumidifier (depending on the climate where you live) will work to keep moisture levels at the ideal 30-50% levels to help you fight allergies and symptoms.

If you have issues with the air quality in your home and want to find ways to reduce your allergy symptoms this spring, give Red Apple Air a call and we can help you make the right changes to your home’s HVAC systems.