How Your Furnace Can Worsen Your Allergies

Have you ever noticed when you turn on your heat for the first time in the fall, you’re wheezing more often? While spring allergies often get a worse reputation, fall allergies are still very typical and affect many. For some, fall allergies can be even worse than spring colder temps affecting our immune systems and from starting up our heating. This can leave you thinking, can furnaces make allergies worse in Edmonton, or even trigger them? 

While furnaces can’t create allergies, they can intensify them. How? During the hotter months, dust, dander and other pollutants can accumulate in heating ducts. When the winter temperatures hit and we turn our heating on for the first time, all those allergens are now circulated through the ventilation and move throughout our houses. Thankfully, there are things you can do to stop your furnace from irritating your allergies. 

How to Keep Your Furnace from Affecting Your Allergies

1. Replace Your HVAC Filter. Routinely replacing your filters is one of the best chores you can complete to alleviate your allergies at any time of the year. Fresh filters are superior when trapping the allergens in your house’s air, helping to keep you in better health. 

2. Clean Your Air Ducts. Not only do small particles gather in your HVAC filters, but in your ventilation as well. An air duct cleaning may help minimize allergy symptoms and help your HVAC system work more efficiently. When you request an air duct cleaning, our experts check and clean components including your supply/return ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers. 

3. Keep Your Furnace in Good Working Condition. Quality HVAC maintenance and scheduled checkups are another excellent way to both boost your house’s air quality and keep your furnace working as smoothly as possible. Prior to turning your furnace on for the first time, it can help to have an HVAC tech perform a maintenance checkup to verify your filters and air ducts are clean and everything else is in working condition. 

Allergies and frequent illness can be frustrating, and it can be tough to discover what’s leading to or worsening them. Here are some additional FAQs, including answers and ideas that can help.  

Is Forced Air Bad for Allergies?

Allergy sufferers are usually told that forced air heating might aggravate your allergies even more. Forced air systems can push allergens through the air, causing you to breathe them in more regularly than if you used a radiant heating system. While it’s correct forced air systems may make your allergies not so good, that is only if you ignore suitable upkeep of your furnace. Other than the practices we included already, you can also: 

• Dust and vacuum your residence regularly. If there aren’t dust, dander or mold spore particles to collect in your air ducts, your air system can’t circulate them into the air, and you can’t inhale them. Some added cleaning suggestions include: 

• Check your vacuum has a HEPA filter. 
• Dust in advance of vacuuming. 
• Clean your curtains regularly, as they are a common collecto of allergens. 

• Don’t forget to clean behind and under furniture. 

• Check your home’s moisture levels. Increased humidity levels can also contribute to worsening of allergies. Humidity supports mold growth and dust mites. Adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system keeps moisture levels under control and your indoor air quality much healthier. 

H2: What is the Top Furnace Filter for Allergies? 

In general, HEPA filters are a strong option if you or someone in your family deals with allergies. HEPA filters are rated to take out 99.97 to 99.99% of particles, including dust, pollen and dirt. These filters have a MERV rating of 17-21, depending on the type. This rating demonstrates how thoroughly a filter can remove pollutants from the air. Due to their high-efficiency filtration materials, HEPA filters are dense and can restrict airflow. It’s beneficial to touch base with McKinley Heating Service Experts to confirm your heating and cooling system can operate correctly with these high efficiency filters. 

Can Dirty Filters or Air Ducts Make Me Sick? 

Worn filters can harbor particles and allow poor quality air to circulate. The same goes for filthy ductwork. If you inhale these particles it can produce sneezing, coughing or other asthma-related problems, depending on your sensitivity. 

It’s beneficial to switch out your HVAC filter every 30-60 days, but here are some signs you may need to more frequently: 

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

• You find more dust in your residence. 
• Energy expenses are increasing with no clear reason. 
• Your allergies are acting up. 
• Clues your air ducts need cleaning include: 
• The metal is covered 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 working. 
• Your residence is always dusty, despite frequent cleaning. 

Your health and comfort are our first priority at McKinley Heating Service Experts. Whether it’s furnace repair right away.