HVAC Tips for Limiting Allergy Triggers in the Home

Are there any people in your home, including yourself, who suffer from regular allergies? This is a highly common condition – some people only have rare seasonal allergies, while others have significant allergy concerns that last for much of the year or even the entire thing.

There are several strategies you can take to limit allergy symptoms, from over-the-counter medications to avoiding the triggers that tend to exacerbate them. Within this latter area, the quality of your air and your home’s HVAC system play a major role. Let’s go over some basics on allergies, plus how basic attention to HVAC details, including proper and frequently-changed air filters, can help you stay comfortable even during high allergy season.

Common Allergy Seasons

In many cases, people suffer allergies only during the spring and fall seasons, or have worsening symptoms during these seasons. Spring is the most common here, with various kinds of pollen and other known allergy risks making their way into the air when winter ends. Fall is another risk period for many, with items like ragweed that can travel hundreds of miles and trigger allergy symptoms in many people.

As we touched on above, however, some people experience allergies throughout the year. One common trigger for such individuals is mold, which can show up at any time of year but is most common during fall as the temperatures drop and humidity rises. If you’ve had mold issues in your home before, speak to HVAC professionals about how you can limit them.

HVAC Allergy Prevention Tips

Never fear, however – there are several things you can do as a homeowner to utilize your HVAC system as an allergy prevention method. Here are a few general areas:

  • Filtration: High-quality HVAC filters can be a huge asset in terms of limiting the presence of allergy triggers in the home. They filter out a variety of the main particles that often exacerbate allergies, from basic dust down to many others. Be sure your filters have the proper particle level to filter out allergens, and also make sure they are changed often enough.
  • Cleaning: Take regular time at least once a week to clean dust and dirt off any HVAC components you can access, including outdoor units, vents and others.
  • Duct cleaning: On top of your own efforts, contact HVAC pros for duct inspection and cleaning at least once per year. Even with your best efforts, dust and other allergy triggers may build up inside ducts over time.
  • Purifiers: For additional air quality if you have major allergy sufferers in the home, you might consider an air purifier or another specific in-home product that works in addition to your HVAC filters. These cycle the air in a given room or area, catching allergens and other contaminants.