Over one-third of American adults have reported experiencing seasonal allergies. For many sufferers, the condition is recurring, and spring is the worst time of year. The upside to knowing your spring allergies will occur is being able to take steps to minimize them.
Reduce Indoor Pollution Sources
Pollen isn’t your only concern during the spring. Many people unknowingly introduce allergens to their environments that trigger attacks and worsen symptoms. Take care with the type and number of houseplants you have, and be sure not to overwater them. Choose household cleaners carefully, and opt for natural products whenever possible. Store solvents and similar substances outside of the living areas. Also, be careful when choosing furniture and furnishings. Some products can off-gas volatile organic compounds for weeks and even months.
Deep Dust Your Home
Dust is an obvious allergen, but it’s often far worse than many realize. It can absorb chemicals and gases, extend their lifespans, and continue to release them into your home. For both reasons, dust control is imperative for controlling allergies. Deep dust your home at least once a week. Dust rooms from top to bottom using a microfiber duster, and pay particular attention to knickknacks and other dust traps. After dusting, use a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
Upgrade Your HVAC Filter
Choose a high-quality HVAC filter that will perform well and that you won’t have to swap out or clean as often. Consider its minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) as well. MERV is a scale from 1 to 16 that indicates how effective a filter is. HVAC experts recommend using a filter with as high a rating as your system supports. Most modern HVAC systems support at least MERV 8 and many as high as MERV 13. If you can upgrade, your new filter will remove many more allergens from your air. Be careful not to use too high a MERV. Doing so will increase static air pressure in the system, which can lead to decreased energy efficiency and increased wear. Check your owner’s manual for recommendations.
Check the HVAC Filter Regularly
Most households use discardable HVAC filters. You should check that type at least once a month and replace it as needed. You’ll know it’s time because you’ll see dust accumulating on the outer surface. If you have washable filters, you should clean them thoroughly every two weeks. You should also replace them once a year, and early spring is an excellent time to do that.
Schedule a Spring Cooling Tune-Up
Book cooling maintenance in the spring before you need to run your air conditioner. That’s good advice even if you have a heat pump that a technician serviced last fall before winter. During that service, a technician will clean all of your cooling-related HVAC equipment. That includes the evaporator coil, which can harbor microbial growth and other grime. Cleaning the system each spring will protect your equipment and keep more allergens out of your air.
Schedule a Duct Camera Inspection
The average household should schedule a duct camera inspection every other year. People with severe allergies should schedule annually. Note that standard cooling maintenance doesn’t include a duct inspection, but you can usually schedule the services for the same appointment. Using a high-definition camera, a technician can identify any duct problems.
Duct Cleaning
No matter how well you dust your home, dust will settle in your ducts. Over time, the buildup can get quite substantial and even affect airflow. While the dust will generally remain there if undisturbed, it’s still a potential allergy concern for the reasons discussed earlier. Using a high-powered vacuum, a technician can remove all that dust from your home.
Duct Sealing
Duct seals can wear out over time, which can lead to air leakage. Leakage can undermine air conditioning by as much as 40%. It can also negatively affect indoor air quality. As conditioned air leaks out, air from the attic replaces it. That air is often humid and rich with allergens. Duct sealing uses a non-toxic aerosol to reseal the ducts.
Upgrade Your Home’s Ventilation System
Modern homes have tight building envelopes, which is excellent for energy efficiency but not ventilation. Inadequate ventilation can cause heightened allergen concentration levels. One option is to open your windows and doors to let the fresh air in. Just be sure to use window and door screens with a fine enough mesh to keep pollen and other allergens out.
With the windows closed, many households rely entirely on passive ventilation. If it’s not enough, it can trigger allergy attacks and worsen symptoms. An effective solution is a whole-house fan. Such a fan run will run independently of the HVAC system to exhaust stale air while drawing in ample fresh air.
Install a Whole-House Air Purifier
Another way to combat spring allergies is with whole-home air purification. Most in-duct air purifiers on the market provide at least five air changes per hour (ACH). People with severe allergies may prefer six or more ACH. Many air purifiers have either a high-MERV or HEPA filter. HEPA filters are notable, as they remove at least 99.97% of particles. That includes dust, pollen, and ultrafine particles that can exacerbate allergies as well.
Many systems pair the MERV or HEPA filter with activated carbon. This material is effective for odor control and will absorb gases and airborne chemicals. While we don’t generally think of gases and chemicals as spring allergy triggers, they can be. You can also opt for an in-duct germicidal lamp to neutralize over 99% of pathogens. That’s worthwhile in any season, but inflammation from allergies can make you more susceptible to bacteria and viruses.
Install a Whole-House Dehumidifier
Many allergists recommend a relative humidity (RH) between 40% and 50% for allergy sufferers. It is an optimal range for sleeping and can help alleviate mold, mildew, dust mites, and so on. If your indoor air is above 50% RH with the AC on, consider a dehumidifier. It will remove moisture from the air to bring the RH down to the desired level. While generally not a problem in spring, low RH can inflame your respiratory system as well. If low RH is an issue, consider installing a humidifier. It will add water vapor to the air to bring the RH up to your desired level.
Schedule Annual Air Purifier and Dehumidifier Service
If you already have an air purifier or a dehumidifier, those systems require regular service as well. Both dehumidifiers and air purifiers require comprehensive cleaning and sanitization. A technician may need to correct any wear and tear caused by normal operation. It may also be necessary to replace filters, activated carbon, dehumidifier pads, UV lights, and so forth.
Professional Indoor Air Quality Services in Shawnee
Air Care Heating & Cooling is a trusted HVAC company located in Shawnee, KS. Our NATE-certified technicians have been helping area homeowners improve their indoor air quality since 1981. We offer a full range of HVAC filter- and duct-related services. Our technicians also install and service ventilation systems, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and much more. Call Air Care Heating & Cooling today or contact us online to learn more about the many products and services we offer.
