Fall Allergies and Your Home

Fall is a favorite season for many of us. The leaves are beautiful, fall festivals (and fall food!) are happening almost every weekend, and pumpkin spice is back at every cafe, but Autumn can also bring the annoyance of Fall allergies. Ragweed and other airborne allergens can trigger all sorts of unwanted reactions for many people, and can sometimes even be worse than spring pollen! Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to protect your home from fall allergens and even get your home ready for winter at the same time!

First, the most important and also the easiest step to eliminating airborne fall allergens is to change or clean your air filters. Air filters perform a very important job for your HVAC system and your indoor air environment. Not only do they help to purify your air, but they also keep dust and debris from building up inside your ducts and other HVAC components. If left unmaintained (as they often are) they become ineffective and your indoor air quality will suffer. In addition, your HVAC system will need to work harder to effectively force air through the vents because of the buildup that can form on the vents and other parts. Luckily, keeping your filters maintained is simple.

First, you will want to make sure your filters are correct for your home’s setup. You will want to have filters that are the correct size for your fittings, and you will need to make a judgment on the MERV ratings of your filters. MERV ratings describe the filters ability to catch small particles and microorganisms. Filters will a high MERV rating will eliminate event the smallest particle from your home air, but will also make your HVAC system work harder to pull air through. Therefore, you will likely want to find a middle ground depending on your home system. The most effective filtration systems utilize multiple filters to allow air to move freely in most places, but catch the allergens and air pollutants at important places. Finally, you will want to decide between disposal and reusable filters.

Next, after you are sure you have the right filters, you want to keep them maintained . Filters accumulate dust and debris quickly, so it is advised to change (if disposable) or clean (if reusable) your filters every 1-3 months. If you are still experiencing issues with indoor air quality after your filters are correct, try some of these tips:

Have your vents cleaned. Vents can sometimes accumulate buildups of dust and debris, especially if air filters have been left unmaintained. Learn more by reading this blog post.

Have your HVAC system maintained, especially before heating season begins. That way, you’re ready on the first day you need it and it will last through the entire season.

If you do not have a forced air system, be sure to clean the device that heats/cools your home. If you have an electric radiator or a window AC unit, dust can buildup and then become a problem itself. Have a professional HVAC technician come to your home and examine your home setup to get you on the right track quickly!

If you have any questions about your home’s indoor air quality, especially with the heating system coming up, contact Warner Service today!

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Fall Allergies and Your Home