Spring HVAC Tips for Allergy Sufferers | Kitchener ON

Spring brings warmer temperatures with desert trees and plants springing back to life, longer days to enjoy your favorite outdoor and indoor activities, and like clockwork, those dreaded seasonal allergies. Between 10% to 30% of all adults in the U.S. and as many as 10% of children suffer from allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever. Symptoms may include runny nose, coughing, itchy eyes, sneezing, sinus pain, headache, and overall feeling miserable. There’s good news though because your HVAC system may be one of the keys to reducing seasonal allergy symptoms caused by indoor air. Let’s see how.

AC Allergy Relief

Some of the most common contaminants found inside your home causing allergies may be:

• House dust mites triggered by warmer temperatures
• Pollen from trees and grasses entering your home when doors and windows are opened or carried inside on your clothes, skin, or hair
• Dander from beloved pets such as cats, dogs, rabbits, and horses
• Condensation and mold in your walls, carpeting, and attic

So how can you utilize your HVAC system components to your advantage?

• Change HVAC air filters monthly. Your best defense against indoor allergens is a high-quality air filter with a MERV rating of 8 or higher. These filters collect microscopic particles as small as three microns.
• Keep your windows and doors closed and limit time outdoors between 5 am and 10 am. This is when pollen counts tend to be highest.
• Consider adding a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) air filter to help remove even more circulating allergens inside your house. These filters remove up to 99.97% of allergens and contaminants.
• Check online or use a smartphone app pollen tracker to know when pollen counts are high.
• Clean around inside and outside HVAC units to reduce the number of allergens and levels of dust being pulled into the system.
• Reschedule outdoor exercise and run errands later in the day when pollen counts are lower.
• Wear sunglasses to decrease allergen exposure to your eyes.
• Stay hydrated as even mild dehydration can activate your body to produce more histamines which trigger allergy symptoms.
• Shower and wash your hair before bedtime to remove pollen from your hair and skin.

Although you’ll never be able to eliminate 100% of all allergens from your home, Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating professionals can provide you with the information you need to best control indoor air pollutants with your air conditioning system. We are here to help you combat those pesky allergens and create a preventative plan to breathe easier and sneeze less. Call us today at 480-968-5652.