Many people with allergies look forward to rainy weather, when airborne irritants get damped and tamped down. Common outdoor allergens such as tree and grass pollen are significantly reduced by Bay Area winter rains, and you spend more time indoors anyway. Unfortunately, indoors may not prove a refuge from your allergies if your heating and ventilation system needs maintenance.
Does your HVAC System Filter Out Allergens?
It turns out that heater maintenance for allergy sufferers is crucial for those who live in Oakland, San Jose, or anywhere in the East Bay. The good news is that maintaining your heater as an allergy fighter isn’t as difficult as you might think.
Scheduling a Heater and A/C Inspection
One of the best ways to maintain your heater as an allergy fighter is to schedule an inspection, preferably in the late fall or early winter before it really starts to get cold. The HVAC contractor who performs your inspection might find issues with your heater that can be fixed before they get out of hand. At the very least, they can clean out your furnace, which can go a long way towards controlling indoor allergies.
Cleaning Your Air Ducts
Of course, cleaning out your furnace won’t do a lot of good if you have dirty air ducts. You might need to contact a professional to clean your ducts if they’re particularly bad, but in the meantime you can clean off your vents and the area right behind them yourself.
Replacing Furnace Filters
You should at the very least check your furnace filters once a month if you don’t plan to replace them. This is a very easy task that can keep dust and mold out of the air in your home, but it is also one that many homeowners tend to neglect.
Installing a Humidifier
Running a furnace in the winter tends to dry the air in your home. This can irritate your throat, eyes, and your skin and make any allergies you have feel much worse. You can have a whole-home humidifier installed and connected to your HVAC system, but you might be able to get away with using a smaller humidifier in your main living area if you have an apartment or a smaller house.
Contact Heating and Air Conditioning Professionals to Set Up Your Home to Fight Allergies
As with anything else in your home, maintaining your heating system is something that is best left to professionals. If you suspect that you have an issue with your heating system of if your allergies are out of control, contact Element Home Solutions today. We will be happy to inspect your furnace and respond to any problems that it might have.
