Allergies are definitely no fun. 

In fact, they can be downright problematic. 

Did you know that nearly 8% of people ages 18 and over in the U.S. have hay fever?

It’s true. 

But sometimes, it truly feels like it’s more. 

Here in the Ozarks, allergies run rampant during the spring. 

They can cause sneezing, sniffling, headaches, a stuffy head, puffy eyes—you name it. 

But did you know that your HVAC system can actually help?

Yes, as it turns out, your air conditioning system can do a lot more than just keep the house cool. It can also help you to overcome those allergy symptoms and beat that hay fever, by keeping those pesky allergens out of your home—and out of your respiratory system. 

Here are some crucial steps that you can take to help you make it happen. 

1. Install Fresh Filters

Old filters have a tendency to get clogged with dust, pollen, pet dander, and pretty much anything else that’s circulating in the air. 

Thus, changing the filters can do wonders for helping you to filter some of those particles out of the air—keeping your nostrils, eyes, and airway just a little bit cleaner as a result. 

2. Clean The Ductwork

The ductwork that runs through your home is actually a crucial part of your HVAC system. These are the pathways that deliver fresh, breathable air into your dwelling (and carry spent air back through your air conditioner to be either recirculated or blown outdoors).

But here’s the thing about ductwork:

If it gets dirty, dusty, moldy, or mildewy, all of those particles are going to get picked up by your AC and blown all over your house. 

Thus, cleaning the ductwork is a crucial step in keeping your air as pollen, mold, and dander free as possible.  

3. Dust The Vents

Your vents, very similar to your ductwork, are crucial because all of the air circulating through your home is going to pass through them. 

Thus, if they’re dusty, dirty, grimy, or moldy, all of those particles are going to get carried into your living space (and hence, into your lungs and nostrils). 

So keeping them clean, on a routine basis, is an absolute must. 

4. Close The Windows

It may seem like opening the windows would be a good idea, in the sense that it would help to circulate fresh air into your home from outside. 

But this can be a deceptively problematic practice that can backfire if you tend to suffer from allergies. 

All of that unfiltered air is highly likely to contain pollen, dust, dirt, and other allergens. 

Plus, this could increase or decrease your home’s humidity to problematic levels. 

Keeping your windows closed during pollen season, by contrast, will allow your AC unit to do its job. It’ll help to regulate the humidity in the air, and help to filter out some of those harmful particles. 

5. Clean The System Itself

Your AC unit itself will also need periodic cleaning. 

Just like your vents and ducts, if the unit itself ends up with built-up mold, mildew, dust, dirt, or pollen on it—all of those particles will just circulate through your system. 

Cleaning it and keeping it clean throughout the year is a crucial part of keeping the air within your home fresh, clean, and breathable.

6. Consider Installing An Air Purifier

If you’ve performed all of the steps outlined above, but are still suffering from allergies due to pollen, pet dander, mold, or some other contaminant, you may need to consider installing a dedicated air purifier into your HVAC system. 

Installing an air purifier is an excellent way to double down on air purity and quality. And honestly, you’d be amazed at how well they work. 

They can make the air in your home smell and feel cleaner, fresher, and less toxic. 

And for people who regularly suffer from allergies, this may be a crucial step to keeping the pollen and other pollutants out of your air and filtered out before they enter your sensitive respiratory system. 

Conclusion

There you have it. 

A complete guide to help you use your HVAC system to really minimize those allergy symptoms and, hopefully, help you to overcome them during times when the pollen count is just too crazy high to manage it any other way. 

F&S Master Air offers a twice-yearly cleaning and inspection for your entire HVAC system, which will also go a long way towards eliminating some of these worries. If you are interested in signing up for this service, don’t hesitate to contact us here at F&S Master Air.