While summer is undoubtedly fun, because it usually means spending more time outside and vacation, bad seasonal allergies can be quite bothersome. Many people suffer from itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose during spring and summer, which is commonly known as “allergy season”. Allergies are more prevalent during those times because that’s when plants release more pollen. However, trying to spend most of your time indoors won’t spare you the discomfort; as sometimes, the indoor air quality can be worse. Properly maintaining your HVAC is essential to improve the air quality and your symptoms.

What are seasonal allergies?

Airborne particles like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and mold, find their way into houses and make it very hard for people with allergies to breathe properly. It causes red, itchy throats, and sneezing fits. A large number of people suffer from seasonal allergies. Allergies are your immune system’s reaction to a foreign substance or food that other people are not bothered by, but is causing you irritation. Allergies can irritate your skin, digestive system, or sinuses. People typically react to allergens, the substances that cause allergies, as soon as they come in contact with them. The symptoms of seasonal allergies are similar to those of a cold: sneezing, itchy nose, nasal congestion, runny nose, pain in the sinuses, itchy eyes, itchy ears, hoarseness, and headaches. If you wish you could enjoy yourself during the summer without dealing with the pain of allergies, there are some things to be done that will keep those allergens from coming into your home. It all begins with a good HVAC system.

How can HVAC maintenance help with allergies?

Maintaining your home’s HVAC system can help reduce or eliminate the quantity of pollen and other biological contaminants in the air. Allergens such as mold or dust mites thrive in warm and humid environments. A clean and properly working HVAC system can control indoor temperature and humidity, as well as prevent the growth of biological contaminants. Adequate ventilation and air distribution is also important for bringing in fresh, outdoor air, while filtering out pollutants. As moisture can collect on cooling coils, humidifiers, condensate pans, or air ducts, it’s necessary to keep them clean to avoid mold growth.

What you can do to help with HVAC maintenance?

You have several areas within your AC unit that hold a lot of moisture and humidity. In order to prevent mold problems, you should always keep a check on your condensate drip pan or drain, air handler, evaporator coils, and air ducts. If you spot any mold, you can easily remove it yourself. However, if there is a large amount of mold in any of those areas, it might be better to call in a professional. You should also clean any debris around your outdoor unit, as it’s going to pull anything close to it into your home. The same can be done with your indoor unit, which won’t usually be as dirty, but could have dust accumulated around it. Don’t forget to vacuum it once in a while. Similarly, regularly dust your home and AC unit. Finally, you should always ensure that your air filters are changed at least every 3 months. Otherwise, your AC will only be blowing dirty air all over your house. Additionally, if the airflow is blocked by too much debris, it can make your system work harder than it needs to and that will ramp up your energy bill!

Allergy prevention is a real challenge. Keeping your HVAC system clean and well maintained will keep allergens from spreading all throughout your house. Have an HVAC professional come in and ensure that your system functions properly and dust is not blocking or clogging it up. Give McMillin Air a call today at (623) 432-5202, our experts will be more than happy to help you with your HVAC maintenance!