With fall fully underway, you have probably already adjusted your HVAC usage to fit with the season. However, as the weather gets colder and you use your AC unit less and your furnace or other heating system more, you may be noticing an uptick in your allergy symptoms. This is not a coincidence.
It is a good idea to have a maintenance check done on your HVAC system in the fall, to see if there are any problems with that could be making your allergies worse. For instance, air ducts that have not been cleaned in a long time, and have contaminants trapped in their seams, may end up circulating stale or dirty air through your registers. This can contribute to breathing problems and allergy symptoms for everyone in your home.
Yet the biggest threat to your allergies and to your indoor air quality in general during the autumn season is probably dirty air filters. Chances are you ran your air conditioner more than normal during the summer. Because of this, there is a greater likelihood that your filters will be clogged or dirty come fall. While the average rate for filter replacement should be every three months, it is especially important to do this if your filters have not been replaced at all during the summer.
We already discussed the importance of changing your air filters last month, and how doing this improves your system’s performance while lowering your overall energy bills. But it’s important to also consider how dirty air filters can affect allergies and respiratory conditions, and contribute to coughing, stuffiness, and itchiness. Dirty air filters cannot adequately keep pollen, dust, and other pollutants out of your air, so if your allergies start to get worse this fall, you will want to call a skilled HVAC technician right away.
Other than a doctor, our Sterling HVAC pros at Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing are your first line of defense against allergies. Our skilled heating and cooling team has everything you need to help optimize your system for maximum allergy relief, and keep you breathing easy throughout the fall and beyond. Call today for repairs, maintenance, and installations, and don’t forget that we are available seven days a week for emergencies.
Dial (703) 457-8676 now to schedule an appointment, or click here to send us a message online.