Spring has arrived here in Maryland and with it all the cherry blossoms, fescue grass, and other sources of pollen. As welcome as spring is, it can bring great misery to area residents who are even the least bit sensitive to allergy triggers. And allergy season runs till July here in Montgomery County. The good news is that your HVAC system is the command center for your indoor air quality, and at Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning of Gaithersburg, we can help you use it to limit exposure to allergy triggers and the accompanying discomfort.
Spring allergy symptoms
Many people suffer allergy symptoms in the spring, including coughing, sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. But others may experience these symptoms year-round. While pollen is seasonal, some other allergy triggers are always present. One of the most problematic is dust. Dust can never be completely avoided, so you must always work to control its presence in your home. Another is animal fur. You may do your best to vacuum frequently to limit allergy symptoms triggered by pets, but you can’t completely eradicate their loose fur.
Allergy symptoms are of special concern today because of the coronavirus pandemic. Every time you develop an allergy symptom, you may be concerned that you have COVID-19. Additionally, you may get the nasty side-eye from others when you sneeze, cough, or display other symptoms of allergies. Since allergy season can last for months, this can be limiting. If it is your children who suffer from allergies, their school may insist you keep them home when they appear sick, and this can impact their learning as well as your work schedule.
How can your HVAC system help?
AC units filter your air
When you turn on your central air conditioning, your AC unit pulls air in from the outside, cools it, and then disperses it throughout your home. In springtime, however, the outdoor air is full of pollen. Your AC’s air filter helps trap some of this pollen, and that’s why it’s important to replace and/or clean your air filter in the spring.
Basic air filters should be changed approximately every 30 days. This is important not just because a clean air filter means cleaner air in your home, but a dirty air filter impedes airflow, making it harder for your AC to do its job. That results in higher-than-normal wear and tear, poor efficiency, and higher energy bills.
Another good way to improve the air quality in your home is to schedule an AC maintenance call with Presidential Heating & Air. Our technicians perform a variety of functions during AC maintenance calls, including cleaning the coils and blower motor. Both these AC parts can become choked with dust and dirt, and every time your AC unit kicks on, this dust and dirt can get blown into your home.
One thing some allergy sufferers turn to help is air duct cleaning. Please know that the Environmental Protection Agency’s findings on duct cleaning is inconclusive as a way to mitigate allergy symptoms. Ducts should be cleaned by professionals if you suspect they are infested with mold or vermin. Any time you find evidence of rodents in your HVAC system, you should address it immediately, as mice droppings can carry hantavirus, which is potentially fatal.
Air purifiers
The best way to relieve spring allergens — and any allergens — while in your home is with air purifier. When you get an air purifier installed in your HVAC system, the air in your home will be cleaner and fresher. And air purifiers aren’t only good at preventing pollen from entering your home, but also other pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, pet dander, and mold spores.
At Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning, we have found a couple of air purifiers, each targeting a specific need, that work best. Our techs can discuss
Installed inside the HVAC air duct, an air purification system attracts and kills molds, bacteria, allergens, and viruses as the air flows through, and with some models, just past the system. They also reduce, smoke, static electricity, and everyday odors from pets and cooking. Independent testing on certain air purification systems has shown to significantly (up to 99%) inactivate captured viruses and germs including CORONAVIRUS.
Whichever air purifier you choose, the air in your home will be cleaner and fresher. Air purifiers help remove odors from cooking and other sources quickly. This function allows you to cut down on the use of air fresheners, which not only simply mask odors rather than get rid of them, but add VOCs to your air causing similar symptoms to allergies.
Air purifiers take very little energy to run and they’re low-maintenance — after we install your air purifier, there is little for you to do except enjoy cleaner air.
Add an air purifier to your HVAC system
If you are thinking of adding an air purifier to your HVAC system, contact Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning of Gaithersburg. We can help you determine which air purifier would be best for your home, your family, and your conditions. Frequently, we offer specials on air conditioning tune-ups. When you schedule a tuneup, our tech will be able to pinpoint any potential air quality issues that may be affecting your health.
For air purifier installation, AC maintenance, or any HVAC system repair or need, contact Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning.