We’ve all been there: the air is filled with pollen and other particulates that damage car finishes and…even worse…afflict people with seasonal allergies. What can be done to alleviate the situation? For cars, a good cleaning and parking in a carport or garage often works. But, things get a little trickier with people’s allergies.
“Stay inside!” we’ve often heard. But, allergies can be just as bad indoors, depending on your home’s internal environment. A good HVAC system and filters can go a long way toward cleaning the air you breathe…but, only if the system and its components also have been properly maintained and cleaned themselves.
Here’s how you can stay abreast of your maintenance and keep the air inside fresh and allergy-free:
Have your system regularly inspected – at least twice a year in spring and fall – and have the area around outdoor units cleaned out as well to prevent clogs. Regularly clean and/or replace your system’s filter – every 60- to 90-days is recommended. And, have your air ducts professionally cleaned and inspected every so often to remove the up to 40 pounds of dust that can accumulate in them each year. That dust, and any allergens caught in it, will be circulated through the house every time the system clicks “on.”
Other things you can do to keep the air cleaner inside your home while keeping it comfortable in the summer heat or winter’s cold, is to run the HVAC fan non-stop for a few weeks during temperate seasons with the A/C and heat off…then change the filter. What this does is help clear out the system. It’s also often a good idea to keep air circulating…either with a running fan or by keeping windows open. “The more air you run across surfaces, the cleaner it remains,” says Bill McIntosh of Cool Air Technologies.
Oh, and keep your home clean and tidy to ensure allergens don’t stick around and mold and microbes have no place to grow.
As you can see, HVACs are great systems to have around to prevent allergies…but only if a professional technician regularly maintains them. Since most of us can’t do that properly, there’ll always be a need for trained HVAC technicians. Fortis HVAC/R programs at more than two dozen campuses across the country can help you become a “Cooling & Heating Hero.” Check out our HVAC program page to learn more.
HVAC’s a profession that’s not only “cool”…it’s “hot!”