How to Use Your HVAC Unit to Alleviate Spring Allergies

Portrait of a young woman blowing her nose with a tissue outside.

Spring is in the air, which means us Michiganders are enjoying the warm weather with barbecues and short sleeve T-shirts. However, it’s not all fun and games for everyone — many of us also suffer from allergies this time of year, which puts a damper on the season.

Most people with allergies use medications and know of a few home remedies, but did you know you can actually tailor your HVAC system to lower a number of allergens in your home? With a few simple adjustments, you can make a big difference for that sniffly nose.

Here’s our guide:

  1. Use the right kind of HVAC filter. HVAC filters are your first line of defense in protecting the air quality of your home. There are a wide variety of filters, each with their own pros and cons. Selecting the right type of filter is essential for optimal efficiency as well as air quality. Flat panel filters place more of an emphasis on putting minimal strain on your machine, while high efficiency or high-efficiency particulate air filters place a lot of strain on your machine but produce very clean air — unfortunately, they’re also a little too taxing on the average HVAC unit. We recommend medium efficiency filters in the five to 13 MERV rating range.
  2. Change your filter frequently. All HVAC filters get dusty and dirty after time. You should change the air filter at a bare minimum every three months, but if you’re struggling with allergies, you may want to do it sooner. If you own a dog or a cat, changing it frequently is probably necessary anyways.
  3. Clean your registers and vents. When you’re cleaning a room, all the surfaces at waist or eye level tend to draw your attention a lot sooner than the vents along the floor. But those vents accumulate dust too, and your HVAC unit will circulate that dust (read: allergens) throughout your home. Use a wet rag or a microfiber dust cloth to clean the vents without knocking any particles into the air.
  4. Schedule an HVAC tune-up. Regular HVAC maintenance is vital to ensuring your machine runs efficiently, but also helps with keeping the air free of allergens. For best results, you should schedule an HVAC tune-up twice a year: in the spring and in the fall.

Are you looking for more tips for reducing the number of allergens in your home? Wondering how you can keep the air clean in your home with your HVAC unit? Give us a call at Great Dane HVAC to talk to a friendly professional about it!

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Contact the experts at Great Dane Heating & Air Conditioning.

Call us at 586.790.2604!