The Link Between HVAC and Allergies in Yelm Homes

With pollen season in full swing, many people are experiencing increased allergy symptoms. It’s important to know that your HVAC system can impact your indoor air quality and contribute to these allergy symptoms.

Allergens such as pet dander, pollen and dust move on air currents easily, so your HVAC system becomes a traveling conduit of these allergens throughout the home. Dirty ducts and dirty filters can increase allergy symptoms.

1. Dirty Air Ducts

If your home’s air ducts are dirty, the circulating dust and allergens will make it difficult for you to breathe comfortably. It’s essential that you keep in mind, however, that duct cleaning has never been shown to prevent health problems or even reduce particle levels within the home.

Dirty air ducts can cause your heating and cooling system to work harder than necessary to maintain a set temperature. This will cost you extra money on your energy bills and can eventually shorten the lifespan of your system.

One of the quickest signs that your ducts are in need of a cleaning is noticing a musty smell around your vents. If this is accompanied by a spike in your power bill, it’s time to call for a professional. Dirty air ducts can also irritate family members who suffer from allergies, sinus conditions, or asthma by circulating old spores throughout the home. These spores can also trigger other issues, including rashes and hives.

2. Dirty Filters

When your air filter gets dirty, it can spread allergens around the house. These include pollen, pet dander and dust particles. These particles can trigger symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing and a runny nose.

The filters help keep large debris from damaging the equipment. However, they hardly do anything for the microscopic allergens. Changing your filter can prevent these particles from getting circulated in the house.

Dirty filters can also restrict the flow of fresh air, causing your system to work harder. This leads to increased energy consumption and higher power bills.

The HVAC industry offers several filters that can remove harmful particles from the air. A good example is a HEPA filter. This is designed to trap microscopic allergens and eliminate them from the air. Talk to your HVAC partner to find out if installing this kind of filter will improve your allergy symptoms. It is essential to change your filter every month to maintain good indoor air quality and prevent the system from working overtime.

3. Inadequate Ventilation

Ventilation replaces stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air, keeping it healthy and fresh. It also serves to control temperature and humidity and prevent the buildup of harmful pollutants. Poor ventilation can lead to various health issues in building occupants, including headache, fatigue, and respiratory problems.

Symptoms such as stuffy or stale air, visible mold or mildew, and water condensation on windows indicate that the space is not adequately ventilated. This can be caused by improper ventilation system design, blocked air vents, or a lack of natural ventilation.

Without proper ventilation, the air inside your home can build up high levels of allergens and other chemicals, like cleaning products, paints, and wood preservatives. These contaminants circulate throughout your home, causing irritation to the nose, eyes, and throat, and can cause asthma, sinus congestion, coughing, fatigue, and other symptoms. Insufficient ventilation can also create excess moisture, which promotes the growth of mold and mildew. This can lead to a musty, unpleasant odor.

4. High Humidity

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air, and there are three main types of humidity: absolute, relative, and specific. Absolute humidity measures the actual quantity of water vapor in the air, regardless of temperature. Relative humidity measures the moisture content of the air compared to its maximum capacity for holding water vapor at that temperature.

The ideal level of humidity in a home is about 50 percent. Humidity levels in a home above that can lead to mold and mildew, condensation on windows, and trapped allergens which can trigger asthma and allergies symptoms.

Humidity is also a problem because it makes it harder for the body to regulate its temperature, so people overheat. When this happens, it can lead to heat strokes. The best way to prevent this from happening is to use a dehumidifier in your home. If you’re interested in buying a new Yelm home, click the “Home Type” filter above active listings to customize your search.