Are your Allergies Affected by Your Air Conditioner?

It’s finally here: summer! There’s lots to get excited about – kids out of school, longer days, and plenty of exciting summer festivals, but for those of us who suffer from allergies it can be a blessing in disguise. Many people don’t realize that some simple changes to their air conditioning system can help prevent some of the worst effects of allergy season.

Contaminants in your indoor air could include chemicals in the building materials (like formaldehyde), cleaning and personal care products, insecticides, pesticides, synthetic fibers found in most carpet and furniture fabrics, pet dander, and dust mites.

One of the simplest ways to remove many of these contaminants is to have your air ducts professionally cleaned. They should also be checked for leaks. Turn to HVAC professionals who can both remove the contaminants from your system and also take steps to reduce the risk of re-contamination.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America also offers some helpful tips on improving indoor air quality to reduce allergens, including controlling dust mites by keeping your surfaces clean and uncluttered, vacuuming at least once – preferably twice – a week, preventing animal dander, keeping windows and doors closed to reduce pollen in your home, reducing moisture in wet areas to reduce mold, and controlling cockroaches by not leaving food around.

You should also regularly change your air filter. In fact, did you know that indoor pollutants can be anywhere from 2 – 5x higher than they are outside? These numbers can be significantly reduced by simply ensuring that your air filter is working as it’s supposed to.

Of course one of the most effective ways to ensure your air conditioner isn’t negatively impacting your allergies is to make sure you have the right air conditioner installed. Modern A/C units include air filtration systems that can actively improve the air in your home, providing relief for all who have issues with allergies.