Top 5 Tips to Alleviate Allergies With Your HVAC System

Use a quality filter, keep humidity balanced, seal and clean your ducts, ventilate smartly and keep equipment maintained. Together these steps reduce the pollen, dust, mold and dander circulating through your home.

Our allergy seasons are long

Snow melts, trees bud in April, grass follows, and ragweed and mold spores peak in late summer and fall. In between, our long heating season keeps windows closed, so indoor allergens such as dust mites, pet dander and mold spores build up. An HVAC system moves all the air in your home many times a day, which makes it either part of the problem or part of the solution.

These five steps put it to work for you. They are not medical advice, so talk to your doctor about symptoms.

Tip 1: Use a good filter and change it on time

A pleated filter in the MERV 8 to 11 range captures much of the pollen, dust and dander that a basic fiberglass one lets through. Check it monthly during allergy seasons and replace it when dirty. Never run the system without one. Our guide to choosing a home air filter explains sizes and ratings, and why a too-dense filter can hurt airflow.

If you have pets, check it every few weeks. Choose the right size and fit, so air cannot bypass the filter.

Tip 2: Keep humidity in the middle

Dust mites and mold thrive when humidity is high, while very dry air irritates nasal passages. Aim for a comfortable middle range, roughly 30 to 50 percent as a rule of thumb. In Upstate New York summers, air conditioning removes moisture; in winter, a whole-home humidifier can help in a dry home. Use bathroom fans and kitchen vents to keep moisture from lingering.

Condensation on windows, damp basement air and musty closets are all signs that humidity needs attention. A small hygrometer is an inexpensive way to track it.

Tip 3: Seal and clean the ducts

Leaky or dusty ducts pull dirty air from basements, crawlspaces and attics into the system and push it into your rooms. Sealing and, where needed, cleaning ducts reduces that. If your registers are collecting dust quickly, or there is a musty smell when the system starts, have them inspected. See our ductwork services.

Ductless systems avoid this problem since they have no ductwork, and their washable filters are easy to clean.

Tip 4: Ventilate and use air cleaning

Fresh air dilutes indoor pollutants, but opening windows on a high-pollen day lets in plenty. Use exhaust fans, and think about a ventilator or whole-home air cleaner for tight homes. Our indoor air quality team can recommend filtration or purification that suits your system.

If you are building or renovating, ask about ventilation as part of the plan. A tight home needs a planned way to bring in fresh air.

Tip 5: Maintain your equipment

Dirty coils, drain pans and blowers can grow mold or spread dust. Spring AC tune-ups clean the coil and drain, and fall furnace tune-ups clear the blower and burners. Ductless mini-splits have washable filters; clean them regularly. Tune-ups start at $198.89, and our maintenance programs keep the visits on schedule.

Pay attention to the condensate drain: a clogged one can leave standing water that grows mold, and a technician can clear it during the tune-up.

Wood smoke and other triggers

Wood stoves, fireplaces and candles add particulates. Make sure stoves are properly vented and chimneys are cleaned. Bathrooms without working fans, damp basements and carpeted rooms can all hold allergens. Pet households benefit from more frequent filter changes.

Frequently asked questions