How Your HVAC System Can Help Seasonal Allergies

Its no secret spring has finally sprung. As we deal with April showers and hope for May flowers, there’s another thing just around the corner, allergy season. We know how bad the air can get here in Southern California, and believe it or not, your HVAC system can help alleviate seasonal allergies. The best part, it doesn’t take that much, that’s why we’re sharing how your HVAC system can help with seasonal allergies.

Change Your Air Filter

The first thing you can do to your HVAC system to help with spring allergies is to change your air filter. Any air that circulates through your home must first pass through your air filter. We recommend changing the air filter twice per year, once before furnace season and once before AC season. If your air filter is dirty, it won’t be able catch dust, effectively making the air you breathe dirty and unhealthy. A clean air filter will catch dust and other airborne particles that can trigger allergies.

Ask Your Tech About A MERV Filter

For some allergy sufferers, a regular air filter isn’t enough. In these cases, you should ask your HVAC technician about a Maximum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) filter. These filters are designed to catch more than dust and harmful microbials; the higher the MERV rating, the better the filter will be at catching pollen, dander, and other airborne allergens.

Consider a UV Light

If you want your indoor air to be as clean as possible, a UV light solution is the way to go. When installed properly, UV air purifiers can effectively reduce the amount of mold, bacteria, and other allergens in the air supply. Once treated air is pushed through the air filter, it receives a second cleaning from the UV light, which will also remove unwanted odors from the air—think cooking smells, perfumes, pet stink, and any other odors. Our favorite UV tool is the Air Scrubber. An Air Scrubber is an attachment to your existing HVAC unit, no major install required. To learn more about an Air Scrubber, ask your HVAC technician.

Dust Your Return Vents and HVAC Unit

Dusting is a major part of spring cleaning and can help alleviate the spread of allergies. We just ask that when you’re cleaning, don’t neglect your return vents or accessible HVAC unit. If your return vents are dusty, that dust will spread throughout your house. If you, or someone in your family, suffers from allergies, use a damp cloth to wipe around your return vents, outdoor condenser, and other HVAC units if they are easily accessible.

Schedule a Tune-Up

Finally, the best thing you can do to you HVAC system if you suffer from allergies is a regular tune-up. During our signature 26-point AC tune-up and professional cleaning an HVAC tech will inspect every part of your unit to ensure it’s functioning at maximum efficiency. They will also thoroughly clean the unit and make sure no dirty air is being distributed throughout the house. We recommend twice yearly tune-ups to ensure your HVAC system has no problems and any maintenance is taken care of.

Call Service Champions

Service Champions Plumbing, Heating and AC is the only Diamond Certified HVAC provider in Southern California. We proudly serve Orange, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties. To learn how your HVAC system can help with seasonal allergies, reach out to our friendly call center representatives or click here to book an appointment online.