Periodic cleaning is required
Some of us never seem to be able to escape allergies. In the fall, we find ourselves sniffling, coughing, sneezing and wheezing at a new round of pollen, such as that from trees or fall-blooming flowers. You can’t do much about containing allergens like pollen while outdoors, but you can do some things indoors by enlisting the help of your HVAC system. Replace the air filter. If you don’t change your air filter often, it will not capture airborne particulates as well. Besides conditioning the air, HVAC systems require good air flow to remove particulates from the filtering system. Make sure your air filter is of good quality. Fiberglass filters are not dense enough to capture the smaller particles of pollen that may be circulating in your home and triggering your allergies. Your best defense is a dense, pleated filter rated 8-12 on the MERV scale. Consider an air cleaner. The type of air cleaner you choose will depend on the kind of allergen you want to control. Your HVAC system might benefit from an electrostatic filter if pollen is your problem allergen. Permanent filters are more expensive than disposable filters, but they last for a long time. Electrostatic charges attract particles. Periodic cleaning is required. A true HEPA air filter may be necessary if your allergies are extremely severe. In order for a HEPA filter to work in your HVAC system, the system must be modified to accommodate this ultra-dense filtration. As a result, the HVAC system would not be able to cool or heat properly.