Have you noticed that your springtime allergies are particularly bad this year? It’s not just you! If you’re experiencing allergy symptoms such as frequent sneezing, a runny nose, or eyes that are red and itchy, you’re far from alone. To make things worse, allergy season is far from over. It’s true that we’re only about a month away from the official start of summer here in Olathe, but we’ve still got a lot of spring-like weather to get through between now and then. Unfortunately, just because summer arrives on the scene doesn’t mean that we’re through with allergens and other particles in the air. Fortunately, your Olathe HVAC service company is here to tell you how your heating and cooling system can help!
Why are seasonal allergies so bad this year?
Several factors affect how severe an allergy season becomes. This year, we had an unusually warm winter, which means we had a slightly longer growing season, so trees and grasses produced more pollen. According to local news and allergy forecasts, we are experiencing an almost daily high level of tree pollen and grass pollen, which are producing more than 1,200 grains per cubic meter of air. What does that mean for you? It means that just about anyone and everyone who is sensitive to wind-blown pollen and other allergens is running to the drugstore for Zyrtec and Flonase. Fortunately, as we mentioned, your home’s HVAC system may just be able to help give you some relief from even the worst seasonal allergies.
How can your HVAC system help with seasonal allergies?
We’ve been an Olathe heating and cooling professional for more than four decades, so we know the kinds of challenges that our local HVAC systems face, and that includes pollen and other allergens. Fortunately, your home’s HVAC system is designed to keep your home comfortable in a variety of ways. Besides heating and cooling your house to a desired temperature, it’s also meant to help maintain good indoor air quality.
To do that, your HVAC system relies on air filters, which should be changed regularly—more on that in a moment. These air filters trap and remove particles and allergens from the air that passes through them, meaning that a well-maintained HVAC system can be a huge help when it comes to getting allergens out of your indoor air. These air filters trap tree and grass pollen as well as dust, pet dander, and pretty much any other debris that might be in your home’s air.
As you might imagine, though, all of that gunk in your air can clog up an air filter in short order. When that happens, your HVAC system has to work a lot harder to move air through the house, and more of those allergens are likely to stay in the air. This is one of the reasons we recommend changing your air filters on a monthly basis, especially during allergy season. However, there’s more to maintaining your HVAC system than just changing air filters, so let’s look at some other aspects of your home’s heating, cooling, and ventilation system.
The Risks of a Poorly Maintained HVAC System
Failing to adequately maintain your home’s HVAC system can have a wide range of drawbacks. A poorly maintained system is less efficient, costs more to operate, and is more likely to break down. Another significant downside to not maintaining your HVAC system is poor indoor air quality and more allergens in your home.
Even when your air filters are working at their very best, contaminants of various kinds build up in assorted parts of your HVAC system. It is, after all, a complex series of ducts, pipes, vents, machines, and so on, all of which have cracks and crevices that can collect dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens. If your HVAC system isn’t cleaned and maintained regularly, these built-up contaminants can become distributed throughout your home by the normal functioning of your A/C or furnace, actually making your indoor air quality worse rather than better. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.
What do you get from seasonal HVAC maintenance in the spring?
Here in Olathe, we’re all too familiar with the high allergen counts that spring and summer bring with them. As we’re on the border of the KC metro, we’re close to untouched areas and agricultural lands, and the prevailing strong winds in the region bring all sorts of allergens through our fair town.
At Davenport Service Company, our technicians go above and beyond during their comprehensive, 25-point air conditioner tune-up during the spring. It’s not just about replacing your filters, although we certainly do that, too! We also fine-tune the airflow in your home’s ductwork, ensuring that every component is clean and performing optimally for the season. This helps to prevent your A/C from circulating allergens in your home and lets you enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your HVAC system is primed for the warmer spring and summer months. It can even help save you money on your utility bills!
How about an air cleaner for your home?
If all that isn’t enough to keep the allergies at bay this spring and summer, you might want to think about installing an electronic air purifier. Most indoor air cleaners are capable of removing allergens and other pollutants that a simple air filter can’t capture, including particles as small as .3 microns.
An air purifier is a natural and harmless way to remove pollutants and allergens from your home’s air. It provides an electrostatic charge to particles in the air, which allows them to be removed as they pass through the purifier. Air purifiers are perfect for those suffering from major allergies, asthma, or any other condition that makes them particularly susceptible to pollutants and other particles in the air.
If you’re interested in an electronic air filter for your home or just want to learn a little more about how they work, the Olathe heating and cooling professionals at Davenport Service Company are happy to install an air purifier or answer any questions you might have. We’ve been serving the Olathe area for more than forty years as a “Customer First” HVAC service company. Whether you’re ready to schedule a tune-up or just want to learn more about air purifiers, call Davenport Service Company at 913-441-2222 today!
