Springtime is challenging for allergy sufferers in Evansville, IN. From mid-March until June, heavy tree pollen permeates the air. From late May through July, grass pollen sets in. During the hot, humid months of summer, mold spores thrive. Fortunately, you can limit your allergy symptoms when relaxing at home with help from your HVAC system. Read on to learn how your HVAC impacts your indoor air quality (IAQ) and how you can support it.
Basic Air Filtration
Your AC or heat pump cools your home by drawing ambient air in and lowering its temperature. All the air that enters your cooling system passes through its filter. This component captures dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants. Each cooling cycle should leave your indoor air a bit cleaner. For optimum filter performance, inspect this component monthly and replace it as needed.
Limited Humidity Control
ACs and heat pumps provide limited humidity control. During the cooling process, they pass ambient air over refrigerant-filled coils. The cold refrigerant causes moisture to condense, which then drips into the drain pan. The collected water then drains outside. On the muggiest days, a cooling system can remove up to 20 gallons of water from your home’s air a day. Many modern heat pumps and ACs also include a dry mode setting, which focuses on reducing humidity by cycling air across the coils with minimal temperature change.
How to Enhance IAQ Support From Your HVAC
When concentrations of particulate matter and indoor humidity rise too high, HVAC systems can overheat, short-cycle, or shut down. Basic air filtration and humidity control ensure safe operating conditions for heat pumps, ACs, and heaters. However, there are ways you can enhance this support for additional springtime relief.
Upgrade Your Air Filter
Every air filter sold in North America has a maximum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating. MERV ratings range from 1 to 20. 20 is the highest possible filter rating. 13 is the highest MERV rating that homeowners can use without HVAC system modification.
Standard air filters usually have MERV ratings of just 5 to 8. At this level, they pick up larger particulates, but many micro-fine allergens and contaminants flow right through them. A filter upgrade will capture more of the airborne debris that triggers allergy symptoms
Install a Whole-House Dehumidifier
During spring and summer, you might have more moisture in your indoor air than your HVAC system can handle. In Evansville, outdoor humidity can reach 70% or higher during the warmer months. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when indoor humidity rises above 60%, mold spores thrive.
You might need additional humidity support if your indoor air feels muggy, clammy, or heavy. Condensation on windows and walls or visible mold patches are also signs of humidity problems.
Whole-house dehumidifiers are integrated HVAC system accessories. They extract excess moisture from conditioned air before distribution. With integrated humidity control, you won’t have to worry about outside conditions or mold affecting the health and comfort of your living environment.
Install an Air Cleaner
You can also install an integrated HVAC air purification system that cleans and sanitizes your indoor air. With multi-stage filtration, these appliances eliminate micro-fine particulates. They also deactivate gaseous chemical contaminants and eradicate harmful pathogens. They’re great for meeting the IAQ needs of vulnerable building residents, including:
- People with chronic respiratory ailments
- Newborn infants
- Older adults
- People with allergies
Schedule Pre-Season Maintenance
Rather than protecting your IAQ, your HVAC system can actually harm it if it doesn’t receive adequate maintenance. Get your heat pump or AC spring-ready by scheduling a professional tune-up. In addition to replacing worn components and lubricating moving parts, HVAC technicians thoroughly clean your system.
Repair or Replace Your Ducting
Have a professional inspect your HVAC air ducts for leaks. Ducts with gaps or loose connections can leak conditioned air into remote areas, increasing your cooling costs. They can also allow in unfiltered air from your attic and basement. Repairing or replacing leaky ducts is an important step in mitigating the seasonal increase in local allergens.
Contact Your Local HVAC Experts
Proudly serving Evansville since 1977, G. R. Freeman Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. is a full-service HVAC company. We offer expert heat pump and AC maintenance. We also provide comprehensive air quality services and ductwork sealing.
To learn more about mitigating seasonal allergens with your HVAC system or schedule an appointment, contact G. R. Freeman Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. today.
