Many people assume that allergies are strictly a spring and summer issue, but it is entirely possible to suffer from allergies in fall. In fact, allergens can affect you at any moment. While spring allergies tend to be more prevalent, fall allergies still create a problem for millions of people. So, here we’ll delve into the topic with our HVAC guide to the fall allergy season.

Fall Allergy Symptoms:

Working out fall allergy symptoms can be a little tricker that it may seem. In fact, season fall allergy symptoms are often subtle and you may mistake them for signs you’ve developed a slight cold. The symptoms you may notice include:

  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Itchy or watering eyes
  • Headaches
  • Tiredness or fatigue

Many of these symptoms also present when you have a cold, so the best way to determine if you have allergies is to speak to your healthcare professional.

What Can Trigger Fall Allergies?

When you’re considering the possible causes of fall allergies, there are a number of likely culprits. Allergens and dust mites, which will trigger your symptoms can accumulate in different places throughout your home. Fortunately, many of the sources of seasonal fall allergies can be properly managed with professional HVAC services.

The most common indoor allergens include mold, pet hair, airborne pollen and dust mites. The sources of these allergens include:

  • Pets
  • Damp areas
  • Wall to wall carpeting
  • Stuffed toys
  • Indoor plants
  • Mattresses
  • Soft furniture and furnishings
  • Accumulated debris inside the ductwork

Ways to Address Seasonal Fall Allergies:

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the key to addressing seasonal fall allergies is to improve your indoor air quality. There are three key ways that you can accomplish this.

Reduce your Humidity:

When the air inside your home goes beyond the ideal humidity levels recommended by the EPA of 30% to 40% humidity, it can create the optimal conditions for dust mites, mold and other sources of an allergic attack.

With the installation of a whole house dehumidifier, you can have greater control over the humidity levels within your entire home. State of the art models can allow you fine tune control to within 1% of your preferred levels. This eliminates the conditions needed for excessive mold, fungi, dust mites, bacteria and other microorganisms to flourish.

Consider UV Lights:

UV or ultraviolet germicidal lighting can purify the air inside your home before it is distributed throughout your space. The light is typically installed in a position so where the air exits the HVAC unit and enters the ducts, it is exposed to a strong UV light. This can kill the contaminants before they could be dispersed.

UV light impedes the reproduction of microorganisms, which can quickly make your air cleaner. In fact, UV lighting has been found to remove approximately 50% of the concentrated bioaerosols within the initial 45 minutes of use.

Install HEPA Filters:

Another key way to improve your air quality is to install HEPA air filters. These are high end filters which can capture 99.9% of airborne pollutants. HEPA filters have a unique design which can snatch the common allergen triggers from the air.

HEPA filters can remove contaminants including:

  • Ragweed
  • Dirt particles
  • Pollen
  • Dust mites
  • Tobacco smoke
  • Numerous airborne chemicals
  • Many odors

HEPA filters are available in a variety of sizes and MERV ratings. MERV refers to minimum efficiency reporting values and it determines the size of microns the filter can capture.

While it may seem like a good idea to choose the highest MERV HEPA filter, this may not be a good idea. Bear in mind that the smaller the pores in the HEPA filter, the greater the reduction in airflow. For this reason, the highest MERV filters are typically reserved for medical and industrial uses.

The Importance of Regularly Cleaning Your HVAC Ducts:

HVAC systems have not traditionally done well in eliminating air impurities. The filters inside your furnace are installed to protect the furnace components from particles and debris, rather than improve the air quality. While the filters can help with your air quality, debris can often accumulate inside your ductwork and over time, this can spread throughout the ducts.

For this reason, it is important to have your HVAC ducts regularly cleaned. Before you start using your heating system in fall, it is a good idea to have your ducts checked. This will ensure that any debris that has accumulated while your heating system was not in use can be removed before it can be distributed.

Your Location May Be A Factors:

In most cases, your location can have a significant impact on the severity of your fall allergy symptoms. The allergies in fall can be far worse in some areas and locations compared to others.

For example, ragweed, which is one of the most common and widespread sources of allergens, is found mostly in the eastern regions of the country and the Midwest. Unfortunately, some people have a greater sensitivity to allergens, so allergies can be a problem regardless of where you actually live.

If you are unsure about whether you are affected by fall allergies, it may be worth checking at the common allergens in your area.

Conclusion:

As we have discussed, a comprehensive strategy for dealing with fall allergens and dust mites is to tackle the contaminants and pollutants in your indoor air. With a focused approach, and dealing with the allergens as we’ve covered above you can enjoy better indoor air quality results in your home.

If you still have concerns about your indoor air quality and how your HVAC system may be impacting your fall allergies, it is a good idea to speak to your local HVAC specialist. An experienced technician can not only check your HVAC equipment to ensure that it is operating efficiently, but also provide you with guidance about how you can improve your indoor air quality. Your technician can also help you locate and change your HVAC filters to ensure your home remains free of potential allergens.