How to Manage High Pollen Levels in Your Home

It’s springtime, and that means plants and trees are beginning to come back to life. Flower are opening up, and that means it’s only a matter of time before springtime breezes start sending pollen into the air. For those who suffer from seasonal allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, that’s not a good thing. Pollen in the air is a huge trigger for allergy symptoms, and that means it’s the season of coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, scratchy throats, and so much more.

If you struggle with pollen allergies, believe it or not your best ally may be something you rely on every day already: your HVAC system. Spring is also a time where the warm weather and elevated humidity may prompt you to fire up your air conditioner, and the cycling of the air through your system, which includes pulling it through your air filter, can help you control pollen levels.

Here are a few ways in which you can use your HVAC system to help you better-control your indoor pollen levels and make breathing easy again.

Seal Air Leaks

Air leaks are costly in that not only do they allow conditioned air to escape, but they allow the air with high concentrations of pollen from outside to get in, reducing your indoor air quality. Sealing air leaks helps you save money on your energy bills by reducing the amount of time you have to run your HVAC system, and it can even make breathing easier by keeping the air in your home cleaner. Preventing unwanted air transfer means less strain on your allergies, less strain on your indoor air filter, and overall better air quality in your home.

Run Your HVAC System Fan

Have a high concentration of pollen in your air? You can remove a lot of the pollen by straining the air through your HVAC system’s air filter. The best way to do this is by turning on your HVAC system’s fan. Most systems will allow you to run the fan without running your air conditioner in order to keep air flowing and circulating, which has a number of advantages. Good air circulation helps keep your home feeling cooler and more comfortable for longer, but it also continues to strain the air through your air filter, which removes more pollen and dust, keeping your air quality at a much higher level. And here’s the best part—because you’re not running the rest of your air conditioning system, it won’t add a significant amount to your energy bills to do so.

Change Your Air Filter Frequently

During spring time in particular, your air filter is going to become dirty far faster than most other times of the year. A dirty air filter is one that’s less efficient, traps less dust and pollen, and can actually contribute to worsening air quality, so it’s important to keep your filter clean by regularly replacing it. Spring tends to be a time when air filters have to work harder as is, and this only compounds if you follow the last tip and keep your HVAC fan running consistently. The extra hours of straining the air adds a lot of additional dust and debris to the air, keeping you cool and comfortable.

Install an Air Cleaner

If you struggle with poor indoor air quality, and your HVAC filter alone isn’t enough to help abate your allergies or other health issues, you may want to consider investing in an indoor air quality solution, such as an air scrubber or air cleaner. In many cases there are plenty of options on the market that can be retrofitted into your existing HVAC equipment, and they can tremendously reduce the amount of pollen, pet dander, dust, and other debris. We encourage you to talk to one of our HVAC experts about your indoor air quality today if you think one of these systems may greatly benefit you.

Call Arco Home Services at (216) 202-3778 today and get the help you need with your indoor air quality this spring.