Air conditioning systems are designed to trap particulates, including allergens. However, over time, filters can get clogged with dirt, and as a result, allergens may escape and circulate in the indoor air.
So if you feel unwell every time you turn your air conditioner on, the system may already be spreading allergens in the air.
You do not have to stop using your air conditioner just to prevent it from triggering your allergies. Instead, do the following:
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Get Routine A/C Maintenance
Routine air conditioning maintenance helps keep your system in its best condition. When you get an A/C maintenance plan, check the tasks included. Ensure that there’s a cleaning task on the list.
Air conditioner components, such as air filters, ductwork, belts, and fans, can get dirty over time. The dirt build-up will affect the system’s efficiency. Cleaning the system will restore its efficiency to trap allergens and keep them from spreading and circulating with your indoor air in the first place.
Aside from keeping allergens at bay, routine air conditioning maintenance provides many other benefits such as improved system performance and efficiency, fewer air condition repairs, and longer system service life, to mention a few.
Invest in Duct Cleaning
Duct cleaning is usually excluded from a maintenance plan and offered as an independent service.
Over time, dirt, dust, allergens, and other contaminants may accumulate in the ducts. Pests may also make their way into the ducts. The ductwork may also create an environment ideal for mold growth. This is why you should get a duct cleaning service once in a while.
Aside from ensuring that the air that passes through the ducts stays free from particulates, duct cleaning helps ensure seamless airflow.
Switch to a HEPA Filter
Air filters aren’t made equal. Ordinary air filters can only protect your air conditioning unit against dust and not your lungs. Usually, they can trap large particles such as dust but not those smaller in size, such as pollens. This means allergens will remain in the air.
So to make your air conditioning system allergy-friendly, invest in a HEPA filter. HEPA or high-efficiency particulate air filter is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. It is believed to remove 99.9% of allergens.
However, don’t buy just any HEPA filter out there. Instead, find a HEPA filter with high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) rating. MERV measures the filter’s effectiveness in catching particles of varying sizes. The higher the rating, the more effective the filter is in trapping allergens.
Don’t Procrastinate on Filter Replacement or Cleaning
No matter how high quality and high efficient your air filter is, it won’t remove all the allergens if you leave them dirty. As you know, air filters can get clogged over time. When that happens, it won’t be able to trap allergens.
So make sure you clean the filter. Aside from making sure your filter can trap dirt, keeping this component clean can also help avoid air condition repair.
There may be an instruction in the product manual. Generally, the frequency of cleaning will depend on the number of pollutants at home. For example, dirt, dust, and allergens may build up faster if you have pets at home, the A/C fan is set on, or there are leaks in the ductwork.
Keep Your Place Clean
Allergens aren’t only present in the air you breathe. Sometimes, allergens such as pet dander cling stubbornly to your furniture, carpets, and walls. So even if you make your air conditioning system allergy-free, if you don’t clean your living environment thoroughly, all your effort in keeping the allergens away from your A/C will be brought to naught.
Install IAQ Products
Other organisms like fungi, bacteria, and mites may grow in damp, warm, and dark areas of your system. Installing products like UV light near your unit’s evaporator can help prevent the growth of such organisms. UV light can also get rid of bio-organisms.
If you need help installing IAQ products or cleaning your air conditioning unit, contact All About Care Heating & Air.