Does an Air Conditioner Help With Allergies?

Does an air conditioner help with allergies? In one word, yes. Actually two words, yes if. If you properly maintain the air conditioner. Air conditioners can help filter your home’s air and control its humidity, which are both helps in the allergy world. It’s estimated there are now 50 million seasonal allergy sufferers in America, so any and all help is welcomed. But properly maintaining your HVAC system is the difference between your air conditioner helping with those allergies and it aggravating them. Western Sales and Services specializes in air conditioners. Contact us with any questions you may have or assistance you may need.

How It Helps

Whether you suffer from seasonal allergies or year-long allergens like pet dander or dust, your air conditioner can help you breathe easier. With the correct filter, your indoor air quality (IAQ) can be improved, filtering out allergens like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and other irritant air particles. These particles get stopped by the filter and aren’t allowed to continue through the system to make their way to your lungs, improving air quality. Indoor air quality is also improved with your air conditioner by your home’s humidity being controlled. Higher levels of humidity breed additional allergens like bacteria, mold, and mildew. Your air conditioner works hard to balance your home’s humidity, thereby reducing the instances of these allergens and irritants.

When It Doesn’t

Your air conditioner can help in these instances, except when it’s not maintained properly. When the maintenance on your HVAC system is neglected, it actually makes your indoor air quality worse, so in turn your allergies may get worse. If your filter continues to trap the particles flowing through the system and isn’t changed, those particles build up, now having nowhere to go except to blow through your home. The same applies to the other allergens resulting from higher humidity or dampness. If the humidity builds or if there are leaks somewhere in the system, say in the ductwork, a damp environment now exists. Mold and bacteria have free rein to flow through your home’s air, adding to the allergens you’re breathing.

What You Can Do

To keep your air conditioner helping, rather than hurting, your allergies, take these steps:

• Have your air conditioner cleaned and maintained regularly, at least once a year
• Change or clean your air filters regularly
• Use a higher MERV-rated (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) filter (at least an 8 rating), if changing filters
• Clean any debris or dust around both your outdoor and indoor air conditioner units to avoid it being pulled into the unit and introduced into your home
• Dust all indoor registers and returns on a regular basis
• Inspect your ductwork and HVAC unit (drip pan and drain, evaporator coils, air handler) for signs of leaks, corrosion, or mold
• Consider upgrading your air conditioner if over ten years old
• Keep doors and windows closed while your air conditioner is running
• Consider adding on an air purifier

Here in Chelsea, AL, allergies are a serious concern for many. Keeping your air conditioner properly maintained throughout the year can definitely help with airborne allergies. Call our experts at Western Sales and Services at 205-787-8674 to speak with one of our professionals today to see how we can help you.