Florida’s warm, mild climate means that allergy season isn’t just a single, short-term event. Instead, we deal with pollen for most of the year, starting with tree pollen in the late winter to early spring, grass pollen throughout most of the summer, and finally weed pollen in the fall. Constantly dealing with pollen can be a nightmare for allergy sufferers, especially if you aren’t able to find relief from your symptoms when inside your home.
While it may not be fully possible to keep pollen out of your house, taking simple steps like removing shoes when coming inside and keeping windows and doors closed whenever the pollen count is high can make a big difference. For people with severe allergies, you can take additional measures to ensure you can breathe more easily indoors. This includes things like replacing HVAC air filters more frequently, using more efficient filters, and making sure your ductwork is clean and in good condition.
Replace or Wash HVAC Air Filters Regularly
HVAC air filters are primarily designed to keep out dust and debris, which is important for avoiding reduced efficiency and decreased performance. However, they also ensure that the air circulating throughout a home is continually filtered to reduce the concentration of allergens and other contaminants.
The general rule is to replace air filters about every 90 days to ensure they don’t get so dirty and clogged that they start to negatively affect the HVAC system’s performance. During peak pollen season, you’re better off replacing filters every month or two for more effective filtering. If you use the same filter for too long, it will eventually get so clogged that air gets drawn in through other places, such as gaps or holes in your ducts. This can result in even more pollen circulating around the house.
Upgrade to a More Efficient Air Filter
The industry-standard MERV scale is used to rate how efficiently air filters work. Specifically, the ratings measure the percentage of smaller and larger airborne particles a filter traps. Many homeowners just opt for the cheapest available filter, which typically has a rating of MERV 5 to 6. Filters at this level are generally sufficient to keep dust out of your HVAC system, but they’re too porous to trap the majority of smaller pollen particles.
Filters with higher MERV ratings are less porous, allowing them to trap a much higher percentage of pollen and other smaller airborne allergens, like mold spores and pet dander. If anyone in your household suffers from pollen allergies, we recommend that you use a filter that’s rated between MERV 10 and MERV 12.
An even better option is to have an HVAC company retrofit your ductwork to accommodate a media filter. Standard air filters are only 1-inch thick whereas media filters are between 4 and 6 inches thick. That means they contain much more pleated filter media, ensuring higher filtration without restricting airflow or hampering the HVAC system’s performance. Standard residential filters only go up to MERV 12, but media filters are typically in the MERV 14 to 16 range.
Have Your Ductwork Cleaned and Sealed
Leaky and/or dirty air ducts are problems that affect many Florida homes and directly decrease indoor air quality. Gaps and holes in air ducts draw additional allergens and contaminants inside and circulate them throughout your house. Having your ductwork professionally cleaned every few years is also crucial for minimizing the allergens that your HVAC system spreads around the house.
Ductwork is critical to your HVAC system. If it’s not cleaned and properly sealed, you’ll experience poorer indoor air quality, decreased cooling performance, and higher energy bills.
Since 1992, homeowners throughout Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucia counties have turned to CMi A/C & Electrical for all their home comfort and indoor air quality requests. Whether you’re in need of professional ductwork services, are looking to install an air purification system, or need help with your air conditioning, you can count on us to provide quality service at a fair price.
To schedule a consultation in the Lake Park area and get help tackling pollen issues in your home, contact us today.
