AC Got You Sneezing? How To Clear The Air

If you start sneezing every time the air conditioner comes on, you could be dealing with air conditioner nose. That's when your air conditioner causes you to experience severe allergy symptoms. It's not necessarily the air conditioner that you're allergic to. It's the particles that are coming out of the unit that are causing you the problems. Luckily, you don't have to live with the sneezing and itchy nose. Here are four simple steps you can take to get your allergy symptoms under control.

Upgrade Your Filters

If you're using basic paper filters in your air conditioning unit, you're not removing as many allergens as you should. Ordinary paper filters only provide you with a basic filtering of the allergens and particulate matter that flow through the ducts. That means the air you're breathing is dirtier than it should be. To keep your air clean, and remove as many allergens as possible, upgrade to a HEPA filter for your air conditioner. HEPA filters remove more allergens than basic paper filters.

Have Your Ducts Cleaned

If it's been a while since you had your ducts cleaned, they could be contributing to your allergy problems. During the course of a normal day, particulate matter such as pet hair, rodent feces, and even bug droppings are being distributed throughout your air ducts. That means, you're breathing in all those things. Not only that, but if you have a pest problem in your home, you could also have dead bugs and rodents lurking in those ducts. To prevent problems with the air you're breathing, and to reduce your allergy symptoms, you should have your ducts cleaned once every couple of years. If the air inside your home starts smelling musty, or dirty, it's a good indication that your ducts need to be cleaned.

Install an Air Purifier

If you've upgraded your filter, and cleaned the ducts, but you're still noticing allergy problems when the air conditioner is running, it's time to install an air purifier. An air purifier will remove allergens and leave you with clean, fresh-smelling air. Not only that, but they'll also remove the germs that could be making you and your family sick during flu season.

Protect the AC Unit

Once you've taken care of all the steps inside your home, you'll need to go out and look at the area around your air conditioning unit. If you have allergens, such as dirt or weeds, near your air conditioner, they could be getting sucked in with the cooled air. To stop the flow of allergens into your home, clear the area around your air conditioner.

If your air conditioner is causing allergy symptoms, use the suggestions provided here to clear up the problem. If you continue to suffer from air conditioner-related allergy problems, talk to your HVAC technician. You may need to have your air conditioner professionally serviced. For more information, contact companies like Rizzo Heating & Air Conditioning.

Share