Life with allergies can be challenging. You may be bombarded with allergy triggers every time you step outside. Even worse, your home could be making your condition worse, due to dust, mold, pets, or gases from flooring and other building materials. Fortunately, there are ways to improve air quality in your home, with the help of an HVAC services technician. Here are some things that may help.

Switching to a Different HVAC Filter

You can buy HVAC filters made for allergy sufferers that trap smaller particles than a standard filter. However, before you make this switch, talk to an HVAC professional. A HEPA filter can reduce airflow so much that it makes your heating and cooling system less efficient. Allergy filters might even cause problems, such as HVAC overheating or icing of coils that cause your system to shut down. Therefore, you'll want to be sure your system can handle an allergy filter, before you install one. An HVAC technician may suggest other ways of improving the air quality in your home, such as with a dehumidifier or air cleaning system.

Adding an Air Cleaner to the HVAC System

Your HVAC technician may suggest installing a media filter in your heating and cooling system. These work in different ways. There might be a HEPA filter, carbon filter, or filter with an electrostatic charge installed, to trap small allergen particles. Sometimes, multiple types of filters are installed. Just like your traditional HVAC filter, these have to be replaced regularly, to keep your air clean. These media filters clean air as it circulates through the HVAC system, so the blower has to be running for the air in your home to be cleaned. Another type of air cleaner is a photocatalyst filter that is used in combination with a UV light. These are more expensive, but they provide improved filtration. Also, these don't restrict airflow, so you don't have to worry about stress on your HVAC.

Installing a Dehumidifier On Your HVAC

Another way to improve air quality in your home is to have a dehumidifier added to your HVAC. This may benefit you in a number of ways. For one, it keeps your home drier, which is beneficial, if your allergies are triggered by mold. A dehumidifier that's hooked up to your HVAC system turns on automatically when the humidity in your house rises to a certain level, even if your AC and furnace are not in use. By pulling excess humidity out of the house, your home seems cooler too, and you'll feel more comfortable. You might be able to delay turning on your AC when you have a dehumidifier running in the spring and summer.

If you've been meticulous about keeping your home protected from allergens, but still have problems, talk to an HVAC technician about options for improving the air quality in your home.