What Causes Fall Allergies and How Can Your HVAC Help?

After the high humidity and warm days of summer, most of us welcome the advent of fall, with its cooling breezes and changing leaves. But another sign of fall for some of us is increased suffering from allergies. Allergies come in many forms all year, but in the fall, the source is usually certain plants that are throwing off pollen. So what causes fall allergies?

One of the worst offenders in Ohio is ragweed. Ragweed season begins in August and continues through October. Symptoms range from itchy, watery eyes, to sneezing, coughing, a stuffy/runny/itchy nose, throat irritation, and sinusitis.

Whatever the source of what causes fall allergies, there are some things you can do in your home to mitigate the allergens that afflict you in the fall or anytime. One of your best tools for controlling allergens is your HVAC system.

How the HVAC System Can Help Control Allergens

As your HVAC system draws air into the unit for conditioning, the air passes through a filter. While an inexpensive filter only catches larger particles of dirt, a quality filter will catch some allergens, including pollen. If you suffer from what causes fall allergies, it’s worthwhile to invest in a quality, pleated air filter, rated 8 to 12 on the MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) scale. Any higher and you will have to have your HVAC modified so it can accommodate the higher MERV filter, as it would slow down airflow to the point where the system would labor to operate properly.

Homeowners sometimes add air purifiers to help improve indoor air quality. Certain portable air purifiers work pretty well but have to be moved from room to room to do their job. For those who suffer from severe allergies, a whole-home air purifier, installed in the HVAC system, may be a good solution. There are different types, so it’s best to get advice from an HVAC consultant on the type that would work best in your home.

To learn more about what causes fall allergies and how to deal with them, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning of Lorain.