Prevent Spring Allergies With HVAC Maintenance

While Knoxville residents might rejoice in the warmer weather as the springtime settles in East Tennessee, the changing seasons can increase the risk for allergy sufferers.

Thankfully, there are ways families can prevent allergens and pollutants from infiltrating their homes by optimizing their HVAC systems through annual maintenance.

In this blog post, the HVAC professionals at Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling share some key insights on how scheduling an annual system check can prevent spring allergies from clogging your sinuses this season.

Increased Risk of Allergens & Pollutants

Knoxville is consistently rated as one of the top 10 allergy capitals in the U.S. Home to over 1,500 flowering plant species, springtime in East Tennessee can be a significant concern for allergy sufferers as tree pollen, grass pollen, and ragweed pollen fill the air.

In addition to pollen, many other common allergens and pollutants can get into your home through compromised air ducts or poorly maintained HVAC systems, including:

• Mold & mildew: Spring in Knoxville can get awfully muggy. This increased moisture in the air can create the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow and thrive. 
• Dust mites: Along with mold and mildew, high humidity during the spring can also attract dust mites into your home, which can irritate your asthma and allergy symptoms. 
• Cleaning products: As Knoxville families engage in spring cleaning, the products they use can produce harmful fumes that can lower their indoor air quality and increase allergy irritation. 

Indoor Air Quality & Your Air Conditioning System

Although you may think you can escape pollen-laden air in your home, the EPA estimates that the levels of indoor air pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels and sometimes can exceed 100 times that of outdoor air. 

With so many allergens and pollutants to contend with during spring, it’s important to ensure your AC is optimized to combat the harmful effects of these airborne contaminants. Scheduling an annual system check is one of the best ways to limit the amount of dust, dirt, and other allergens in your indoor air.

During the maintenance appointment, our technician will thoroughly clean out the AC’s condenser coil to ensure your system is running at peak efficiency, along with checking the indoor evaporator coil and fan blades to help eliminate allergen buildup and create a healthier, safer indoor environment.

Your annual AC system check will typically involve:

• Checking indoor evaporator coil
• Inspecting the thermostat
• Cleaning condenser coils
• Inspecting ductwork and providing recommendations
• Lubricating moving parts
• Checking electrical connections
• Clearing out the condensate drain
• Inspecting fan blades

For an additional nominal fee, our technicians can also provide these services during your system check:  

• Replacing your air filters
• Topping off refrigerant as needed
• Optimizing ductwork based on recommendation
• Cleaning blower wheel, furnace cabinet, and evaporator coil

Another great way to strengthen your air conditioner’s ability to reduce airborne contaminants is by pairing it with other HVAC products designed to improve indoor air quality.

These indoor air quality systems can work in tandem with your air conditioner to control outdoor allergens and minimize their impact on you and your family members:

• Air purifiers: These systems work alongside your AC by continuously filtering out allergens like pollen, dust, and pet dander, helping reduce allergy and asthma attacks during spring.
• Whole-house filters: When integrated into your AC system, whole-house filters can trap microscopic particles like pollen and mold spores, enhancing indoor air quality and providing relief during spring and summer.
• Humidifiers: Adding moisture to your indoor air can prevent dryness that may exacerbate allergy symptoms during the spring, promoting greater comfort and easier breathing for your household.
• Dehumidifiers: Working with your AC to remove excess moisture from the air, dehumidifiers can minimize the risk of mold and mildew growth, reducing your allergy and asthma symptoms.
• Proper house ventilation with fresh air kits: The air pressure of your house is also important, and you’ll want to have positive pressure, rather than negative, to ensure your home is constantly pushing air outside. By installing a Fresh Air Kit, you can ensure your home has positive air pressure, which is recommended if you have higher occupancy under the same roof.

Benefits of Air Filter Replacement in Spring

One thing Knoxville homeowners can do on their own to drastically improve their indoor air quality is to keep up with proper air filter maintenance. Replacing your air filter at the start of the spring can provide many benefits, including:

• Increased efficiency: Clogged air filters, or thicker HEPA filters, can lead to restricted airflow and reduced system efficiency. By replacing your air filters at the proper intervals, you can enjoy improved performance and lower cooling costs for your home.
• Reduced illness: Eliminating the accumulation of allergens and pollutants in your air filter by replacing it regularly helps you and your family remain healthy and avoid serious illness.  
• Breakdown prevention: By changing your air filter regularly, you can reduce the strain on your AC and prevent unnecessary system breakdowns. Breakdowns can include AC systems freezing up, restricted airflow, and more.

While replacing your air filter at the start of spring is important, it’s equally important to continue to clean and change it as the season progresses. Changing or cleaning your air filter at least once every 90 days is highly recommended.

If you have pets or live with immunocompromised family members such as infants or older people, you may need to replace your air filter more frequently, such as every 45 days, to avoid triggering allergy and respiratory symptoms.

Schedule Your HVAC Maintenance

Don’t let allergens and outdoor pollutants keep you from enjoying total comfort and safety in your home. Trust Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to deliver the comprehensive AC system check you need to eliminate harmful contaminants from your indoor air.

Offering the finest products and materials in the industry, we go above and beyond to ensure your home remains free of unwanted contaminants that can trigger allergy symptoms.

We have been voted one of “Knoxville’s Best HVAC Companies” seven years in a row and we’re here to help keep your home safe and comfortable throughout the Knoxville spring and summer.

Schedule air conditioning maintenance in Knoxville or ask us any questions about AC or air purification systems by calling (865) 583-3957 today.

Frequently Asked Questions