A dirty air filter can spread contaminants that can lead to a variety of health issues, including rashes, headaches, eye irritation, sinus problems, asthma or allergy symptoms, and more. Dust and mold buildup on air conditioner evaporator and condenser coils can cause allergens to be released into your home during a cooling cycle. When you come into contact with these allergens, your nose produces more mucus and swells, resulting in headaches and other sinus-related symptoms. Air conditioners circulate outdoor air, process it through their filtration and cooling systems, and expel it indoors.
Any problem with your ducting system, air cleaner, or condensing unit can lower indoor air quality. If your stuffy nose doesn't go away and the HVAC professional can't identify a problem with your air conditioning unit, you may want to consider investing in an air purifier. When the filter becomes too clogged with dust, dander and debris, the blower has to work harder to get air through the blocked filter. Air filters need to be replaced or cleaned as often as recommended by the manufacturer and may even need to be done more often if you live in a dusty area.
Refer to the owner's manual that came with your heating system to determine how often to change the filter, as well as to better understand which MERV rating is recommended for optimal air cleanliness and system efficiency. If you have pets or smokers in your home, you may need to change the filter more often to avoid problems with indoor air quality. A clogged filter continuously recirculates those particles back home, causing you and your family a range of health-related symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, cold-like symptoms that never seem to go away, and chronic allergies. If the air filter becomes too congested during the summer cooling season, it can cause a lack of air flow to the evaporator or cooling coils.
When the filter is clogged, it is not able to trap air pollutants as well as usual, and they are pushed back through the ducts into your living space. Many homeowners don't realize that a clogged air filter could be causing them to experience cold and flu-like symptoms. HVAC air filters work in partnership with your home's heating and cooling system to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. The primary responsibility of an air filter is to prevent contaminants such as pet dander and dust from reaching the air your family breathes.
It is generally recommended to change the air filter once a month during busy heating and cooling seasons. In addition to regularly changing your air filter, you should also make sure to schedule annual tuning appointments with a professional for your heating and cooling systems. If it's time for a cleanup or if you want to learn more about how your oven is causing a reaction with your allergies in Kalamazoo, MI, pick up the phone and call All Brands Heating & Cooling.
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