Surprising Health Benefits of Maintaining Your AC and Furnace

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you may already be dreading the warmer weather ahead and the effects it’ll have on your overall comfort. This time of year is notorious for sneezing, coughing, runny noses, headaches, sore throats, and dry/itchy eyes. If these are health problems that often plague you and your loved ones during the spring months, there are a few things you can do inside your home to help alleviate your symptoms.

While our tips aren’t meant to replace the guidance of a medical professional, we know that they will help improve your home’s overall comfort and indoor air quality. And, in turn, this could help to provide some relief from your family’s unwelcome seasonal allergies. Read on to learn more.

Tip #1: Have your heating and cooling systems tuned-up by a professional.

If you haven’t scheduled a maintenance appointment for both your heating system and cooling system in over a year, now is a great time to get them looked at by an experienced technician. Many homeowners mistakenly think that they don’t need to get their heating and cooling systems inspected by a professional each year if things seem to be working as expected.

Unfortunately, many common furnace and air conditioner problems can go undetected and may lead to an inefficient system, an uncomfortable home, and ultimately an unexpected and potentially expensive repair. Not just that, but a furnace or AC that isn’t properly tuned up each year is likely dirty inside. Dust can get picked up by your heating or cooling system and pushed out with the conditioned air. Eventually, these airborne pollutants could cycle through your home and cause unwanted health issues, including sneezing, coughing, and other problems.

Have your furnace tuned up so that it will be ready for the heating season again come fall. And now is also an ideal time to get your air conditioner inspected and cleaned by a knowledgeable technician so that it is ready for the cooling season ahead. The technician will ensure that all components are operating as cleanly, safely, and efficiently as possible so that your family can have cool comfort all spring and summer long — and have healthy, fresh indoor air, too.

Tip #2: Replace your air filter often.

One of the most common causes of indoor allergies this time of year is a dirty air filter. The filter is installed as part of your furnace, and all conditioned air generated by both your heating and cooling systems will first pass through this filter before circulating through the rest of your home. If the filter is dirty, dusty, and full of contaminants, that nasty stuff will get circulated with the conditioned air.

Ultimately, this could lead to a variety of health problems for your loved ones, including allergic reactions, headaches, and dry nasal passages. It’s recommended that you swap your air filter out monthly, more often if you have loved ones who suffer from severe allergies this time of year, or if you have smokers or pets in your home (which could cause your filter to get dirty more quickly than usual).

If you aren’t sure what size filter you need as a replacement, consult an owner’s manual or check the specifications on the current filter’s frame and write them down. You can also take a picture of the specifications on your current filter before going online or to the store to purchase a new one.

Tip #3: Install a humidifier and dehumidifier.

These common household devices work hand-in-hand with your cooling and heating systems to help keep your home comfortable throughout the year. Both help regulate the humidity levels in your home, and “humidity” is essentially the measure of the amount of moisture in the air.

If you don’t have enough moisture, it can lead to dry and itchy skin, dry and painful nasal/sinus passages, headaches, dry and sore throat, and so on. When there is too much humidity in the air, it can lead to respiratory problems as it becomes difficult for some people to breathe in the thick, moisture-filled air. Additionally, too much humidity in a home could foster the growth of dangerous bacteria and viruses, and even the development of mold and other fungus growth.

If you aren’t sure whether your home would benefit from a humidifier or dehumidifier (or both — because humidity levels vary at different times of the year), it’s best to consult a heating and cooling professional for advice. They will be able to assist you in determining what will work best for your family’s unique needs.

Tip #4: Have your ducts cleaned.

Ductwork helps circulate conditioned air from your furnace and air conditioner throughout your home. It’s recommended for you to have your ducts cleaned every few years to help prevent the build-up of dirt and dust. A dirty ductwork system will lead to conditioned air picking up dust and other contaminants that could cause your family’s allergies to worsen.

Not only is it important in terms of your loved ones’ health to get your ducts cleaned regularly, but an inspection of this area of your home could also lead to the discovery of potential holes or loosened panels inside the ductwork, which could be causing inconsistent temperatures throughout your home. A professional will be able to pinpoint these problem areas and take care of them.

Bonus tip!

Consistent temperatures inside your home can lessen the stress on your body’s immune system. A great way to ensure that each room and level of your family’s space is kept comfortable all year long is by scheduling yearly maintenance for your furnace and air conditioner, and by installing a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat can be set to raise or lower the temperature in your home at certain predetermined times of the day. If your family’s gone to work and school during the day, it doesn’t make sense to keep your thermostat set at the temperature you’d like when you’re there, since no one is home to enjoy it! You can also schedule a time for the thermostat to go back to the comfortable temperature your family desires before you all arrive home again at the end of the day. This way, you aren’t getting home and cranking the thermostat up or down an extreme amount just to make things comfortable again.

Many homeowners are also surprised by how much money they can save on their energy bills each month by simply adjusting the thermostat for several hours each day!