As spring and summer bring warmer days, they also bring a whole lot of allergens that can make their way into your house. If you are one of the 50 million Americans that suffer from seasonal allergies, you can take an important step in preventing them with one simple practice — proper HVAC maintenance.

Pay Close Attention to Your Air Filter

The air filter inside your air conditioning system is responsible for taking care of air particles that you don't want floating in the air. This includes not only allergens, but also potentially dangerous contaminants like smoke, volatile compounds, and even tiny fibers from fabrics and carpets in your home.

A good filter will help trap as many particles as it can, but eventually, those particles build up and start clogging the filter. An old, dirty filter will not only let contaminants pass on through more easily, but will also slow down your entire system and cost you more money. To help prevent allergens in your home and save money, make sure that you replace your filter every two to three months. It's easy to tell when a filter gets dirty!

Upgrading Your Filter

Many pollen particles and other allergens are very small, and an ordinary HVAC filter may not be able to trap them effectively. If you are particularly sensitive to pollen or similar particles, then consider upgrading to a HEPA filter.

A HEPA filter is specifically designed to help those with bad allergies or asthma. Sometimes it fits into the same location as a traditional filter, but people can also buy air purifiers with separate filters. A true HEPA filter can capture up to 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns in the air, which includes most pollen particles. HEPA filters will make a real difference in your home (they are frequently used in hospitals and other areas where air quality is vital), but you may need to make some filtration upgrades to use them.

New Filter Demands

If you do choose a HEPA filter for your home, it's important to know how they work and how often they will need to be replaced. Remember, a HEPA filter is capturing far more particles than a traditional HVAC filter. That means that its filtering fibers fill up much more quickly, and the filter will need to be replaced more regularly. Otherwise, it will quickly stop making a difference. Most HEPA filters should be replaced every month or two. Homeowners may find it easier to hire a professional to replace the filter with new versions rather than worry about this themselves.

Need a little help with maintenance or upgrades? Take the worry out of your air quality management with a service agreement from Guaranteed Services. Contact us today to get started.