A runny nose and watery eyes are common allergy symptoms this time of year, but you shouldn’t have to go through life with these symptoms—especially inside your own home. Poor indoor air quality makes life miserable for millions of Americans, but it doesn’t have to! Routine HVAC maintenance in Grand Rapids, MN can relieve all sorts of allergy symptoms, making life easier and keeping your home safe. Keep reading to learn more:
- Call a professional: Seasonal HVAC maintenance is your best bet for keeping allergens like dust, pet dander, pollen and even mold out of your indoor air. During an inspection and tune-up, your HVAC technician will clean out the unit and remove any harmful allergens lurking inside. Professional maintenance also helps prevent breakdowns and prolongs the lifespan of your system, so be sure to schedule that service sooner rather than later.
- Change the filters: Your HVAC system’s air filters are responsible for keeping contaminants out of the air in your home. Since they work around the clock, they can get dirty fairly quickly. Most air filters need to be changed every two months or so. However, this varies based on the type of filter you have, which you can read more about below.
- Keep a clean home: Your HVAC technician will do a thorough job cleaning your HVAC system in Grand Rapids, MN, but it’s up to you to keep your house tidy. Make a habit of regularly sweeping, vacuuming and dusting to prevent allergens from circulating in the air. It’s also not a bad idea to have your air ducts professionally cleaned to remove any mold or other contaminants.
Types of filters
The efficiency of an air filter is measured by its minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). MERV ranges from one to twenty. Here are the most common kinds of air filters:
- Flat panel: The most basic kinds of filter, flat panels have a MERV rating of one to four and are designed to protect the HVAC system from contaminants, not improve air quality.
- Medium efficiency: Designed with pleats and a wide surface area, medium-efficiency filters can effectively filter some small particles out of the air.
- High efficiency: With a MERV rating of 14 to 16, high-efficiency filters can remove even smaller particles than the pleated filters mentioned above.
- HEPA: As the name suggests, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are the best at reducing contaminants from the air and have a MERV rating of 17 to 20. Keep in mind that these filters may reduce an HVAC system’s output if major updates aren’t made to the unit.
Now is the perfect time for a tune-up!
Summer is just around the corner, so now is a great time to schedule HVAC maintenance in Grand Rapids, MN. After an inspection and tune-up from our professionals, you can rest easy knowing that your AC will last throughout the season without breaking down, and your allergies will stay under control.
Give the team at Rapids Plumbing & Heating Inc. a call today if you haven’t had your HVAC system in Grand Rapids, MN tuned up yet. Along with performing seasonal maintenance, we can make all sorts of repairs and even install new units.