Is Your Furnace Aggravating Your Allergies?

Are you one of the millions of Americans that suffer from allergies? From a runny nose to itchy and watery eyes, your symptoms are all over the place. One place where you expect to find a sense of relief is your home. However, an issue with the furnace could be aggravating your allergies more than helping. Is this an issue you deal with in your home? Learn about some of the allergy-aggravating issues that are common with a furnace. 

Filter Clogs

The furnace filter ensures that warm air is able to cycle throughout your home. As the warm air passes through the filter screen, it's mesh lining traps airborne particles and keeps them from circulating through the home. As more allergens accumulate, the filter screen must be cleaned or replaced. 

When this step doesn't occur, the filter will clog. As a result, the airborne particles are no longer trapped by the screen but instead forced to circulate through the air. As long as the filter remains clogged, the problem will continue.

Dry Air

Air that is too dry is never a good thing for an allergy sufferer. When the air is too dry, dust can become a real issue, and dry air can further activate any allergic symptoms you have. If you have an older furnace, it's very likely that you could face this issue. 

Older furnaces were not designed with sealed combustion systems. As a result, there is a forced air exchange with the air from the outdoors, which is often dry air. The best solution to this issue is to upgrade to a newer furnace with sealed combustion, which eliminates the issue with forced air. 

Damaged Air Handler

The air handler is an important component of a furnace because it helps circulate air through the furnace to the heat exchange, and ultimately, through the vents in the house. When the air handler is damaged, a marked reduction in the amount of air that passes through the handler will occur, which also means a reduced flow of air through the vents. 

Maintaining higher levels of air flow is important because it helps force allergens into the air where they can eventually be trapped inside the filter. When airflow is reduced, the allergens simply remain, which can aggravate your symptoms. A damaged air handler is sometimes an indication of an aged furnace. 

When a furnace begins to display signs that signal many of these issues, it might be time to replace the furnace. With age, a furnace may start to fail and display a number of alarming signs. If you suspect it's time for a new furnace, speak with a furnace installation specialist for assistance. 

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