uneven temperatures in your home

As your thoughts turn towards staying cool this spring, you may also be thinking of how to stay allergy-free this season. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, allergies are one of the leading causes of chronic illness in the U.S., with over 50 million people suffering from allergies each year.

Unfortunately, your air conditioning system could be harboring a wide variety of allergens such as dust, pet dander and mold spores. By keeping your A/C system in top-notch shape, you can reduce your exposure to indoor allergens and even prevent allergy symptoms altogether.

Your Air Filter Plays a Key Role in Controlling Allergens

Your A/C system's air filter is usually the first line of defense when it comes to controlling springtime allergies. The whole purpose of the air filter is to trap unwanted airborne particles before they have a chance to travel through the rest of the HVAC system. Using your A/C air filter to tackle allergies involves a two-pronged approach -- frequent filter changes combined with using the best available filtration media for your A/C system.

Most experts recommend changing the air filter once every 3 months at a minimum. However, monthly filter changes may offer better results when it comes to controlling indoor pollutants. Leaving a dirty air filter in place for too long can reduce the overall performance of your A/C system while allowing allergens to travel through the A/C system unencumbered.

Choosing the best air filter is also crucial for reducing indoor allergens. Air filters are usually rated under the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) scale, with 1 representing the most basic fiberglass air filter and 20 representing professional-grade HEPA filters. The higher the rating, the more effective the filter is at trapping airborne pollutants. However, such effectiveness usually comes at the cost of ever-restrictive air flow.

Balance is the key when it comes to choosing the best air filter. According to Angie's List, pleated A/C air filters rated between MERV 9 and 12 are typically the best choice for dust and allergen control.

Keeping Up Outward Appearances

It's not unusual to see dust and debris accumulate around the bottom of the central HVAC system's indoor cabinet. However, leaving this dust and debris where it lays could prove a bad idea. Pressure differentials inside and outside of the cabinet could cause this dust and debris to be sucked into the system through small cracks and gaps.

To prevent this from happening, always keep the area immediately surrounding your HVAC system's indoor cabinet free of dust and debris through vacuuming and dusting. Not only does this play a small role in controlling indoor allergies, but it also makes the area near your A/C unit look neater.

Supply air grilles and certain portions of the A/C ducts can also harbor allergy-triggering dust and debris. When it comes to cleaning the ductwork, it's usually good idea to have your HVAC technician perform a semi-annual cleaning. In the meantime, you can clean the supply air grilles with a shop vacuum fitted with a soft brush attachment.

Spotting and Preventing Mold Growth

Mold growth is another common issue when it comes to combating indoor allergies. Although mold spores are present in just about every corner of your home, they're typically harmless and unable to reproduce unless the conditions are just right. Mold spores need moisture and protection from direct sunlight to multiply and thrive. Unfortunately, there's one place within your A/C system that fits the bill.

Hidden within the plenum box is the evaporator coil, an integral part of your A/C system that removes latent heat, making the surrounding air cooler. Removing latent heat also condenses moisture, making the dark and damp confines of the plenum box an ideal place for mold to flourish. The resultant increase in mold spores can easily trigger allergy and asthma symptoms.

Installing a set of germicidal ultraviolet (UV) lamps can help prevent mold from growing on the coils and surrounding areas. UV lamps emit UV-C radiation -- the same sort that's naturally produced by sunlight. UV-C radiation disrupts mold's reproductive capabilities, essentially stopping mold growth in its tracks.

If you already see mold on the evaporator coil, you should have the mold removed and the area disinfected before using your A/C system. Since it's easy to damage the fragile fins lining the evaporator coil, it's usually best to have a professional from a company like R & B Heating & Air Conditioning carefully clean the coil and other areas where mold is found.