Improve indoor air quality during St. Louis allergy season with better HVAC filtration, humidity control, and smart home tips to reduce pollen, dust, and mold.
If you live in St. Louis, you already know “allergy season” isn’t just a few weeks. Between spring tree pollen, summer grasses, fall ragweed, and the mold that pops up after humid spells and storms, your home can feel like it’s fighting you.
The good news: you don’t have to choose between fresh air and comfortable air. With a few smart HVAC adjustments (and a couple of simple home habits), you can reduce the stuff that triggers sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, and that “why am I tired?” feeling—without turning your house into a sealed box.
Extremely thorough and educational. They do a wonderful job of explaining everything and making sure I was comfortable knowing how the systems worked in my house!
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review, Matthew! We appreciate your support.
I noticed a strange noise that I was concerned was linked to my furnace. I called Thomas Hoffman Heating & Cooling and Nick came right out. He was very thorough checking all components. Thankfully all checked out for us this visit. Definitely recommend Thomas Hoffman Heating & Cooling!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind review, Abby! We appreciate your business and look forward to servicing you in the future.
Thomas Hoffman is a wonderful company to work with. Techs are knowledgeable, personable & efficient.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Christine, for your kind words about our team; we appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear you had a positive experience!
Got a quote over the phone. Everything was explained thoroughly. Dakota, my technician arrived and on time, was very professional and knowledgeable. He didn’t try to upsell or change anything. He did a great job. We can already tell the difference since the ducts and vents were cleaned. Would recommend an use Hoffman again in the future.
Response from the owner:Happy to hear you had a pleasant experience using Thomas Hoffmann!
The technician, Ryan, was knowledgeable and helpful in identifying the issue with our mini split AC unit. They are the second company we called after issues with the first and will be using Hoffmann again.
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear your experience with Thomas Hoffmann was pleasant. Thank you for your kind review, & we look forward to working with you in the future!
woke up to a very cold house, called Thomas Hoffmann, they were able to come out a couple of hours later and get the issue resolved. Always trust them, they have always been quick to respond and get either the heating or ac issue fixed that day. Also a great price!!!! give them 10 stars if i could, Thank You JS
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind review, Jim. We are happy to hear that you had a positive experience working with Thomas Hoffmann!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Hank, for your wonderful feedback; we're glad you enjoyed the fast, friendly, and professional service, and we'll be sure to keep up the great work!
The technician Giovanni was excellent and on time very professional and efficient and knowledgeable of the project at hand ,gave great advice but most of all did great work 👏 thank you .
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear you had a great experience, Sam! Thank you for the review, and thank you for your business.
Your service technician was very professional and knowledgeable. And did not appear to try to give me bogus information. I truly appreciate his honesty because several other companies did not appear to be honest, obviously wasn’t honest, my gut feeling told me they were not honest and tried to get me to spend $10,000 for a problem that was much simpler to fix. I look forward to you servicing all my properties, and possibly those of the rest of my family.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words and great review! We appreciate your support.
Very prompt, communication was great, and the workers were very polite. I highly recommend them!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Lianne! We're glad to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and appreciate your high recommendation.
Water heater repaired, appointment done the same day, effective, courteous
Response from the owner:Thank you, Leticia! We appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear that the water heater was repaired promptly and effectively. Your satisfaction means a lot to us!
The service tech Giovanni did a fantastic job. Our gas fireplace is working like new again so we’re ready for the cold weather!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Mr, for your fantastic review! We're glad to hear Giovanni provided you with excellent service and professionalism. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If I could give 10 stars, I absolutely would.
Last night our furnace went out unexpectedly, and with three kids in the house, the temperature dropped fast. Giovanni went above and beyond in every way possible. Instead of charging me a late-night service fee, he simply asked, “Are you decently handy?” and offered to walk me through some troubleshooting steps to get our heat back on so my children wouldn’t have to sleep in the cold.
Not only did he guide me through the process, he even FaceTimed me and showed me exactly what to take apart, how to put it back together, and what signals to watch for. It felt like having a real technician standing right next to me the entire time. Thanks to him, our heat was restored within minutes.
In a world where true customer service is hard to come by, Giovanni is a rare find. It is a guaranteed fact that any future repairs, maintenance, and the new heater/AC system we’ll be needing this coming summer/fall will absolutely be done through him. His honesty, kindness, and expertise have earned our business for life.
Highly, highly recommend.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Jeff, for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear Giovanni was able to help you and your family during that tough situation. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we appreciate your trust in our services for the future!
My neighbor referred these guys to me when had water heater problem. Previous company told me I needed to replace it. Tom’s technician fixed it for less than $200. This was over 2 years ago and have been using their service ever since. They are very trustworthy.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Mary, for sharing your experience and for trusting us with your water heater issue; we're glad our technician could help and that you've continued to rely on our services!
I called this company earlier today because I was having a bunch of issues with my HVAC system. They were incredibly friendly and walked me through troubleshooting step by step over the phone. They didn’t even charge me for the call. Thanks to their honest advice, I was able to get things running smoothly again. Really grateful for their help and would definitely recommend them if you want straightforward and trustworthy service. Five stars all the way!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the glowing review, Hector! We appreciate your business and look forward to working with you in the future.
Nick did not set current time. — Monday Hoffmans Zach came to fix correct time. We DID NOT want a timed thermostat — we prefer to set temperatures manually
Response from the owner:Thank you, Pat, for your kind words about Giovanni; we appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that he made a positive impression.
Clear communication about arrival, service and costs.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Margaret, for your kind words! We appreciate your feedback on our clear communication and are glad you had a positive experience.
I will highly recommend this business for your air and heater repair. Prompt, knowledgeable and courteous service.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Judy, for your kind words and recommendation! We're glad to hear you were pleased with our prompt and courteous service.
Thomas Hoffman was very responsive to our after hours inquiry, even walked us through some trouble shooting over the phone. We provided pictures of the unit and they were able to quickly buy, schedule and install the part to keep our family warm!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ali! We're glad to hear that Thomas was responsive and helpful in getting everything sorted out for you and your family. Your feedback means a lot to us!
Nick came by, identified the problem quickly and had it fixed. Great service!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ted! We're glad to hear that Nick provided you with quick and effective service. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Great service. Responsive. Well trained technicians. Honest friendly and thorough. I highly recommend Tom Hoffmann and his team.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We appreciate your recommendation and are delighted to hear about your positive experience with our team.
Ryan Taylor with Thomas Hoffman did an outstanding job in servicing our unit & explaining everything to me, especially how our humidifier worked, since we were new home owners & had not had one before. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Thank you! We're glad to hear that Ryan and Thomas provided you with excellent service and helped you understand your new humidifier. We appreciate your feedback!
Ryan was knowledgeable and figured out why our furnace wasn’t working and repaired the problem
Response from the owner:So happy to hear you had a good experience with the team here at Thomas Hoffmann, Jo! Thank you for your support.
Why St. Louis Allergy Season Hits Indoors so Hard
Most people assume allergies are an outdoor problem. But in reality, your home becomes the collection point:
Pollen rides in on clothes, hair, pets, shoes, and packages
Humidity fuels mold in basements, crawl spaces, and damp ductwork areas
Dust and dander circulate when airflow is weak or filtration is poor
Leaky ductwork can pull in attic insulation dust or musty crawl space air
Dirty coils and blowers can spread contaminants and reduce airflow
Start with the Highest-Impact Fixes (most homes need these)
1) Upgrade your air filter the right way (and change it on schedule)
Your HVAC filter is the first line of defense—but only if it’s the right filter for your system and it’s replaced consistently.
What to do:
Use a high-quality pleated filter (not the cheap fiberglass kind)
Consider MERV 8–11 for many homes
If your system can handle it, MERV 13 can capture smaller particles (including many allergy triggers)
Important caveat: A filter that’s too restrictive for your system can reduce airflow, leading to comfort issues and even equipment strain. If you’re not sure what your system can support, a technician can confirm.
Change frequency (rule of thumb)
Every 1–2 months during heavy allergy season
Every 30 days, if you have pets, a dusty home, ongoing construction nearby, or allergy-sensitive family members
2) Keep your home slightly cleaner where it matters most
You don’t need to deep-clean every week—focus on the places that have the biggest payoff:
Entryway: Keep a doormat outside and inside; consider a “shoes off” zone
Bedroom: Wash bedding weekly in hot water; vacuum with a HEPA-rated vacuum
Floors: Damp mop hard floors (dry sweeping stirs allergens back up)
Pets: Brush pets regularly and wipe them down after outdoor time (especially paws)
3) Control humidity (this is huge in St. Louis)
St. Louis humidity can push indoor moisture higher than you think—especially in basements and older homes. High humidity doesn’t just feel sticky; it can help mold thrive and make dust mites happier.
Target indoor humidity:
Aim for 30–50% (many homes feel best around ~40–45%)
Make sure bath fans and kitchen ventilation actually vent outside
Address water intrusion, sump issues, and damp crawl spaces
HVAC Upgrades Can Make a Big Difference
4) Consider a media filter or high-efficiency filtration upgrade
If your current setup relies on a 1-inch filter, you may benefit from a deeper media filter cabinet (often 4–5 inches). These can:
Capture more particles
Restrict airflow to less than a very “tight” 1-inch filter
Last longer between changes (depending on conditions)
5) Add air purification—only if it matches your goals
“Air purifier” can mean many things. Here’s what tends to be most useful for allergy season:
HEPA filtration (portable or whole-home add-on)
Excellent at capturing fine particles
Great for bedrooms and living spaces
Whole-home options exist, but must be designed correctly to avoid airflow issues
UV systems
Most helpful for microbial control (like mold on coils) rather than pollen
A good option if you’ve had recurring musty odors or visible growth concerns near HVAC components
Bipolar ionization/ionizers
Some homeowners ask about these; effectiveness and best-use cases vary widely by product and installation. If you’re considering one, focus on proven performance data and proper application—not buzzwords.
Schedule a Seasonal HVAC Tune-Up
A tune-up isn’t just about preventing breakdowns. It also helps:
Coils and blower components can collect dust and biofilm
Drain lines can back up and create moisture problems
Airflow and static pressure issues can reduce filtration effectiveness
Small problems (like a weak capacitor or dirty coil) can cause longer run times and poor humidity control
Frequently Asked Questions
Many homes do well with MERV 8–11; some systems can support MERV 13. The “best” filter is one that improves particle capture without restricting airflow. If you want, we can recommend the appropriate rating for your system.
Often every 30–60 days during peak pollen periods. Homes with pets or high dust may need monthly changes.
Sometimes, but it depends on what’s actually in the system. If there’s visible buildup, post-construction dust, or contamination, it may help. In many cases, filtration, sealing leaks, and proper maintenance yield more consistent long-term results.
Yes—by improving filtration and humidity control. A clean, properly functioning AC can reduce indoor moisture (which helps reduce mold and dust mite issues) and keep air moving through the filtration system.
Often, it’s moisture-related: a dirty evaporator coil, a drain issue, or high indoor humidity—sometimes combined with duct leakage that draws in damp air. It’s worth diagnosing early.
Need Help Improving Indoor Air Quality in St. Louis?
If you’re in St. Louis, Kirkwood, Des Peres, or nearby and want a clear plan—filtering, humidity, airflow, and any IAQ upgrades that actually make sense for your home—we can help. Call us at (314) 471-7625 or visit our online contact form.
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At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating, we pride ourselves on being a locally owned and operated HVAC company. With more than 30 years of experience and a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner, we can replace, repair, and maintain your business or home’s HVAC system.
