People don’t typically blame their furnaces when they feel sinus pressure. Unfortunately, your central heating system could be the culprit.
When the temperature drops, you turn on your heater and wait for it to get warm and cozy in your home. The last thing you want to do is start sneezing, blowing your nose, and coughing! However, many homeowners begin noticing these symptoms as soon as their heater begins working.
Unfortunately, your central heating system could be the culprit. People don’t typically blame their furnaces when they feel sinus pressure, especially during the colder seasons. Many assume they caught “that bug going around” or another type of illness. However, if you notice persistent symptoms this winter, your heating system may be affecting your indoor air quality, and it’s worth getting it checked out.
Can Your Furnace Actually Make You Sick?
Bacteria and viruses make us sick. However, dust, mold, mildew growth, and fungi can contribute to allergies. Many of the symptoms of seasonal illnesses are mimicked by the body’s response to breathing in these allergens. Dry air, caused by low humidity, dusty and dirty vents can all contribute to these problems.
Some of the symptoms you may experience this winter while you’re running your furnace may include:
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Itchy nose & sneezing
- Itchy eyes
- Dry throat
- Cracked lips
- Dry skin
- Nose bleeds
Central Heating Can Make Other Issues Worse
You may not typically experience allergies until you’re exposed to the allergens in your central heating system. However, for others who already deal with problems, their heating system could exacerbate their problems.
For instance, dry air, dust, and allergens can trigger coughing or shortness of breath if you’ve got asthma. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or other lung conditions, may be affected by the air coming out of their HVAC system.
Central heating can also irritate the nose, making sinus infections worse. It can also contribute to dehydration, headaches, or migraines if you’re prone to them.
How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
For those with asthma, allergies, or a weakened immune system, especially young children or the elderly, maintaining indoor air quality is of the utmost importance to overall health. Our expert indoor air quality technicians can install an air purification system in your air ducts.
In addition, your HVAC system needs to be maintained regularly, especially if you have allergies. At least once a year, you’re going to want to have your entire system maintained and your air quality checked. It would help if you also changed your filters every 1-3 months, depending on how many people and pets live in your home.
Certain kinds of mold are toxic to humans, even if you don’t suffer from allergies. You should always have your HVAC ducts tested for mold. Mold growth usually indicates a moisture problem, so a mold inspection can help you pinpoint more significant issues in your home, like water damage.
Indoor Air Quality – St. Louis HVAC
Allergies can substantially negatively impact your physical and mental health, so if you are suffering, don’t ignore them. One of the best things you can do to help your allergies is to maintain good indoor air quality, and your HVAC technician might be your best friend on this front.
At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC, we are a full-service residential heating and air conditioning company in St. Louis. With over 30 years of experience and a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner, we can replace, repair, and provide maintenance for your home’s HVAC system.
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