From itchy eyes to runny noses, endless sneezing to sore throats and plugged ears, most of us don’t need a calendar to know that summer is coming. In Northern Nevada, allergy season is a long season. It begins in February and lasts all the way through November. It starts with the trees, like juniper, pine, oak, willow, aspen, and all of the flowering varieties. Then the grasses begin releasing their pollen, and tumbleweed, sagebrush, and other weeds begin pollinating after that. Right now is the worst of tree pollen season, and the grass pollen is ramping up, too. If you or anyone in your household suffer from allergies or allergy-induced asthma, take charge! You can keep a lot of the pollen where it belongs — outside — with these tips for cleaning your air conditioning system.

Change Your Air Filter

Your air filter is what pulls pollen, other allergens, dust and debris out of circulation in your home. What most people don’t realize is that, during peak allergy season, you should change your air filter every month. Not only will it help keep your air clean, it will help your ventilation system push air more efficiently, using less energy and increasing the lifespan of your equipment.

With summer coming, your air conditioner needs to be in ship-shape. If it’s using an old air filter, it has to work a lot harder to cool your house. As a result, your house won’t cool as quickly and your energy bill will be higher. Don’t wait until your filter is clogged and filthy to swap it out — that means your air is probably clogged and filthy, too.

Clean Your Air Ducts

Your home’s air ducts need a deep cleaning every few years. A professional can use specialized equipment to remove any dirt, dust or pet dander that has collected inside of them, as well as inspect them for any leaks. Leaky air ducts reduce the effectiveness of your air filtration and increase your energy costs, so it’s worthwhile to make sure they are properly sealed.

Service Your Air Conditioner

Your air conditioning system itself needs some annual attention. Dirt and allergens can collect in the evaporator coils and drain pan of your air conditioning unit, eventually clogging them. Having these cleaned out each year will help keep your home’s air fresh.

At the same time, you can have your system checked for future complications. That way any necessary maintenance can be done early in the season, and you can avoid waiting on a broken air conditioning repair in the middle of summer.

Keep your home’s air clean this allergy season by taking proper care of your ventilation and air conditioning system. Need help? At Ross Heating and Air Conditioning, we understand how important it is for your home to be comfortable, so we ensure timely service for our customers, and our trained technicians use low-cost diagnostics to identify and repair any issues. Schedule an appointment with us for cleaning your air conditioning system today.