How Allergy Season Affects Your Air Conditioner

Springtime brings discomfort for many people, as grasses, trees, and other plants send clouds of pollen wafting into the air. Breathing in this pollen causes allergic reactions in many individuals, resulting in symptoms like itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing, wheezing, and congestion.

But have you ever wondered if this same pollen-laden air can cause problems for your air conditioner?

It definitely can.

Here are the most common problems that spring and summer allergens can cause for your air conditioner and how to fix them:

• Symptom: Pollen and other kinds of airborne dirt and dust will get into your air conditioner’s outdoor condenser, and if enough dirt builds up, your air conditioner’s performance will suffer. Specifically, the heat transfer through the coils will be limited, which will reduce the cooling power of your air conditioner. Cottonwood trees are the worst “allergen” for air conditioners because the white, silky strands attached to their seeds can really wrap around parts in the outdoor unit.
• Treatment: Pollen, cottonwood fuzz, and other types of dust and dirt should be removed from your outdoor unit at least once per year with a thorough AC coil cleaning. If you live in an area with lots of plants and trees, you may find your coils need cleaning more often. At Econo West Heating Air & Plumbing, we provide top-quality AC maintenance services including gentle but effective powerwashing of outdoor coils.
• Symptom: Because you carry pollen and other allergens inside on your clothes, shoes, and hair, the indoor portions of your air conditioning system can be affected by them as well. In spring and summer, the amount of allergens you’re bringing in may be so large that your air conditioner air filters fill up faster than normal. A dirty filter will reduce airflow through the system, resulting in reduced efficiency.
• Treatment: During allergy season, be sure to check your air filters frequently and clean or replace them as needed. You may also want to consider installing an air purifier as an additional line of defense against allergens—which will protect yourself and your air conditioner.