Some of us never seem to be able to escape flu symptoms.

In the fall, we often find ourselves sniffling, coughing, sneezing and wheezing at the new round of pollen, such as that from trees or fall-blooming flowers.

You cannot do much about containing allergens like pollen while outdoors, but you can do some things indoors by enlisting the help of your new HVAC system. Replace the air filter because if you do not change your air filter often, it will not capture airborne particulates as well. Besides conditioning the air, HVAC systems require steady airflow to remove particulates from the filtering system. Make sure your air filter is of fine quality, as the fiberglass filters are not dense enough to capture the smaller particles of pollen that may be circulating in your cabin and triggering your flu symptoms. Your best defense is a dense, pleated filter rated 8-12 on the MERV scale, and also consider a whole-home air purifier. The type of whole-home air purifier you choose will depend on the kind of allergen you want to control. Your HVAC unit might benefit from an electrostatic filter if pollen is your problem allergen. Permanent filters are more overpriced than disposable filters, but they last for a long time. Electrostatic charges attract particles and periodic cleaning of them is required. A HEPA air filter may be necessary if your flu symptoms are severely severe. In order for a HEPA filter to work in your HVAC system, the unit must be modified to accommodate this ultra-dense filtration. As a result, the home’s HVAC system would not be able to cool or heat well.

Indoor air cleaning system