AC and Allergies

November 12, 2024

Summertime is the season for rest and relaxation—except when pollen decides to crash your party.


If you’re afflicted with seasonal allergies, you’re not alone. As many as 60 million Americans have allergic rhinitis part-time or year-round, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


Luckily, a perfect antidote is already installed in your Washington home. A well-maintained air conditioner can boost your indoor air quality (IAQ), reducing symptoms. Your AC has a filter that catches airborne irritants like dust, pollen, dander. It also balances humidity and provides ventilation, reducing the likelihood of mold growth.


Looking for additional methods to stop allergens from inhabiting your home? Alpine Aire, LLC has a team of home comfort experts ready to find the perfect solution for your lifestyle. Make your home a sanctuary—spend less time restocking your tissues and more time doing what you love. Call us for a free consultation today.

How Your AC Protects From Allergens

Wherever the wind blows —indoor allergens seem to follow. Fortunately, your AC has a built-in air filter. When air passes through, tiny particles stick to the filter’s microfibers. You can determine a filter’s effectiveness using its minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). The higher the MERV, the more particles it catches.


Running your central air system also helps discourage mold and mildew growth. On a sticky Washington day, high humidity levels create damp surfaces for mold to feast on. Your AC cools by extracting moisture from the air. The vapors get converted to water, which exits down the condensate drain. The ventilation from your ductwork also makes surfaces dry quicker, giving mold fewer chances to multiply.

Why AC Maintenance Is Important For Allergies

For clean air, you must stay on top of maintenance. That means changing or cleaning your air filter once a month. Once your air filter becomes clogged, it can’t do its job any longer. Additionally, the stifled airflow can cause a long list of serious mechanical problems.


Seasonal maintenance visits are also a must. There could be a number of hidden issues impacting your air quality. Your Alpine Aire, LLC specialist will perform a thorough sweep to check for them. For instance, your condensate drain could be clogged, creating standing water and mold growth. Duct problems like leaks, obstructions or pest infestations can also reduce IAQ. Your specialist will also monitor refrigerant levels to make sure no chemical fumes are escaping into your home.

Concerned About Your IAQ? Here’s How To Keep It A-OK.
  • Arrange seasonal maintenance visits for your AC and heater (furnace, heat pump, or boiler). This allows your HVAC specialist to perform vital cleaning, restoration, and inspection that ensures your home is circulating healthy air.
  • Replace your air filter at least once monthly. Or, clean it once per month if you have a reusable filter.
  • Pay attention to any noticeable mold growth or unusual smells around your ducts. If you suspect your ducts have a mold growth problem, schedule a cleaning immediately.
  • Make sure to close all windows before you run the AC. Operating with the windows open can cause moisture buildup.
  • Boost your IAQ with an air purifier, air scrubber, or UV light. These high-tech options catch even tinier particles and break down harmful viruses, bacteria, and mold.
  • Replace older technology. AC systems have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years and tend to produce patchier ventilation as they age. If you’ve had yours for a decade or longer and it’s showing signs of deterioration, consider upgrading.
Call Alpine Aire, LLC For Quick and Reliable AC Service

Need help with home heating or cooling? Our team of certified HVAC experts is close by in Leavenworth, WA, ready to perform an installation, repair, or maintenance inspection. Call us today at 509-436-1178 or set up your visit online.

What Are Zone Control Systems?

November 12, 2024
Some like it hot! Others, not so much. If you have a large home with multiple stories or a large household with family members who prefer different temperatures, consider installing a zone control system. A zone control system—or zoning—only provides the necessary cooling or heating that each zone in your Washington home needs at the time. It not only adds to the comfort level of your home but can also lower your energy bills. At Alpine Aire, we always look for ways to improve the comfort, health, and safety of homes and businesses in Wenatchee and surrounding areas. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is a significant purchase—a big part of our job is to help ensure you get the maximum value from this investment.

SEER––What Does It Mean?

November 12, 2024
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This universal rating system helps you determine the efficiency of your Washington air conditioning (AC) unit or heat pump. It’s quite similar to miles per gallon—the higher a car’s MPG, the more efficient the car. Similarly, the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the heating or cooling system. The number comes from dividing the total amount of heat removed from your home by the total amount of energy consumed. Check the yellow EnergyGuide® sticker on your air conditioner. Does it have a SEER rating of 10 or lower? If so, you may want to consider upgrading. Modern air conditioners use much less energy. In fact, federal law requires a rating of 14 or higher for air conditioning units manufactured in 2015 and onward. Had your AC for 15 years or longer? Instead of shelling out money for the next repair, consider replacing your unit with a high-efficiency model. You could reduce energy costs up to 50 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Looking to upgrade your comfort? Alpine Aire, LLC is pleased to give you an accurate estimate on your new AC, heat pump, furnace, or boiler. Additionally, some high-efficiency models come with generous tax rebates. You can count on our team to find the best savings for you.

Air Conditioners: Things You May Not Have Known

November 12, 2024
Though air conditioners are a major part of modern life, they hold many secrets few people know about. Luckily, our team at Alpine Aire, LLC is ready to spill the beans. Air conditioners have come a long way since they were first invented. Present-day AC units use 30 to 50 percent less electricity to create the same amount of cooling as their 1970s predecessors, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). Advances in the past 10 years have been significant. In fact, by switching out your decade-old AC, you could subtract 20 to 40 percent from your utility bill. But wait—we’ve compiled even more fun facts! If Jeopardy! ever makes “Cooling” a category, and you’re a contestant, we want to help you answer with confidence. You’ll make your friends back in Washington proud. Read further to learn six staggering secrets about air conditioners.

How to Reduce Dust in Your Home

November 12, 2024
Don’t let your home be another one that bites the dust. Everyone has it, and nobody wants it. In reality, dust is no laughing matter, no matter the setting. It’s easy to see how it can affect the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your Wenatchee home. At Alpine Aire, LLC, we know how important clean indoor air quality is for your home. Our team specializes in offering whole-house solutions to keep you and your loved ones healthy, comfortable, and safe throughout the year. 

Preparing Your HVAC System for the Fall

November 12, 2024
As the saying goes, “Time and tide wait for no one.” Whether you’re prepared or not, the summer months and warmer weather are gone, moving aside for fall and cooler temps. That means here in Leavenworth you need to think about preparing your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for fall maintenance. Maintaining your heating and cooling equipment ensures it’ll run smoothly the way it should when you need it. Investing your time and money in these seasonal maintenance tasks goes a long way to protect both your Washington home and your HVAC investment, including your wallet. Well-running systems are more energy efficient, so they end up costing you less to run all season long.
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