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Winter Allergies and Your HVAC System

When people think of allergies, spring pollen usually comes to mind.
But for many homeowners, allergy symptoms actually get worse during winter.
If you’re sneezing, coughing, or dealing with dry, irritated sinuses when the heat is on, your HVAC system may be playing a role.
Understanding how winter allergies work—and how your heating system affects indoor air quality—can help you breathe easier all season long.
Why Allergies Can Be Worse in Winter
During winter, homes are sealed tightly to keep cold air out.
While this improves energy efficiency, it also traps allergens indoors.
Unlike seasonal outdoor allergens, winter allergies are usually caused by indoor irritants.
Common winter allergy triggers include:
Dust and dust mites
Pet dander
Mold spores
Dry air irritation
Indoor air pollutants
Because your HVAC system constantly circulates air, it can either reduce these allergens—or spread them throughout your home.
How Your HVAC System Affects Winter Allergies
Your heating system is responsible for moving air through your home.
If it isn’t properly maintained, it can worsen allergy symptoms instead of improving comfort.
Air Circulation and Allergen Spread
Forced-air heating systems circulate air through ductwork and vents.
When dust, dander, or mold builds up inside the system, those particles get redistributed every time the heat runs.
Dirty Filters and Poor Filtration
Clogged or low-quality air filters allow allergens to pass through easily.
Over time, this leads to higher concentrations of airborne particles and increased allergy symptoms.
Dry Indoor Air
Heating systems reduce indoor humidity, which can:
Dry out nasal passages and sinuses
Make allergy symptoms feel more severe
Increase irritation of the throat and eyes
Dry air doesn’t cause allergies, but it can make existing symptoms much worse.
The Role of HVAC Filters in Allergy Control
Your HVAC filter is one of the most important tools for managing winter allergies.
High-quality filters can:
Trap dust, pollen, and pet dander
Reduce airborne allergen levels
Improve overall indoor air quality
For allergy-prone households, filters with higher MERV ratings are often recommended.
However, these filters must be changed regularly to prevent airflow restriction and system strain.
Most homes should replace filters every 1 to 3 months during winter, depending on usage and indoor conditions.
Ductwork and Hidden Allergens
Even with a good filter, allergens can accumulate in ductwork over time.
Duct-related allergy problems may come from:
Dust buildup
Mold growth caused by moisture
Air leaks pulling contaminants from attics or crawl spaces
Old or damaged insulation inside ducts
Sealing and cleaning ductwork can significantly reduce the amount of allergens circulating through your home.
Mold Growth and Heating Systems
Mold is a major indoor allergen and can be especially problematic in winter.
Condensation, humid basements, or neglected HVAC components can create the perfect environment for mold growth.
Signs mold may be affecting your air quality include:
Musty or earthy odors when heat runs
Persistent allergy symptoms indoors
Visible mold near vents or HVAC equipment
Professional HVAC inspections can identify moisture issues and prevent mold from spreading through your system.
How to Reduce Winter Allergies With Your HVAC System
If winter allergies are affecting your comfort, your HVAC system can be part of the solution.
Steps homeowners can take:
Replace air filters regularly
Schedule annual heating system maintenance
Keep vents and returns clean and unobstructed
Use a whole-home humidifier to balance moisture
Seal duct leaks to prevent contaminant entry
Consider air purification or UV systems
These improvements help create cleaner air while improving heating performance and efficiency.
When to Call an HVAC Professional
If allergy symptoms persist despite basic maintenance, it’s time to bring in a professional.
You should schedule an HVAC inspection if you notice:
Excessive dust buildup
Uneven heating or weak airflow
Strange odors when the system runs
Worsening allergy symptoms indoors
An HVAC professional can identify airflow issues, filtration problems, or hidden contaminants affecting your indoor air quality.
Final Thoughts
Winter allergies are often an indoor air quality issue—and your HVAC system plays a major role.
With proper filtration, humidity control, and regular maintenance, your heating system can help reduce allergens instead of spreading them.
At Twintech Heating & Cooling, we help homeowners improve comfort and air quality during the winter months.
If you’re struggling with allergies while running your heating system, professional HVAC solutions can make a noticeable difference in how you feel at home.
Very impressed with this company. They show up on time , kept my place clean and after they left it looks like they were never there. Very professional team. Those people know what they doing . Their installation was on the highest standard. They are very knowledgeable especially they're worker Peter. I strongly recommend this company to everybody. After the installation I receive the call making sure I'm satisfied with their products and their job. Bravo!!!
Greg and his brother were referred to us by a friend. They arrived when they said they would, did an exceptional job and left the place as tidy or tidier then they found it. Their professionalism is only surpassed by their kind and friendly demeanor. Even after several calls to help me with my high tech thermostat I feel that I could always call with any concern (No one responds to my texts as quickly as Greg) and have a friendly helpful response. I found out their grandfather started the company and now as a 3rd generation company, they are doing their grandfather proud. I would highly recommend Twintech over any other hvac company out there.
Thanks to the guys at Twintech Heating for a great job installing a new hot water tank. They set a time and day to remove the old tank and install the new one. They were on time and had the work done quickly and cleaned up after they were finished. Excellent work and great value.
In November, we contacted Twintech for a quote on a high efficiency furnace plus installation. Dave, the sales representative for the company was very friendly and informative. Upon arrival at our home, he willingly showed us his company licenses, clearly explained the operation of a high efficiency furnace and answered all our questions to our satisfaction. As well, Dave was the only sales representative that we contacted that was willing to make the arrangements for an energy audit. For us, this was a big plus as we found the government rebate program somewhat confusing to navigate. The furnace was installed on the date that was arranged in an efficient and professional manner by Greg (the owner) and Peter. Both men worked diligently, throughout a long day to complete the job and upon finishing, left the job site immaculate. When a neighbour raised concerns about the furnace venting location, Greg located an alternative location and resolved the situation with diplomacy. We chose the Napoleon furnace for its excellent warrant;y on the heat exchanger and because it was made in Canada! In addition, to the furnace warranty, Twintech offered us a 5 year warranty on labour which speaks to the quality and pride this team has in their workmanship. It has been over a month now (with some of the coldest January days on record) since we have had the furnace installed. The furnace runs quietly and distributes heat more evenly throughout our 90 year old Toronto home. We can't speak highly enough of the Twintech team and are very satisfied with their workmanship and job ethics. We have no hesitation about recommending them.
What more could you ask for! Grant and Greg Dainty provided a professional,diligent and thorough approach to the installation of my furnace. I would highly recommend there services.
Last week our Furnace failed overnight. We called Twintech to help us get it running again. They did a really thorough check on it, and got it running in less than an hour. Given that it was an old Furnace (+20 years old), we were giving two options: repair it or replace it. Instead of doing a repair on it that could break in a week or two, they recommended us to change it. I like that they were honest on the recommendation, not forcing a new furnace on us. At the end we went with a new Furnace. Twintech solutions service & salesman gave us recommendation on the size of the unit and many options that could work for our home. They ended up doing an excellent work in our furnace, replacing the filter to a better option and replacing some pieces that had water damage. They cleaned after themselves and leave everything even better than what they found. They even went far and beyond tiding up the hose connections that we had on the basement.
I am in the process of finishing my basement and wanted to make sure I got the low hanging duct work fixed in advance. After reviewing 5 quotes I selected Twintech to award the contract to. The price was competitive however what won me over was Grant's (co-owner) attention to detail and his ability to focus on what my goals and priorities were for the project. His team completed the job over 3 days as there was significant duct work changes and the relocation of all of the equipment. They also completed the job with little downtime so we weren't left overnight without heat during freezing winter temperatures.
My father woke up to no heat one Saturday morning. We had a few names that friends had recommended but while checking out the companies' ratings on HomeStars, we found Twintech with great ratings too. The other companies either didn't get back to us or didn't have time to come at such short notice. TwinTech made the time in their schedule for what they judged to be an emergency: no heat in the home of an elderly person. At no extra fee for a short notice, weekend visit. They recommended an upgraded furnace unit and explained that we would qualify for a rebate that would bring the price down to that of a lower model. They set us up with the rep from the MNR that covers the rebate so that we didn't have to deal with the paperwork & phone calls ourselves. Installation was quick, efficient, & smooth. We were so pleased with their service we ordered a new water heater too. Both are working great (efficient & quiet!) & my father is safe & comfortable. We can't say enough about how pleased we are with their service. We have already recommended them to others.
Twintech Heating & Cooling. I just want to say thanks for helping me . My Furnace stopped working. And l phone Dave Getgley he set me up with Greg. What an amazing team they did a great job in setting me up with a new Furnace. Anyone that needed a new Furnace these are the guys to call. Thanks again for a job well done.
Our home has had poor heating and air conditioning the past couple of years. Dave recommended a Goodman solution with more power than we had. Grant and Greg installed the units in late November. Heating is better than ever. We have a warm home again and look forward to the winter. Can't wait to see how the AC runs in 2018. Job was super clean and professionally done. Highly recommended.
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We are very happy to recommend this company to everyone. Our furnace broke down on Sunday morning. We phoned them and before noon Grant the owner showed up. He worked on the furnace for about a hour not wanting to give up to fix the problem. The furnace was 17 years old. I was the one talking about replacing it. End result was the next day it was all done. On the Sunday Bob came over with heaters to warm up the house. We decided to replace the water heater at the same time. Thanks Grant for the excellent work. Thumbs up.
Right on time. Explained how to work the HRV in a different way so the house would not be so dry. Changed my whole house water filter for me as well. Friendly, helpful, caring service!
Very pleased with the professional service that TwinTech Heating and Cooling provided in replacing my furnace. I got several quotes from different service providers. Their price was excellent and they explained the features very well. We are very glad we went with TwinTech and highly recommend their services.
We were new homeowners in need of a second opinion. TwinTech Heating & Cooling were Amazing and professional. Very knowledgeable and great service all around. Recommend to anyone looking for honest and reliable services. Treated with respect and care. Thank you Greg, Mitch and Bob!
TwinTech is an excellent and honest company! I called them for a second opinion after being told by another company that I needed to replace my furnace. Turns out this was not the case at all! I did not need a new furnace. TwinTech did not push to make an unnecessary sale and saved me from a huge expense. Bob and Mitch were extremely professional and above all honest! I definitely recommend TwinTech!
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