The Benefits of High-Efficiency FiltersPosted: 2020-04-16
| It’s already springtime but the temperatures can still get sub-zero. Therefore, you still rely on your HVAC system to give you a comfortable living space. Not only does it maintain your preferred temperatures, but it also helps clean your indoor air. Therefore, it is important to replace or clean your filters regularly. Four Seasons Air Specialists is your trusted HVAC company in Vadnais Heights MN. It is our goal to help you establish an absolutely comfortable home while keeping you and your family safe from airborne contaminants. Overview While spring offers beautiful sceneries, it also marks the start of spring allergies and several kinds of troubles for Minnesotans. At the start of spring, plants and trees release pollen into the air. This is also a prime season for mold spores and fungi. If you’re allergic to these contaminants, your immune system will release antibodies to try and fight them. However, if there are too many airborne pollutants in your home, you can still get allergies. For this reason, you should take the necessary steps to maintain your HVAC systems, particularly the regular replacement or cleaning of your filters. Changing your filter is the easiest way to ensure your HVAC system runs smoothly and efficiently. Clean filters are necessary for the health of your heating and cooling systems. They protect you against pollen, mold, pet dander, bacteria, fungi, dust, dirt, debris, lint, and other particles. As the owner of your HVAC system, you should know what type of filter your unit is equipped with. Your user’s manual should tell you whether you have a replaceable or a disposable one. The Importance of Clean Indoor Air You must be aware of the fact that indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air, particularly because you are using chemicals for your daily household tasks. Your indoor space contains microorganisms that are unseen but can cause harm to your health. For this reason, it is important to ensure your home is equipped with a capable air filtration system. If you are living with newborn babies, children, people aged 60 and above, smokers or persons with preexisting respiratory conditions, you should consider upgrading to HEPA filters. These filters are also helpful in cleaning your indoor air if you have household pets. What are HEPA Filters? High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are designed to eliminate at least 99.97 percent of fine airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns, as specified by the United States Department of Energy. These filters were developed in the 1940s and used to contain the spread of airborne radioactive contaminants. Later, HEPA filters were introduced for commercial use to eliminate viruses, bacteria, fungi, pollen, and other airborne particles. They usually use a pleated sheet of randomly arranged fiberglass with diameters between 0.5 and 3 micrometers. A motorized fan passes air through the filter, where particles are effectively captured. What is MERV? Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) reports a filter’s ability to catch larger particles between 0.3 and 10 microns. This helps consumers to compare different filters. The effectiveness of the filter depends on its MERV rating. The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter is at capturing airborne contaminants. Reasons to Upgrade to HEPA Filters Contrary to what some homeowners believe, standard HVAC filters (about 1 inch thick), protect your HVAC equipment but they don’t really improve your indoor air quality. While they take away the visible dirt from your home, but regular filters help very little with regard to air quality for your lungs because they are not specifically created for that purpose. On the other hand, HEPA filters are far more effective at filtering contaminated air. As mentioned earlier, they can remove even microscopic particles like bacteria, viruses, mold spores, cigarette smoke, etc. Furthermore, high-efficiency HVAC filters minimize allergens, respiratory irritants, dust, dirt, and pet dander. They can also create pleasant-smelling air and help keep your ductwork and HVAC components clean. Air Purification Questions? Call Four Seasons Air Specialists This spring, you can create a clean and safe indoor living space. Upgrading to a high-efficiency filter is a step toward that goal. If you want to find out more about improving your indoor air quality, be sure to give us a call. We are your trusted Woodbury heating and air conditioning company. |