When people think of purifying the air in their home, they tend to overlook a cheap and easy product that can help: home air filters.
Home air filters will work for you if you have a central heating and cooling system in your home. They are cheaper than air purification systems, as effective and easier to operate. There are several ways to choose the perfect home air filters for you and there are many reasons why, as well.
Home Air Filters Use Your Forced Air System To Purifier The Air
You should choose home air filters before buying an air purification system, first, because the filters are cheaper. The filters work the same way air purification systems do by attracting airborne allergens and circulating clean air back into the house. These filters require less energy than air purification systems and they do not produce ozone. Ozone is a lung irritant that can be harmful to humans. Plus, home air filters are easy to install; you just insert the filter into your heating and cooling system.
Keep in mind that home air filters are not good at picking up large particles that have already settled, like mold and pet dander. These allergens must be airborne for the filters to grab them. Regular house cleaning will make it easier for your home air filters to work. This is a problem with home air purifier systems, as well.
Home Air Filters and MERV Ratings
You must choose the home air filters that fit the system you have in your home. If you don’t choose the right one, it will not work properly. Most home air filters have Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) ratings of 1-20. The higher the rating, the more efficient (and more expensive) the filter will be. To save on the cost, whether you choose a filter with a MERV rating of 1 or 16, buy the filters in bulk. This will also make changing the filters easier because you’ll have one available to you when needed.
For residential systems (especially in smaller homes), a MERV rating of 1-4 is generally used, although they don’t directly improve the quality of your indoor air. They can easily pick up small particles like viruses, bacteria and dust mites and they do help your system perform better. They are only mildly effective for large particles.
If the filter system has a MERV rating of 5-13, it can remove larger particles at a reasonable rate. If the home air filters have a rating of 7-13, they are generally as effective as HEPA filters found in home air purification systems, but they are considerably less costly and less noisy. HEPA filters normally have MERV ratings of 17-20 and there are home air filters that have this MERV rating, as well. However, most home systems cannot accommodate home air filters with a MERV rating of more than 16.
Home air filters can normally be found at any store that offers air filtration and heating and cooling products. This makes them easily accessible. Also, if you’re unsure what filter will fit your home heating and cooling system, a store employee will be able to help you make an informed decision. When looking into the best ways to filter the air in your home, try home air filters before looking into air purification systems.