Spring is finally here, which not only means warmer weather, but for millions of people it also means the beginning of allergy season. There isn’t much you can do to prevent allergies from happening all together. However, there are things that you can do to help alleviate the severity of your allergic reactions to dust, dander, pollen and other irritants. One of these things is to make sure that you have the right air filters in your home.
Simply put, the point of air filters is to help improve the air quality in your home. These filters can really help you breathe easy while inside, particularly if you have allergies. Even if you are only allergic to pollen found in the outdoors, the right indoor filter can help you. They also are powerful enough to eliminate irritants like dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, animal fur and more.
Tips for Choosing the Right Air Filter
Every home HVAC system has some type of air filter in it. However, not all air filters are created equal. Different air filters are going to offer different levels of protection against common air contaminants. The better quality of air filter you purchase, the more contaminants that you can remove from indoor air.
The best way to determine which air filter is the right one for you is to look at the MERV Rating on the outside of the filter. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This number will indicate the efficiency of the air filter and let you know how powerful it is. These ratings range from 1 to 16 to tell you how effective it will be at removing pollen from the air. The higher the MERV rating, the more contaminants it will catch.
“Standard” air filters, including the ones that may come standard in an apartment building or rental and typically have a 1-4 rating. They will provide a basic level of filtration. A step up would be any MERV filter that has 6-8 rating. This is the most common rating for home air filtration systems. If you don’t already have a MERV 6-8 rated filter, it is time to update your air filters.
If you are particularly susceptible to allergens, or find your allergies get worse during this time of year, then you may want to consider filters that are MERV 9-12 rated. These filters are powerful to capture particles that are 1 micron or bigger in size and can make a dramatic difference in your home’s air quality. The most powerful air filters however are MERVE 13-16, these filters can be more of an investment, but they can capture particles smaller than 1 macron, which is key if you have serious allergies.
For the best in allergy protection, you can consider the HEPA filter with MERV Ratings of 14-16. They can trap microns up to 0.3 in size and 99.97% of airborne particles. While these filters need to be replaced more often because they can clog easier, they are one of the best tools out there to help protect against airborne particles, bacteria and even viruses.
To learn more about your HVAC system, including choosing the right air filters for your home, contact the experts here at Texas Pride Heating & Air. We are here to help keep your HVAC system running in the way it should be.
