The air quality indoors is frequently more polluted than the air outdoors, which can obviously negatively impact you and your family's health. Some of these pollutants originate from the outdoors, while others come from indoor sources and activities including cooking, cleaning, secondhand smoking, construction materials, consumer items, and home furnishings.
As a result, the best strategies to enhance indoor air quality are to reduce or eliminate sources of pollutants and to ventilate using fresh, outside air. Filtration has also been found to be a beneficial complement to source control and ventilation in studies.
You can use an air purifier or change the filter in your furnace or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) if you're concerned about the quality of your indoor air. Portable air cleaners, often known as air purifiers or air sanitizers, are air cleaners that are meant to filter the air in a single room or area.
Meanwhile, an HVAC filter or central furnace will purify the air in every room of the house. However, when selecting an air cleaner, furnace filter, or HVAC filter, keep in mind the following:
The majority of filters are designed to filter either particles or gases. Therefore, many air cleaners contain two filters, one for particles and another for gases (inclusive of gases with odors). A typical air cleaner has only one filter, usually used for particles. Further, some air cleaners or filters are designed to target particular gases or VOCs. You can also check the specific product packaging or label for more information.
An overloaded and dirty filter will not function properly. Air filters are things that are easily forgotten as they are usually tucked back into a closet or storage space. The key to keeping on top of regularly changing the air filters in your home is to set yourself reminders. Here are a few options:
Choose a portable air cleaner with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) big enough for the size of the room or area where it will be used to filter particulates. The higher the CADR, the more particles the air cleaner can filter and the greater the service area it can cover. The greatest size area or room that an air cleaner should be utilized in is usually specified on the box. Often, portable air cleaners achieve a high CADR by using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.
Select a portable air cleaner with an activated carbon filter or another gas-filtering filter. As far as gas-removing portable air cleaners or filters are concerned, there is no commonly accepted performance rating system. Only particles are rated with the CADR system. If a considerable amount of material is utilized in the filter, activated carbon filters can be effective. With a portable air cleaner equipped with an activated carbon filter, particles and gases can be filtered.
In general, greater fan speeds and longer operating times will produce more air filters. When set at a lower speed, an air cleaner will not filter air. Since more air passes through the filter at higher fan speeds, higher fan speeds typically provide more filtration. A longer run time for an air cleaner will also boost filtration.
A furnace or HVAC system works to filter the air in the entire home, however, it works only when it is operating. Most HVAC systems only run during the heating season or cooling season (fewer than 25% of the time). It is more efficient to run the system for longer periods in order to get more filtration. The idea may not be feasible or desirable in many cases, since prolonged run times can lead to higher electric bills and also less reliable humidity control during the summer months.
Filters for furnaces and air conditioners in houses are typically intended to filter particulates. Consider a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating of 13 or the highest rating the fan and filter slot of your system can support if you prefer to upgrade or use a higher class of filter.
In addition to filters, there are other devices that remove particle and gas mixtures. Usually, they are found in commercial buildings and large buildings with HVAC systems.
Browse our products on our US Home Filter website to find an air purifier or other air-purifying solution. We offer a wide variety of filters to fit a wide range of air conditioners and heaters, including filters for furnaces. Whether you're looking for standard or custom air filters, grille filters, or humidifier filters, our website has them all!
Would you like some personal assistance? Contact us now at (855) 237-1673 or through our online form for help selecting the right filter. Make your indoor environment comfortable and healthy by choosing us. We also offer FREE shipping within the contiguous United States. Let’s get in touch!
