If you’ve got allergies or asthma, you know it can make life pretty miserable. While you can’t do much about pollen in the air or other seasonal triggers, you can do something about the air you breathe inside your home. Your air filter, if properly cared for and selected correctly, will reduce allergens in your home and keep your indoor air clean and fresh all year long. Read on to learn how to choose the right filter for your home.
There are many air filters on the market today, but not all of them will help improve your indoor air quality. To find out which filter is best for you, consider your current needs and what type of filter is most suitable for your home. The types of filters include a 2-ply antimicrobial filter, carbon filter, 3-ply antimicrobial filter, electrostatic charge (ESC) or ionizer/ionizers technology, or two-stage particle filtration.
2-Ply Antimicrobial Filter: A 2-ply antimicrobial air filter traps airborne particles in a layer that uses a combination of synthetic and natural fibers to produce a final product with low odor and high efficiency. Carbon Filter: Carbon filters use activated carbon to remove odors from the air by absorbing them into their surface area.
3-Ply Antimicrobial Filter: A 3-ply antimicrobial filter is similar to a 2-ply filter, but it contains an additional layer of synthetic fibers that trap odor molecules at a molecular level. Electrostatic Charge (ESC) or Ionizer/Ionizers Technology: ESC or ionizer air filters take air as it passes through and electrifies it so particles adhere to its surface where they are collected via electrostatic charge.
Air filters are an essential part of keeping your home healthy and clean. A dirty air filter can cause allergies, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses. To get rid of these issues, one should change their air filter every 3-6 months or more often if they have pets or a smoker in their household. You will need to find out what size air filter is required by looking at your home’s furnace or heating system. The size of the filter depends on the number of square feet in your home. Make sure you buy it from a store and read reviews before buying anything that may be counterfeit.
In the same way that dirty dishes get dirty and start to smell, dirty air filters get dirty and start to smell. Your filter won’t be able to do its job if it’s too dirty, and it may even worsen your home environment. In an area with heavy pollen or pet dander, or a city, you should replace your filter at least once every six months. It’s best not to wait until your filter is really dirty before cleaning it, since that will take longer and cost more.
Owning an air quality monitor for the home is an investment worth making for someone with asthma or allergies. Of course, it would be helpful to think about different things to include. For instance, think about what types of pollutants you want to monitor and if other factors are relevant. Pollutants vary from place to place so you should do some research before buying one. There are two types of the most common single-measurement pollutants: monitor carbon dioxide, VOCs, particle pollutants like dust or smoke particles, and temperature and humidity. Some may also measure mold spores.
You now know how to choose the right air filter for your requirements, from choosing an appropriate filter type to understanding how filters work and what they do. When choosing an air filter for home, consider what is in the environment you wish to filter out such as allergens or pollutants.
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