Seasonal allergy season has been long and unforgiving in St. Louis this year. With temperatures hot and forecasted to get even hotter, it’s important to have one’s HVAC system working at its best. A home air filter system is a great option to consider to tackle allergens in the air and to improve your HVAC system’s efficiency.
Media air filters attach to your home’s HVAC system and remove dust and particulates from the air, maximizing the function and efficiency of your HVAC equipment. Most importantly, the filters improve indoor air quality in your home and provide relief from allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. DH Custom Homes has installed media air filters in several of our clients’ homes.
When considering an air filter for your family, there are several important aspects to consider:
Is your air filter is up to the task?
Air filters have varying levels of performance and filtration. The easiest way to assess your air filter is to check the MERV rating, or the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This describes the filter’s ability to capture particles from the air on a scale of one to 16; the higher the MERV rating, the better the filtration. A typical fiberglass filter found in an average HVAC system has a MERV rating of one.
When talking about air filters, many people are familiar with the term HEPA, or High-Efficiency Particulate Air. To achieve HEPA standards, a filter must remove 99.7% of all particles greater than 0.3 micrometer from the air. While that may seem pretty technical, it’s safe to say that a HEPA filter will be very effective at tackling those allergens and dust particles floating around in a home.
How do you choose an air filter?
When choosing a filter for your home, you really need to consider your family’s allergies, area where you live and your lifestyle. Do you live in an area plagued by seasonal allergies? Do you have pets in your home? Are there other factors that might dictate your needs?
Consider your family’s needs and plan accordingly. Many households purchase different filters, depending on the time of the year. If you have a particular allergy during the spring months, you may want to use a filter with a higher MERV rating during that time and replace it more often. You can balance that added cost during the fall or winter by replacing with a less expensive, lower MERV rating filter.
When to change an air filter?
Each filter manufacturer will make recommendations on how often to change out your air filter. The average interval is every 1-3 months. Remember – you will need to replace your filter more frequently if a family member is more sensitive to allergens or particles in the air.
We suggest you write the date on the filter so you know when it needs replacing!
Filters in media air filters are easily replaced by homeowners or you can request that your contractor, who maintains your system periodically, changes them on a scheduled basis.
As a homeowner, you have the ability to ensure good air quality in your home, but it’s something not everyone takes the time to think about and effort to maintain. Think about your life, schedule and what you’re allergic to. Then, install the proper air filter system with an appropriate filter with a scheduled maintenance program. You will be healthier and happier for it.
