At Sensible Heating & Cooling, we don’t consider our work finished when the thermostat is reading at a comfortable level. Since the cleanliness and the degree of humidity in your home air can have just as big of an impact on your health and comfort, we choose to take a more holistic approach by evaluating the overall home air quality. The first part of our series examines how to keep the air in your home properly filtered and free of allergens and pollutants. Read part two about keeping proper humidity in your home.
Just like you, your family, and any pets you own, your house itself needs to breathe too. As your home breathes in and out by means of ventilation, it is contending with both the outdoor environment and any toxins that originate within the walls of your home as well. Much like a living creature, good air flow with proper filtration is key to achieving a healthy system.
The Rub on Effective Air Filters
You are most likely aware of the need to change your air filters regularly. And while it might be easy to put this task off, or to just go with the cheapest ones at the store since the selection can be so overwhelming, there are some important features to look for in an air filter.
A good rule of thumb in air filters is that you get what you pay for. While the industrial-level High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filters are often reserved for environment critical situations, a good media filter can remove between 60% and 80% of the particles that pass through it. Moreover, the thick accordion shape of the filter is employed to increase the surface area, in part to give your filter a longer life. These filters can last up to six months depending on how much dust or pet dandruff is in your home.
Mid-level pleated filters work at about a 30% efficiency level, and are a good option for the more moderate budget. On the other hand, the cheap flat fiberglass filters you see in the store only take about 10% of particulates out of the air and are not recommended.
As for changing air filters out, we recommend making it a routine to look in on your filter about every 30 days, and at the very least, changing them out every 90-days unless it’s a media filter. Skimping on the cost of air filters can result in harder working furnaces (i.e. more expensive utility bills), extra service calls to technicians for repairs, and of course doctor bills, especially if someone in your household suffers with allergies or other respiratory conditions.
For Even Cleaner Air: Electronic Air Cleaners and UV Light
If you want to step up your clean air game even more, we offer electronic air cleaners as well. An excellent addition to your home, these mount to your furnace and work at an efficiency rate around 99%. They carry HEPA washable filters that only need tending to once or twice a year.
UV light is also an extremely effective tool in cleaning air. When the airflow in your home HVAC system passes through a ray of UV light in the return-air register, it can do wonders to kill viruses and bacteria and give your immune system a much needed break.
We love to craft unique solutions when it comes to keeping the air in your home clean! Please give us a call at 720-876-7166 or email the owner at [email protected] to get advice and a free consultation for your home!
