Along with our services for air conditioning and heating, we also provide home performance and indoor air quality services, such as air filtration and air purification systems in Slidell, LA. You may have wondered if you could benefit from having an air filtration system in your house. It’s something many homeowners are thinking about now.
We’ll go into detail about what you can expect from air filters to help you with making choices about your home’s indoor air quality. You can always rely on our team to guide you toward the best options.
The air filter on your AC and furnace isn’t for air quality
First, we need to talk about the filter you already have: the one for your AC and furnace. You might think this filter is already sufficient when it comes to cleaning household air. It’s not… because that filter isn’t designed to improve air quality.
This filter, which we’ll refer to as a blower filter, is in place to prevent dust and other debris from getting into the HVAC cabinet through the return air ducts. The blower draws air from the house through the ducts, and this filter traps particles that might harm the components of the AC and furnace (or heat pump). It has a minimal effect on the air you breathe in your house—although it can harm it if the filter is changed often enough and becomes clogged.
The air filters that will help air quality
The type of air filtration system you want to improve your indoor air quality is called a whole-house filter or whole-house filtration system. These filters are installed into the ductwork via a slot that professionals plumb into it. These filters are too large to fit into the standard slot where the blower filter goes.
Whole-house filters are made from a media that traps particles as well as attracts them. They come in a wide range of strengths, which is measured as MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value). Most homes will use a filter with a MERV from 6 to 12. MERV ratings higher than this risk blocking the airflow through the ventilation system because the weave is too thick. The HEPA filter that’s commonly used in hospitals, for example, is too powerful for most home HVAC systems. Our professionals will help you find the best filter strength for your needs.
Air filters and air purifiers
The right air filter can remove more than 95% of the particles in your home’s air. That’s a big improvement—and we think most homes can benefit from this. However, your house may still have other pollutants that can get through a filter. Since you can’t use a more powerful filter without cutting off airflow, the best solution is to pair the filter with an air purifier. The ideal combination of air filter and air purifier can remove more than 98% of unwanted contaminants from circulating through your house.
If the only filter you have for your house is the blower filter, we strongly recommend you call us to talk about air filtration systems and (potentially) air purification systems.
Call us today to learn more about air filtration systems for your home. Gowland’s Heating & A/C Values “Relationship over Revenue!”