Some
things in the house are as easy to get as going online and paying to have them
delivered ready to install or use. But other items fall in the home improvement
category; such items usually demand a great deal of research and inquiry from
professionals before spending any money. One example of such items as air
filters, HVAC filters to be specific. The amount of time you spend indoors
combined with Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) status is significantly related to the
type of filters used at home.
Cost-Free
Solutions
For the
regular household, indoor air quality can be easily polluted by everyday
consumer products that contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). These include
aerosol sprays, cleaning detergents, and air fresheners to pesticide and
maintenance products like paint. To keep the home air cleaner, it is always
advisable to remove such items from inside the house if no longer in use. For
items occasionally used, it is better to store them outside the house. Cleaning
and washing products need to be kept in well-ventilated rooms; generally, a
good vacuum clean helps when combined with a regular wash for sheets or items
that collect tiny particles. Opening the window can be an alternative depending
on preferences and the surrounding climate.
Choosing
An Air Filter
When
deciding which filter is best for your home, the best policy to follow is to
consider what type of particles in the air affect you or the people at home the
most. This consideration links to the fact that air filters are rated by their
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). This system is designed to indicate
how the air filter will capture many harmful particles in the air.
Since most people have a local HVAC company that performs regular maintenance on the air filter at home, most of them don’t even know about the MERV ratings. Furthermore, since most of these companies are primarily just trying to maintain the life of the filtration system, they tend to follow the most cost-effective method using cheap filter replacements.
A good air filter should have a MERV rating anywhere between 7 and 13. A good example is
the pleated 20x20x1 air filters; these filters are
manufactured with multiple ratings, usually providing higher air quality as the
number increases. In addition, if you have allergies or somebody visiting in
the house does, then these filters have a rating designed to trap any allergen
traveling through the air into your home.
Research
and Professional Advice
If your house does not have an air filtration system or you are thinking of getting an upgrade, it is always best to get professional help, at least with the installation process. Maintenance of the system can be your DIY responsibility afterward, provided you know what you’re doing. A simple task such as asking the installation team what parts of the air system might require replacement and when to do the replacement count towards improving air quality. Taking the time to find out what type of filter your system uses helps you buy the right product. Such information can be found directly from the filter to be replaced if you don’t know what you are supposed to do.
Research filters can be daunting if the terminology used is new to the user; a
professional will let you know which terms are related to the type of filter in
your house if you ask. In addition, always check the sides of a filter for
information indicating when it is supposed to be replaced. Another vital piece
of information to be found is the size measurements for the filter.
Conclusion
Whatever the option you choose to take, whether professional or DIY, the outcome should be
to make your home a safe and comfortable environment with clean air for everyone,
even if you live alone.
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