It’s amazing how the things you can’t see in your home’s indoor air can have the most impact on your health and comfort. Dust mites, pet dander, pollen and mold spores can easily make your home a miserable place to be if you’re sensitive to allergies or have asthma. If you’re one of the 50 million people in the U.S. suffering from allergies, a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can mean the difference between misery and relief.
Unlike standard residential air filters, HEPA filters go a step further when it comes to capturing airborne particulates and other pollutants that can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms. These filters rely on their densely woven fibers and three separate impaction mechanisms (impaction, diffusion and interception) to trap airborne particles as small as 0.1 micron.
To better highlight their overall effectiveness, these filters are rated at a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 17-20. Non-HEPA air filters run from MERV 1-16, though a higher-efficiency residential filter generally will fall in the MERV 7-12 range. Here are some extra benefits to having HEPA filtration in your home:
- A HEPA filter can trap 99.97 percent of airborne pollutants that cause allergies, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- HEPA filters also trap most airborne viruses and bacteria, reducing the chance of the flu and other airborne illnesses being spread throughout the home.
- HEPA air filters and purifiers are also a better alternative to ozone generators and ionic air cleaners that produce powerful lung irritants.
Whether you have a HEPA filter installed in your home’s central heating and cooling system or use a stand-alone HEPA air cleaner, HEPA filters can make a positive impact on your home’s indoor air quality and overall comfort.
For more information on how HEPA filters can make a difference in your Fort Wayne area home, please contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating and Air Conditioning. Let us put our 50-plus years of experience in delivering quality service to work for you.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HEPA filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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