Your home is arguably the greatest investment you will ever have. Because of this, it is expected that you do anything within your power to ensure it is well maintained and gives you the utility you deserve. But the question that always pops up is, how good is the quality of air in your home? Research shows that homeowners are greatly concerned about airborne contaminants and their effects in their homes. They also show the readiness to take any practicable steps to purify the air coming into their homes.
While you may not necessarily want to put a price tag on the health of your family and loved ones, it makes a lot of sense to keep tabs on the much you are to spend on disposable filters. The following are some insights into the difference bargain air filters make as far as air quality is concerned.
The Importance of Good Indoor Air Quality
Having a good air quality control in your home cannot be emphasized enough. It helps you keep pollen, dust, pollution, as well as other contaminants responsible for making people whizz, sneeze or succumb to asthmas attacks, at bay. Pollution doesn’t only come from the outside, there are those that originate from the inside which you must filter out as well.
Generic air filters are the least expensive, but they do not clean out as many air particles as their high efficiency counterparts. Typically, their filtration efficiency rate is about 20 to 50%. If your family has major health concerns, switching to a high efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter is advisable because this captures even the smallest particles measuring about 0.3 micrometers in diameter. Therefore, bargain air filters do not deliver as much cleaning as you would expect, you only get what you pay for.
Comparing Air Filters
The mistake many homeowners make is to compare air filters based on the packaging. It’s important to read the specifications written the different manufacturers so that you can get a sense of what you are about to purchase. If you have relatives, friends or coworkers who have installed air infiltration systems in their homes, you can ask them the specific brands they are using and what their experience is.
One of the best ways is to checkout online reviews from non-profit testing services which publish results without expecting to earn from advertisements. In this way, you will save yourself from choosing brands only on the premise that they have been heavily commented on in forums.
HVAC System Cleaning and Maintaining
Even if you go for the fanciest air filtration system in the industry, it won’t help much if your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is operating below par. Your HVAC equipment requires regular inspection, cleaning and maintenance preferably twice a year on the least from reputable HVAC technicians. If this doesn’t happen, the coil will be layered with dirt and dust thus lowering its efficiency.
If the air is not blowing as efficiently as it should, your air filtration system cannot cover up for the deficiency. In addition, a poorly performing HVAC system tends to cost lots of money to run due to the high utility bills and frequent breakdowns. Always consult qualified HVAC professionals to help you in putting up an air filtration system that matches your home needs.
