Is it Time to Upgrade Your HVAC Filter?

Although most people believe that air pollution is only an external issue, the truth is that the air inside your home can actually be more polluted. If you are someone who uses a vacuum cleaner regularly, it is important to realize that you are just "relocating the dirt." While your cleaner can capture some of the dirt in its filter or bag, the remainder of it is dispersed into the room.

To prevent dust and debris from suffocating your air conditioner or furnace, both appliances come equipped with air filters. Some homeowners, especially those living with allergy sufferers, even purchase additional filters to enhance their indoor air quality. As these filters collect household pollutants over time, they should be replaced each month, particularly during peak usage months.

By regularly replacing your filter, you can prevent excessive amounts of dirt and debris from accumulating in your air conditioner or furnace, which can improve your indoor air quality, prevent respiratory illnesses, and reduce utility bills. Neglecting to replace your filter can lead to expensive repairs or replacement, as well as shortened equipment lifespan.

If you are looking for high-quality HVAC filters, Four Seasons Air Specialists is the leading HVAC company in Forest Lake MN, offering exceptional home comfort products.

Indoor Air Quality Factors

A multitude of factors contribute to poor indoor air quality in your home, including pathogens, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust mites, plant spores, mold, mildew, dander or pet hair, fungi, pesticides, aerosols, cigarette or tobacco smoke, cat litter, cooking smells, toxins, viruses, bacteria, radon, and formaldehyde.

Negative Health Consequences of Poor Indoor Air Quality

Short-term and long-term health consequences may result from repeated exposure to indoor air pollutants. Immediate or recurrent exposure to one or more contaminants can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, coughing, and upper respiratory congestion. Prolonged overexposure to household pollutants can lead to more severe health issues such as lung disease.

Protecting Vulnerable Individuals from Indoor Pollutants

Poor indoor air quality can pose significant health risks, particularly to children, adults aged 60 and over, and those with pre-existing allergies or immune system problems. It is essential to take measures to protect these individuals from the harmful effects of indoor pollutants.

Function of High-Efficiency Filters

While all HVAC systems contain an air filter, not all filtration systems are created equal in terms of their efficiency. Air filters are rated based on their minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) scale, ranging from 1 to 16. Filters rated higher than 16 are considered high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. The greater the MERV rating, the greater the number of contaminants that a filter can capture. Certain filters can even capture specific viruses, in addition to bacteria, mold spores, and cigarette smoke. These filters also reduce allergens and respiratory irritants.

HEPA filters remove a minimum of 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger from indoor air, which the Department of Energy enforces as the gold standard for allergen and airborne particle removal. By using HEPA filters, you can breathe cleaner air, which can enhance the performance of your lungs and other organs, resulting in better oxygen absorption by your brain.

In addition to improving your indoor air quality, incorporating a whole-home air purification system with a HEPA filter can also optimize your furnace or air conditioner's efficiency, leading to lower energy consumption and a longer equipment lifespan.

Consult the Air Filtration Experts

While it may not be obvious, the air inside your home can be more contaminated than outdoor air. Therefore, investing in a high-efficiency filter is a logical decision if you care about the air that circulates throughout your living space.

At Four Seasons Air Specialists, our objective is to help you create a living environment that is completely clean. We collaborate with some of the finest air filter manufacturers in the business to offer you the most effective products that can provide you with pure, fresh air. As an authorized distributor of high-efficiency filters that can successfully trap and eliminate almost all known household pollutants, we can help you achieve this goal.

Talk to our HVAC professionals about enhancing your home's air filtration system. You may require the expertise of an expert to modify your filtration system to accommodate thicker, more effective filters.

For more than 40 years, we have been the dependable Hugo heating and air conditioning company that caters to the home comfort requirements of our valued clients.