Are Your Allergies Acting Up? Air Filters Got You Covered

May 10
19:26

2024

Viola Kailee

Viola Kailee

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Suffering from allergies, seasonal or year-round, is horrible and no one likes trying to deal with it. Luckily there's a way to help your allergies at home. Getting the right air filter can change your allergy symptoms in no time. You just have to make sure you get the right one for you, let’s help you breathe better at home.

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Understanding Allergies

What Triggers Allergies?

Some of the most common allergens that are in the air are pollen,Are Your Allergies Acting Up? Air Filters Got You Covered Articles dust, and pet dander. Just one of these allergens alone can cause horrible allergy symptoms. Pollen is mostly a worry in the Spring and Summer but dust is a year-round concern. Pet dander is still a danger even if you don’t have any animals in your home. Others who come into your home or even at work can bring pet dander around you that will cling to your clothes and skin.

How Allergens Enter and Accumulate in Your Home

You can have your home deep cleaned every week but that doesn’t mean those pesky allergens won’t find their way back into your home. If you open a door or window they will sneak in. One way to help prevent them from coming in through a window is with a window vent filter. You can still feel and breathe in fresh air without all the pollen, dust, and pet dander affecting your allergies.

The Role of Air Filters in Allergy Relief

How Do Air Filters Work?

Air filters play a big role in protecting your home from allergens. They can seem complex in how they work but really it is very simple. Air will travel through the filter screen and as it passes through it will trap all the allergens in the filter while the clean air safely travels through into your home. Depending on your MERV rating it can even catch tiny bacteria and virus particles that could be in the air. The higher your MERV rating is the smaller the particles it can trap.

The Different Types of Air Filters

Not only are there different MERV ratings but there are different filter types too. Each filter type depends on your needs for you and your home. Here’s a look into some of the different types you can choose from:

  • Pleated Air Filters
    • Removes lint, dust, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, allergens, and other contaminants.
  • Pleated Plus Carbon Filters
    • Collect lint, pollen, smoke particles, virus carriers, bacteria, and mold spores, and help control odors.
  • Pure Carbon Pleated Filters
    • Helps control and neutralize strong odors from pets, garbage, bathrooms, and smoke. They remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like chemicals from cleaning products.

Choosing the Right Air Filter for Allergy Relief

Factors to Consider When Selecting an Air Filter

Now picking the right air filter for you is based on a lot of different factors in your life. If you have an animal in the home, if you have babies or elderly, even if you cook certain types of food often like fish. MERV ratings, filter type, and the size of your HVAC system play a big role in choosing what is right for you. You also have to make sure to measure your air filter correctly, if your HVAC can only have a filter size of 20x25x1 don’t get a filter that is 20x25x2. Even a one-inch difference matters.

Recommendations for Air Filters for Allergy Sufferers

If you suffer from allergies, seasonal or year-round, picking an air filter with MERV ratings of 9-12 is most likely going to be best for you. And if you really want to help with allergies at home HEPA filters are the way to go, they may cost more than disposable filters but if you suffer from horrible allergies it will be well worth it.

Maintenance Tips for Optimal Performance

Regular Maintenance of Air Filters

To keep up with healthy, breathable air, filter maintenance is required. Changing your air filter every 90 days, or 3 months, is normal but if you have animals at home or live in an area with bad outdoor air quality then you might need to change more. If you have never changed an air filter before here are the steps to become a pro at it.  

  1. Turn off the HVAC system
  2. Remove the old filter. Be careful not to drop any dust that’s on the filter back into the HVAC system.
  3. Clean the filter slot thoroughly.
  4. Insert the new clean filter. The air filter should have arrows indicating the airflow direction. The arrow needs to be pointing toward the furnace and away from the air duct that pulls in the air.
  5. Make sure it fits in nicely and snugly.
  6. Turn the HVAC system back on and enjoy the clean air.

Additional Measures to Improve Indoor Air Quality

If your allergies are still bad here are a few other ideas you can try.   

  • Get an air purifier for your home
  • Keep windows closed during high pollen days
  • Clean weekly
  • Wash pets monthly

Recap

Allergies suck but they don’t have to be bad at home. Getting an air filter that is perfect for you is essential for breathing clearly in your home. Look for the right filter size, MERV rating, and filter type. Once you find your perfect filter you will be taking deep breaths at home in no time.