dangerous as the air outside.
Health Concerns
There are many reasons why it’s important to monitor the air quality inside your home. For one, it could be detrimental to your health. Poor air quality may cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, headaches and other respiratory issues. People with asthma or allergies should be extra careful, as it can exacerbate the illness and intensify the symptoms.
Steps to Take
There are numerous things you can do to improve the air quality inside your home—dust frequently, vacuum the carpets regularly, and don’t forget to wash your bedding. While these tasks will reduce the amount of dust and dust mites in the air, not all airborne particles will be eliminated. The best thing to do to trap the left over particles is to use and maintain stronger air filters.
Choosing an Air Filter
There are many different air filters on the market that come in a variety of styles and strengths. When choosing the best one for your home, there are many factors you should consider.
Efficiency: When you hear an HVAC specialist talk about efficiency, this refers to the size of the particles the system can pick up. The more efficient the filtration is, the smaller the particles it will be able to collect. A highly efficient filter can pick up even the smallest of particles.
Cost: This includes the initial price, as well as the cost of maintenance and upgrades. A higher quality filter will cost more initially, but you won’t have to spend as much on maintenance and replacement.
Maintenance: In order to make cleaning and replacing as easy as possible, make sure your air cleaning devices are easily accessible. Trying to remove a filter from a hard to reach place can be quite the hassle.
Filter Maintenance and Operation
One of the worst things you could do for your indoor air quality is to forget to change out the filter. There isn’t an exact science for determining the best time to change your filter, but there are certain variables that could be helpful. Consider run time, efficiency, size and type. For example, a low- efficiency disposable filter should be replaced or cleaned once every one or two months during peak cooling and heating seasons.
If you’re unsure of what kind of air filtration your home needs, or if you need further assistance in any way, contact your local HVAC maintenance company and they will be able to either walk you through the process or send a qualified specialist to help you.
This article was written by Linda Reynolds on behalf of Mitchell Mechanical, a leading Atlanta HVAC company focused on serving the heating and cooling needs of metro-Atlanta and North Georgia since 1992.