The number of people who suffer from some sort of respiratory problem like asthma or are plagued by allergies, is seemingly on the rise.
Suffering daily from these problems is an issue for every person who wakes up every morning to face these symptoms, but there is now a greater opportunity for respiratory relief in your home, thanks to improvements in A/C air filters.
The role of air filters in your home
It sometimes seems like we are under contact act with outdoor pollutants and even in your own home, the quality of your indoor air can be affected by things like dust mites, smoke, mold and numerous other particles and airborne problems.
Air filters in your home that are fitted to your central heating and air-conditioning ducts or portable air cleaners are designed to try and remove as many of these irritants and indoor pollutants as possible.
You now have a greater choice of HVAC products than ever before and although air filters alone cannot completely rid you of indoor air pollution, they can certainly make a substantial difference.
Tackling the causes of indoor pollution
There are a number of ways that you can work on improving the quality of your indoor air and choosing the right air filter is just one of the ways that you can tackle the causes and improve your health in the process.
You need to try and control the introduction or build-up of things like mold and dust in your home and this can be a simple strategy that involves removing the clutter and cleaning regularly.
If you have pollen allergies, always be cautious about introducing items in your home that will bring outdoor air pollution or pollens into your indoor environment and trigger a reaction.
Choosing the right air filter
Having the right air filter for your central heating, air cleaner or air-conditioning unit, will definitely help to trap and remove pollutants that could otherwise circulate in your indoor air and potentially contribute to your respiratory problems.
Mechanical filters like HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) or ULPA (Ultra-Low Penetration Air) are a good choice and although this type of filter doesn’t fit in most furnaces, it can be attached to it. You might also consider High Efficiency Pleated Filters, which will fit in most furnace models and are often either disposable or washable.
You can also take advantage of electronic filters that use electrical charges in order to trap various pollutants or consider a hybrid filter with combines of mechanical and electronic filters.
Need to know
You should be aware that like a lot of things you can buy, the quality of air filters can vary considerably.
It is also important to remember that to get the best out of your air filter, you need to clean or replace the filter on your air-conditioning and furnace at least every 2-3 months.
Also, no matter how effective your air filter is, secondhand smoke introduced into the air by someone smoking cigarettes will often aggravate asthma and allergy conditions, so think carefully about whether you want anyone smoking in your family home.
Making the right choice of air filter can help improve respiratory problems and as result of improvements and technological advancements, you should now be able to find the right one to keep the air in your home as clean as possible.
Use A Filter Delivery Service
Be sure to add filter changing to your fall to-do list. To make it easy, use a convenient service like FilterSnap (www.filtersnap.com) that delivers filters right to your door on any schedule you choose. All you have to do is tell the company your filter size (you can find the size on your existing filter), then select the filter quality you’d want (basic, standard or ultimate) and your desired replacement schedule (1, 2, 3, 6 or 12 months). When the box shows up, you’ll know it’s time for a filter change. So easy! Your family and your allergies will thank you for it.
Guest Blogger:
Howard C. Miller is a respiratory specialist. He enjoys writing about clearing the air and breathing well. Look for his posts mostly on homeowner and family blog sites.
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