Air Filters

The utility of air filters in reducing allergens and considerably purifying the air is a contested issue. The EPA has not publicized any specific position supporting or opposing their use by individuals. Though some filters may aid in purifying the air, they do not replace the need to minimize exposure to pollution and maintain good ventilation. Some setups only cleanse particles from the air, while others may have the ability to remove specific types of gaseous materials.

It’s an often heard maxim: Clean air filters save energy and money. Routinely changing or cleaning the filters from your home’s heating and air conditioning system helps the units run more efficiently and enjoy a longer lifespan. But what do these filters really do? How can you tell if they’re working? How often should you change them, and what should you do if they look clean when it’s time to replace them?

Air purifiers also help to keep dust from building up in your ducts, or being blown into other rooms of your house. In recent years, this air cleaning function has become more important to homeowners.  Manufacturers have designed filters that use your heating and air system to remove microscopic particles. Like dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, plant and mold spores, and even smoke from the air in your home.

Devices are rated not by the percentage of pollutants a filter can remove, but by their ability to deliver a specific amount of filtered air to a room. These filters keep the air in your home clean. If they become too dirty your air conditioner can stop working.

Statistics

If a device removes 99 percent of air pollutants but can clean only 10 cubic feet per minute, it will not be very effective in a 1,000 cubic foot room. The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) notes the number of cubic feet of filtered air a unit delivers per minute. The efficiency rating of air filters refers to their ability to remove respirable particles. At the high end of the efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. These remove the smallest particles (0.3 microns in size).

If you have a vacuum make sure it has HEPA filters. At Maidsway Cleaning Services all of our vacuums are required to have HEPA filters. Never let filters in your home get too dirty.