Like many homeowners, you may think that regularly changing your HVAC air filter is enough to keep your indoor air quality (IAQ) consistently high. Unfortunately, this component is largely intended to protect the health of your heating and cooling equipment. If you want clean indoor air, better rest, fewer allergy symptoms, and superior sleep, you should install an air filtration system in your San Antonio, TX home. Read on to find out why whole-house air filtration is definitely worth the investment.
Whole-House Air Filtration Picks up Particulates That HVAC Air Filters Do Not
Standard HVAC air filters pick up dirt, dust, dander, and other large-sized particulates. These units are designed and installed by HVAC manufacturers to prevent this debris from coating the sensitive, interior components of their equipment. Although standard HVAC air filters provide limited health benefits, there are many allergens and other contaminants that can flow right through them, including:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Mold
- Bacteria
- Viruses
While you can certainly upgrade the filters in your HVAC system, even filters that have significantly higher maximum efficiency reporting value (MERV) ratings can leave plenty of contaminants behind. Worse still, HVAC air filters with higher MERV ratings can compromise airflow and place undue stress on your heater and air conditioner. For truly clean indoor air and a truly efficient HVAC system, whole-house air filtration is the best choice.
Extend the Lifespan of Your Heating and Cooling Equipment
Integrated HVAC air filters pick up small-sized particulates that pass through standard air filters, and do so without placing any significant amount of stress on your heating and cooling equipment. With less debris in the air, heaters and air conditioners often last longer and are also less likely to need repairs. Moreover, they perform better too. With your HVAC system using less energy to create and maintain the indoor conditions you want, you may have lower energy bills, fewer repair costs, and more time before you have to pay for heater or air conditioner replacement.
Breathe Easier and Sleep Better
Cleaner indoor air promotes deeper and more restful sleep. This is especially true for people who snore, have sleep apnea, or suffer from other breathing-related sleep troubles. If you’ve tried other measures to improve your sleep quality to no avail, boosting your home’s IAQ could be an effective step.
Enjoy a Consistently Fresh-Smelling Living Environment
Whole-house air filtration can also leave your home smelling better. By picking up smaller particulates than standard HVAC air filters can, these systems eliminate cooking odors, pet odors, laundry odors, and more. In so doing, they also eliminate the need to use air freshening products that actually diminish indoor air quality, such as:
- Scented candles
- Room freshening sprays
- Plug-in air fresheners
Minimize the Transmission of Illness
Air filtration systems can eliminate micro-sized particulates that most other IAQ measures cannot. Some whole-house air filters are even rated to collect the ultra-small particulates that are emitted during a sneeze. This level of filtration minimizes the risk of illness transmission. Thus, if one person in your home is ill, it can help other people in the household from also becoming sick.
If you have anyone living in your home with a compromised immune system, adding a whole-house air filter to your HVAC equipment can help protect their health. These integrated HVAC accessories also work well for households with residents who work or attend school in high-risk environments.
Protect Residents With Chronic Respiratory Illnesses
Just as air filtration systems can be beneficial for those with compromised immunity, they can also benefit people with:
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
By eliminating more airborne particulates, a whole-house air filter could help limit the frequency, duration, and severity of symptoms for these and many other common respiratory ailments.
We’re committed to helping residents of San Antonio, Texas breathe easy and enjoy clean, comfortable, and fresh-smelling homes. We provide heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality services. We also offer preventative maintenance agreements. To find out more about whole-house air filtration systems or our other integrated HVAC accessories, get in touch with MD Air Conditioning & Heating today.
Tags: HVAC