Certain times of the year can be absolutely brutal for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. Living in Texas can be especially tough for allergy sufferers, as the concentration of different types of pollen peaks at various times of the year. For instance, April and May are when many types of tree pollen are at their highest. We then experience a major spike in various grass and weed pollens in the late summer to early fall. No matter what type of allergies you suffer from, there are some effective options that will help eliminate them from your home and allow you to breathe more easily. Here, we’ll explore what these options are and how to know which ones are the most effective.
High-Efficiency HVAC Air Filters
Most HVAC systems are designed to use a one-inch air filter. The purpose of this filter is to catch dust and other larger particles like lint and pet hair. That way all of this debris doesn’t get sucked into the central part of the system where some of the most important components like the blower and AC evaporator coil are located. Without the air filter, the debris would quickly start coating these components and lead to the HVAC system performing poorly. The debris would also lead to an increase in energy consumption and create a higher risk of breakdowns.
The problem with many one-inch filters is that they are fairly porous. That means lots of pollen and other allergens like mold spores don’t get trapped and just continually get spread around the house by the HVAC system. Nonetheless, there are some one-inch filters that are more efficient and better able to remove allergens from the air. These filters have a higher MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value), which means they trap a larger percentage of small particles like pollen. The best residential filters for reducing allergens are rated at around MERV 10 to 12. While this type of filter is more expensive, it’s well worth paying the extra cost to reduce the amount of allergens in your home.
Media Filters
A media filter is essentially just a much thicker, more effective version of a standard air filter. Most media filters range between four and six inches thick and are rated at somewhere from MERV 13 to 15. Standard one-inch filters can generally never be above MERV 12. If this type of filter was any more efficient, it would restrict the air coming into the HVAC system so much that it would greatly hamper the system’s performance.
Media filters can be more efficient as they contain far more filter material. This allows them to trap a larger percentage of allergens while still ensuring air can flow smoothly through the filter. If you want to use a media filter, you will need to have an HVAC company redo part of your ductwork. Nonetheless, you’ll get far better results than you would with even the very best one-inch filter.
Electronic Air Cleaners
Electronic air cleaners are unique in that they don’t use a physical barrier to trap particles. Instead, they produce static electricity that charges all of the allergens and causes them to get stuck to special plates inside the unit. Electronic air cleaners can be even more effective at eliminating allergens than media filters as they can filter out microscopic particles that would just flow through a media filter. The drawback is that your electricity bill will increase with an electronic air cleaner, which isn’t the case with a media filter. The other concern is that some models of electronic air cleaners produce ozone, which is a respiratory irritant that can further add to your indoor air quality issues.
HEPA Filters
If you suffer from severe allergies, a whole-home HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration system is definitely the best way to go. HEPA filters are commonly used in places like hospitals and labs where the air needs to be extremely sterile. This type of filtration system can eliminate over 99% of the most common allergens and is also effective at filtering out bacteria, viruses and other airborne contaminants.
A HEPA filtration system is normally attached to the HVAC system’s return air duct via two bypass flexible ducts. A fan pulls some of the air flowing through the duct into the system and forces it through the HEPA filter before then blowing the clean air back into the duct. The reason that a HEPA filtration system has to be installed in a bypass is simply because of how efficient the filter is. You could install the filter directly within the return air duct like a one-inch filter or media filter. If so, it would lead to a massive decrease in the HVAC system’s performance and cause a huge spike in energy costs.
HVAC UV Lights
HVAC UV (Ultraviolet) lights are designed to tackle very specific air quality issues, which is to eliminate mold spores and bacteria. All microorganisms such as these are highly sensitive to UV-C (Germicidal UV) light. When exposed to this wavelength of UV rays, their DNA suffers so much damage that they basically get destroyed. This type of light unit can be mounted anywhere within a ductwork system and will work to continually eliminate mold spores and bacteria from the air moving through the duct.
Whole-Home Air Purification Systems
Whole-home air purification systems are sort of the best of all worlds in that they tackle different types of air quality issues. Most of these systems combine a highly effective media filter along with UV lights to ensure they eliminate allergens and bacteria. Some also have a carbon filter that helps to eliminate odors and improve the smell of the air coming out of all of the vents. There are even systems that use different processes to destroy or alter chemical pollutants including numerous harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
The Importance of Professional Air Quality Testing
If you want to effectively tackle allergens and any other indoor air quality issues your home has, the first step is to have an HVAC contractor perform a professional air quality test. Air quality testing uses highly sensitive equipment to detect and measure the concentration of allergens, bacteria, mold, VOCs, exhaust fumes and a range of other contaminants.
Based on the results of this test, you can then get recommendations on which options are best for overcoming your home’s specific air quality issues. For instance, the contractor may recommend installing a UV light unit if your home has a high level of mold spores and/or bacteria. If your home has lots of allergens, they may recommend having your ductwork cleaned to get rid of the allergens present in the ducts and then installing a better air filtration system to prevent future allergen issues.
Contact Us Today
Affordable Air is a locally owned HVAC company that’s been providing professional services in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area for over 20 years. We specialize in indoor air quality services and offer a range of effective solutions to meet the needs of any home or business. You can also turn to us for air quality testing, mold inspections, duct cleaning and the rest of your indoor comfort needs. To schedule an air quality test and get the professional help you need, contact us today.
