Allergy Season = Air Filter Season

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May 11, 2015

Spring is always a welcome time, but for allergy sufferers, spring is the bearer of all things sneezeable. If you have serious allergy sufferers in your Sacramento, CA, home, and don't use an air filtration system, now is the perfect time to consider one. You may be asking, doesn't my system already come with an air filter? It does, but the job of this air filter is to reduce the amount of dirt and dust entering your system, not to capture allergens. A mechanical air filter that is part of an air filtration system does the job of capturing allergens and other contaminants in your home. And when you work with one of our indoor air quality experts, you'll understand the differences between your standard filter and an air filtration system.

The Value of MERV

Like many other products, air filters have a scale that rates their effectiveness in capturing and removing particles. This scale is known as MERV, and it ranges from 1-20, with 20 being the highest. However, don't run out and purchase an air filter with a MERV of 20; the scale falls into ranges, and the best range for home usage is 5-12. Why such a wide range? A lot of your choice of a mechanical air filter is based on your needs. Here is a quick breakdown of the MERV ranges:

• 1-4 - large particles over 10 micrometers (as reference, viruses and bacteria are 0.3 microns)
• 5-8 - pollen, some mold spores, dust mites, pet dander
• 9-12 - all of the above, as well as very fine dust and dirt particles, smaller allergen particles

Any MERV rating 13 and over is considered a HEPA filter, which can seriously restrict the air flow in your system, so a HEPA filter should only be installed with a technician's recommendation.

Are You Ready for  Better Air Quality?

With an air filtration system seamlessly integrated in to your existing AC or HVAC, you can attain cleaner, healthier air. Call us today, and let our IAQ specialists help you find and install an air filter that will help you get through allergy season.