Learn more about air filtration for inside of your home, dorm room or office.
Today's homes are made "tighter", meaning more energy efficient. With this efficiency, more contaminants remain in the air that you breathe on a daily basis. Indoor air pollution is becoming more of concern among growing families. The only way to cleanse floating air particles is to physically remove them from your living space. This is why your air conditioning or furnace filter is so important.
The technology of today's air filters is getting better all of the time. The majority of today's filters are constructed from non-woven fabrics. According to INDA, the Association of Non-Woven Fabrics, "Non woven fabrics are broadly defined as sheet or web structures bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments (and by perforating films) mechanically, thermally or chemically. They are flat, porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibers or from molten plastic or plastic film. They are not made by weaving or knitting and do not require converting the fibers to yarn." These fabrics are built for specific purposes such as air filtration that poses characteristics of being porous to air and offer bacteriologic properties. These fabrics will grab certain sized particles such as mold, pollen, dust and prevent them being re-circulated into your room air.
According to the American Lung Association, "Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In addition, it can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. People who already have respiratory diseases are at greater risk." Air filtration is important.
The easiest way is to change your furnace filter on a regular basis. FiltersUSA has a pictorial on how to change your furnace filter. There are many air filter and air cleaning product choices for consumers today. What you need to know is that $1.29 filter from the local hardware store does not work as well others on the market. Filters have different effectiveness ratings.
The MERV System (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) air filtration effectiveness rating was instituted to provide minimum efficiency values.
When you first install your new air filter, its efficiency is at its lowest point.
That's because it hasn't built up enough dust and particles on the filter to help trap even more dust and particles.
The MERV Rating will give you a worst-case scenario for the lowest amount of efficiency you can expect from your filter. This MERV System also measures the size of the particles a filter can trap. The scale that the MERV System uses can range from a MERV 1 to a MERV 16 (95%+ ASHRAE filter). The MERV System is an excellent tool when you know which contaminants you want to have filtered.
Are three basic type of air filters. First are flat filters, generally 1/2 to 1 inch in thickness and can be made of hog hair or fiberglass. These type of filters generally protect the mechanical function of the blower against foreign objects and provide filtration of only very large particles. The next type of air filters are pleated air filters. These filters are usually made of non woven fabrics and offer greater filtration capacity. Then the most effective are the HEPA air filters or box filter. High Efficiency Particle Accumulator grabs smaller particles and keeps them from re-circulating in your space. Also made from non woven fabrics, these filters have increases efficiency and capacity as they generally are pleated with a high surface area. You can see different type of furnace filters at FiltersAmerica.com
You can attached a HEPA style air cleaner directly to your HVAC system. FiltersAmerica offers a selection of Central Air Cleaners for residential use. These systems attach to your furnace with filters lasting up to a year depending upon the environment and will separate the dust from the air. Electronic air cleaners are also effective. Although operating costs are lower, maintenance costs can be much higher. Some people are converting Electronic Air Cleaner to accept a HEPA style filter.
Many portable or room air cleaners offer mulit-stage filtration. First unfiltered air goes through a pre-filter which captures large particles. These pre0filters may be impregnated with activated carbon to remove odors. Then the air passes through the HEPA filter, removing smaller particles. Since the pre-filter captures the large particles, the HEPA filter lasts longer. Room air cleaners are also great for the nursery, dorm room or office.
09/04/10
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Inside Air Filters clears the air about HEPA filters and air filtration.