Which Air Filter is Right for Your Health 

There’s so much to consider when it comes to ultimate home comfort. Should you buy a high-efficiency air conditioner? Which size and make of AC is best for your home? Are programmable thermostats actually worth the money? And round and round we go. 

Just when you think you might have made all the decisions there are to make, another major question pops up: 

Which home air filter should I choose for my family’s health? 

There are many types of home air filters from which you can choose. Allergy prevention is a high priority for many families to stay healthy. 

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) Home Air Filters 

HEPA filters are considered the ultimate filtration product by Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the EPA. HEPA filters can destroy up to 98% of pollutants in your indoor air. These are the types of filters typically used in hospitals to remove germs and keep everyone healthy, but Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing supplies them for home air filters. If there are any critical respirational health issues for anyone in the home, the experts recommend the installation of a whole-home HEPA air filtration system. 

High-Efficiency Home Air Filters 

These bad boys remove 85% of your home’s air pollutants. Not only will high-efficiency home air filters assist with reducing allergy symptoms, they also help your heating and cooling equipment work more efficiently, ultimately decreasing energy costs which could save you money on energy bills year after year. 

Standard Pleated Media Home Air Filters 

These are your more common home air filters and can be found at the majority of department stores. While pleated home air filters may have a lower cost, they also have to be switched out more often – every 30-90 days versus once a year like the whole-home HEPA and high-efficiency air filters. Since HEPA home air filters range from $60 to $100, for annual cost you’re looking at basically the same amount. Standard pleated air filters can remove up to 45% of pollutants in your home’s air and the most important factor is the number of pleats per foot. The higher count of pleats, the better the air flow, and the cleaner the air will be. 

Basic Fiberglass Home Air Filters 

The flat, fiberglass air filters are the most basic type of filters. These filters do not generally better your indoor air quality; instead, they were designed to guard the heating and cooling equipment from having larger contaminants infiltrate the system and ruin the components. As a result, they can only remove less than 10% of your indoor air pollutants, but you can purchase them for about $1 each. 

If you aren’t sure which air filter is best for your home, give Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing a call today and we will explain your options and help you make the best decision for your indoor air quality.