It’s important to install a high quality air filter on the HVAC system in your home, since inexpensive fiberglass air filters only capture 10% to 15% of airborne particles. Look for filters that contain carbon, are electrostatically charged, or have a HEPA rating which can remove up to 99% of airborne pollutants.
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If your heating and cooling system gets clogged with excessive dirt, it will have to run longer to heat or cool the same amount of space. It will cost you more money to use and contribute more greenhouse gas emissions. Your best defense against this is a good quality air filter. But before you buy those 99 cent disposable fiberglass filters, watch how much of this dirt falls right through it. These things will only remove about 10-15% of the dirt, dust, pollen and other airborne pollutants that are in the air. When you consider that the average person breathes in about two gallons of air every minute, just think of what else is going in to your lungs! Spend a little extra money for a quality filter like carbon, HEPA or one with electrostatically-charged fibers. These types can remove up to 99% of pollutants, which is truly a breath of fresh air.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Also consider a whole home air cleaner that is continuously high-performing such as those with the newer, non-metal technology that is much easier to maintain (no wires, etc. to clean) and that also gets those tiny airborne particles (RSPs) + can be bolted on most any home hvac system + does not emit ozone and requires only one to two simply filter changes a year – taking under 10 minutes total. For a clumsy DIYer like me these are vital considerations
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