Having an air filter in your home can be very beneficial. Click here for our list of some of the best air filters for home use. Does it matter what air filter you use in your home? You bet it does.
Your air filter traps airborne pollutants when your HVAC cycles air through your home. Indoor air pollutants include dust smoke, pet dander, mold, allergens, and harmful microbes. Such pollution can cause heart disease, respiratory diseases, even lung cancer. Here’s the point. The best air filters for home trap all of these pollutants and more. Others catch almost none of these.
Also, air filters can only hold a certain amount of these contaminants before they become full. Once full, they are a clog in your HVAC. This impairs your HVAC’s function, makes it work harder/more often, and costs you more money per month for energy.
Some air filters fill up faster than others, causing these problems more often. So how do you choose? Read on, that’s how! Follow this guide to choose the best air filter for home use.
Top-Quality HVAC Filters
First, let’s check out your options for your HVAC filtration system.
1. The Right Size
Before picking out an HVAC filter, check the one that’s currently installed in your home’s HVAC. It should have its length, width, and height listed right on it.
If the air filter installed doesn’t seem to fit right, it’s the wrong size. Check the manual for your HVAC and/or measure for yourself the dimensions of the area the filter is placed. Consider buying an air filter 16x25x1 dimension which is suitable for nominal size homes.
2. Catch Them All
Once you know the right size you need, check the packaging of the air filters you’re considering. Any air filter at the store will list the pollutants it filters out right on the packaging.
These include:
- Smog
- Smoke
- Odor
- Dust/Lint
- Pollen
- Microscopic allergens
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
- Mold
- Bacteria
- Microscopic pathogens/virus carriers
For the best air filter, choose one that filters out all of these.
3. Electrostatically Charged Filters
Electrostatically charged filters work like a magnet that attracts pollutants. That is, they magnetically pull contaminants out of the air the same way an electrostatically charged balloon will stick to your hair. This charge greatly increases the filter’s ability to purify your air.
4. Reusable Air Filters
Some air filters are not disposable. You can wash them and reuse them again and again for years.
This saves you money and reduces household waste.
Additional Air Purifiers
In addition to the air filter in your HVAC, you can choose an advanced air purification system for your home.
5. Multiple Lines of Filters
The best purifiers have multiple layers of multiple types of filters. These ensure nothing but the cleanest, healthiest air gets through.
6. Canister Filters
Some air purifiers use a canister style of filter. The benefit of these is that you can clean and reuse them with an air filter cleaner.
7. HEPA Filters
HEPA filters catch the most microscopic of contaminants floating in your air.
8. Carbon Filters
A carbon filter traps and removes chemical vapors and unpleasant odors from the air.
9. Customizable Filters
Some purification systems have multiple settings for customizable filtration. For example, some let you choose which contaminant type you want the most defense against.
10. Ion Generators
Ion generators neutralize harmful contaminants in the air. This ensures that any contaminants that manage to get through all the filters are rendered harmless.
Best Air Filters For Home Use
Clean air equals healthy living. Follow these tips to choose the best air filters for home use. For related reading, choose from the “Related Articles” section below.
