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After our long New England winters, spring is always a welcome season, but for many people, spring is the beginning of another season: allergies. Spring allergies can range from irritating to flu-like, and finding refuge from pollen and other allergens can be difficult. While it isn’t possible to filter allergens in the outdoor air, it is possible to filter allergens from your indoor air with the help of a whole home air filtration system. Air filters, also known as mechanical air filters, can trap a number of types of allergens, removing them from your indoor air. But there are some important factors to understand about installing an air filter in your Celco, and we’ll discuss these factors in more detail below.
MERV Ratings
Every air conditioner comes with a standard air filter, but the job of this air filter isn’t to improve your home’s indoor air quality; instead, the standard air filter helps keep dirt, dust and debris from entering the system. Improving your indoor air quality with a mechanical filter requires using a filter made to do the job, and the best way to determine how effective a particular filter will be is to review its MERV rating. MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, and the MERV scale runs from 1-20; household filters used for allergy control typically span the 5-12 MERV range. MERV ratings over 12 indicate usage of a HEPA filter, and while these filters are excellent at removing allergens, they are often so strong that they can restrict the air flow in your system. If you want to use a HEPA filter in your AC system, always consult with an expert first.
Which Is Best for You?
The best way to assess what type of air filter you should use (i.e., what MERV level to choose), is something best decided with an expert. An indoor air quality specialist can review with you the different contaminants captured at each MERV rating. Some homes may only need help with dust, while others may need help removing pet dander and pollen, in addition to dust. The trained IAQ specialists at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning can help determine which air filter will be best for your needs and install it seamlessly into your AC system.
It’s officially spring! Call us today and get ahead of seasonal allergies with a whole house air filtration system!
