That’s a lot! Pollutants like pollen, dust, mold, and smoke can affect your family’s overall health. When we sneeze, cough, sing, or even breathe, we spread germs into the air via saliva. Larger droplets fall and dry rapidly. Smaller droplets can stay airborne for hours. It’s not just viruses that linger in the air but particles such as lead, sea salt, face powder, coffee soot, and a million other things. Did you know that the volume of air you breathe into your lungs every single day equals 3,400 gallons?

Standard filters vs media air cleaners

• • Standard one-inch filters. Most homes with HVAC systems use a standard, one-inch filter constructed from loosely woven spun-glass fibers and capture less than 10% of the pollutants in your home. They are designed to keep the ductwork clean but do not improve your indoor air quality. Pleated one-inch filters have more surface area and filter 45% of allergens — including pollen, dust mites, and pet dander — in your home. The smaller the contaminant, the more likely it is to pass through the filter and be distributed in your home’s air.

  • Whole-home media air cleaners. A media air cleaner consists of a metal cabinet housing a five-inch media air filter. The media air filter is made from deeply pleated and heavily compressed, paper-like material and can trap up to 20 times more than a standard filter. Professionally installed high-efficiency media air cleaners work with your home’s HVAC system to trap particulates, improve the air quality in your home, and have a very long life. Whole-home media air cleaners can remove extremely small particles like dust, pollen, mold, pet dander,
    and more. By working inside your home’s HVAC system, a media air cleaner extracts allergens from the air in your entire house, improving the quality of air you breathe. Portable units are best for single-room use
    because of their limited ability to circulate large volumes of filtered air.

Are whole-home media air cleaners the solution?

A high-efficiency media air cleaner captures particles as small as 0.3 microns. They permanently trap indoor pollen and other common allergens that can lead to respiratory problems. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, long-term exposure to high particle levels is linked to bronchitis, reduced lung function, and premature death. Media air cleaners are up to 98% effective at collecting viruses, mold spores, bacteria, and pathogens. Once your air cleaner is in place, you’ll notice a huge improvement in your home’s indoor air quality. In addition to improved air quality, media air cleaners maximize the life of your heating and cooling equipment and improve energy savings by keeping your HVAC equipment clean.

How do media air cleaners work?

Media air cleaners are installed on the return air duct line of your HVAC system. When air passes through, it works to filter the air, trapping airborne particles before they make their way into your home. Think of them as a super-sized version of the standard air filters being used in your HVAC system. Where a standard HVAC filter is normally one-inch thick, media air cleaners feature filters that can be up to five inches thick and last up to four times longer than a standard one-inch filter.

What is a MERV rating and which one is right for me?

• • A MERV rating is a measurement scale designed to report a filter’s ability to capture particles. Filters are given a MERV rating from 1 to 16. The higher the MERV rating means the greater percentage of particles are captured on each airflow pass. Many home HVAC systems have a MERV-8 filter installed as the default.

  • Removal of airborne particles — both organic and inorganic — is best done using media air cleaners that can capture these particles and permanently remove them from the air. Particles smaller than 10 microns, especially those smaller than 1 micron, are of the greatest health concern because they penetrate deeper into your lungs.

  • Filters with a MERV-13 rating are required to remove a minimum of 50% of the smallest particles, including viruses. Upgrading to a MERV-13 rated filter, or the highest-rated filter that your HVAC system fan and filter slot can allow, could improve your system’s ability to capture particles.

  • If your system permits, Houston AC Repair Pros recommends using a filter with a MERV 13 rating to remove particulate matter and allergens from your Houston area home.

  • It’s important to choose an air filter that does not exceed the recommended MERV rating your HVAC system is designed to handle. Using air filters with
    a higher than specified MERV rating is detrimental to your HVAC system’s performance. Before upgrading your filter, consult with your HVAC professional to ensure that filter is compatible with your system.