Do You Need an Air Filter?

If you are plagued by allergies and you’ve done all you can to reduce the allergens in your home, an air filter just might help you. Is it worth the money? Will it actually ease your symptoms? Not if you don’t make other changes in your environment as well, say medical experts.

What to do first? It’s not buying an air filter. There are other tactics that you have to implement, such as getting rid of as much carpet and furry pets as possible, or at least keeping the pets outside. If that’s too drastic for you, then keep them out of the bedrooms and off the furniture.

It will also help to dust using a damp cloth and don’t store things under the beds. Use machine washable curtains and clean regularly. Ban indoor smoking and use the hottest water possible to rid your laundry of dust mites. You should also clean all air conditioner filters and duct filters at each change of season. When you’ve done all you can do and home allergies are still a problem, then you can think about an air filter.

What does an air filter do? As conditioned air is blown from the supply ducts into the living space of a home, it picks up dust, pollen, and other particles, which get carried back to the indoor unit through the return air. The filter intercepts some of these particles to keep them from clogging up the blower and cooling coil.

If the blower and coil get dirty, airflow is restricted, and the unit can't do a good job of cooling. Comfort is reduced, operating costs rise, and the equipment wears out prematurely. A good filter improves indoor-air quality as well as protecting the equipment. Better air means fewer respiratory ailments and allergies.

That’s a lot. So do your homework and your housework.

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