Home Air Filters: Knowing Which One to Choose

Since air filters are one of the bests tools for eradicating allergens from your home, more people are using them than ever before. The trick is to find the one that works best for you, depending upon your specific needs. Before going shopping, arm yourself with some facts, so that you'll be more prepared to choose an air filter, rather than listening to various sales pitches from merchants who are interested in making a quick buck. Of the five major types of air filters, here's a quick look at four of them ? one type (the ozone air filter) is not environmentally friendly, and consumers are not encouraged to purchase filters of this type.

Mechanical Filters ? One of the best types of mechanical filters is the HEPA filter, which forces air through a special screen that traps allergens such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander. If there are any smokers in the house, a HEPA filtered device will also trap smoke and other airborne irritants. Those devices which are unable to trap at least 90% of these particles are ineligible to qualify as a HEPA filtering device. When shopping for mechanical filters of this type, be sure that they truly meet HEPA filtering standards, and that you're not purchasing a cheap imitation that will offer substandard performance.

Gas Phase Filters ? This type of air filter is not used for the removal of allergens in the home, but rather for removing odors and other types of pollutants, such as gasses from perfume, cooking, paint or building materials. In a home that needs to eliminate allergies which are triggered by exposure to certain odors, this would be sufficient, rather than the HEPA filter, which is designed to remove absolute allergens that are not gas based.

Electronic Filters ? Of the different types of electronic filters, the most effective at trapping allergens is the style which uses electrostatic precipitators with a fan. In the case of electronic filters, electric charges are used to attract and trap allergens and other contaminants. Strive to find one that includes collecting plates so that the particles are trapped within the unit. Otherwise, you'll end up having to clean all of the surfaces within the home, because the allergens will stick to them. In the case of self-contained units that include plates, they'll also need to be cleaned, but this is a much smaller task than cleaning all of the surfaces of the home's interior.

Hybrid Filters ? Simply put, these air filters offer a combination of those characteristics which are found in both electrostatic and mechanical filters. These may be preferred by those with allergens other than gas based contaminants, but offer trapping devices for containing allergens.

In addition to knowing the types of air filters, you'll also need to consider things such as which types of contaminants will be removed from the air; the efficiency of the filter when compared to HEPA standards; whether the size of the air filter system will be large enough to continuously clean the allotted space at least every six minutes; the clean air delivery rate of the filter; whether the unit is silent or noisy; and how easy or difficult it may be to change the filter, when necessary.

When you approach the purchasing of an air filter system with this information in mind, you'll be far more likely to come home with the one that can adequately clean your home's interior with little or no fuss while eliminating the right types of contaminants that plague your family.

Jonathan Chase (a lifelone allergy sufferer) is the creator of http://www.home-air-filter-edu.com, which provides free information to individuals interested in air purification and reducing their allergy symptoms.

---

Modern Rugs Add Color, Texture, Interest and Space Definition To Your Room

Modern Design is sleek, stark, and spacious with angular and... Read More

Roof Cleaning - Making Your Old Roof Look Like New!

Many Florida residents that have come from the North are... Read More

Getting the Power to Control

One of the advantages of using machines to control processes... Read More

Mistakes?

MISTAKES.Don't worry about making mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. Why should... Read More

Why Not Add a Shower To Your Bathroom?

If you are thinking of remodeling your bathroom and redoing... Read More

Outdoor Ceiling Fans Complement the House

Fans extending from the ceiling have been around for centuries... Read More

Remodel Your Kitchen or Bathroom For The Best ROI!

Trying to decide which home improvement project to tackle next?... Read More

Building A Pair Of Heavy Duty Saw Horses

Start out by measuring and cutting all your stock according... Read More

Employ Passive Solar Energy and Start Saving Electricity Today

1. Orientation, layout and positioning of your house on the... Read More

Why Double Glazing?

Why replace your single-glazed windows with double glazing ? For... Read More

A Healthy Home

Your home is your castle. You decide, possibly together with... Read More

Do You Make These Window Replacement Mistakes ?

Whether it's a misguided baseball, or storm damage, sooner or... Read More

Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Any remodeling idea for a small kitchen must address the... Read More

Waterproofing Basement Walls

Although representatives from waterproofing companies may guarantee results from their... Read More

Laminate Flooring Advantages

DurabilityBecause it's designed with a tough and durable wear layer,... Read More

Breaking Away from White Wall Paint

Paint is one of the most affordable and easiest ways... Read More

The Great American Dream

Are you ready to starting building your dream home. House... Read More

Strapping a Ceiling

Prior to hanging sheetrock to ceiling joists it is important... Read More

Swim Spas Make a Big Splash with Baby Boomers

If you are an aging baby boomer like I am,... Read More

Hardwood Floor Care Will Keep Your Hardwood Looking Fantastic

Hardwood is still the homeowner's favorite choice of flooring and... Read More

Outdoor Bars - Essential For Summer Entertaining

The trend for enhancing your patio is to create an... Read More

Single Pane Window Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame

Let's suppose you still have those old aluminum single pane... Read More

Log Homes - Whats Different About Log Homes?

Newcomers to the world of log homes will notice that... Read More

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Every one lives in a house but every house is... Read More

Bathroom Wall Cabinets ? Create Extra Space with a Touch of Style!

Is your bathroom looking cluttered? How about fitting new bathroom... Read More

Choosing A New Floor

Is it time to give that tired kitchen floor a... Read More

Get Your Home Ready To Sell

Have you been considering selling your home in the near... Read More

Hand Hooked Rugs

Hand hooked rugs are a great way to add splendor... Read More

Persian Carpets - Popular Styles

There are numerous styles of Persian carpets. In fact there... Read More

Planning Permission Tips UK - Rights of Light to Adjoining Neighbours Windows - What You Should Know

Rights of light - What a minefield this topic is... Read More

Why Is Your House Cold?

How many of you have experienced this situation? As the... Read More

Housing and Smart Houses; Energy Self Sufficient Possibilities

Housing and smart houses. I believe that we could have... Read More

Buyers Guide For Modern Mailboxes

Modern mailboxes are made predominately from cast aluminum or stainless... Read More