If you or someone in your family suffers from breathing problems due to asthma, allergies or COPD, the proper air filters for your heating and cooling system could be just what the doctor ordered. Individual room air filtration systems are a good choice for both their portability and price. Whole-house air filtration systems can offer a comprehensive air-cleaning strategy, while high-efficiency furnace filters, though effective, can put undue stress on the air intake motor and furnace fan.

While there is no way to completely eliminate asthma or other respiratory ailment symptoms short of living in a plastic bubble, having an effective filtering system can reduce the number of irritants in the home. Filter systems will pull the majority of particles out of the air, but this won’t completely solve your coughing or sneezing problems. Most allergens are trapped in the fabrics around the home, including the carpeting, drapes and furniture. When any of these areas are disturbed by someone brushing against, sitting on or lying down on them, the allergens are jolted into the air. Because of the close proximity to the airborne allergens and the fact that it takes upwards of 30 minutes for a filtration system to clear the air, there is still the possibility of nasal irritation.

While vacuuming the carpet, drapes and furniture can remove a great deal of the latent particles, even the best HEPA filtration vacuum is still going to fill the air with dust due to the rotational brushes of the vacuum. Room cleaners can clear up this airborne debris, but only after a full cycle. The amount of time this takes will depend on the size of the room.

Portable systems with air filters will only work in the room where they’re operating and may not be effective if the source of the allergen is an animal (dog, cat, bird, etc.) in the home. Since you spend eight or more hours in your bedroom every day, this is the best place to put your air filter.

For more expert advice on air filters, contact the professionals at Smoky Mountain Heating & Air. We serve residential and light commercial customers in the Asheville and surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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