Can your heating & cooling system's air filter help prevent the flu in your home?
Air filters are supposed to be changed as part of your regular maintenance, sometimes as often as every other month. If they are left unchanged, it not only forces your system to work harder, they also stop capturing contaminants that trigger asthma, allergies, respiratory distress and other symptoms of illness. It's easy to do and new filters are not as expensive as they once were, although that depends on the type filter you get.
The varying types of filters you'll likely find at Walmart, Home Depot, etc range from the simple fiberglass variety, which does a decent job of capturing dirt particles and such...to the more robust HEPA filters that claim to capture 99% of all particles. The problem with most HEPA filters is they are literally TOO restrictive and cause most residential systems to overwork, in some cases causing damage to the system itself!
That being said, our recommendation for most residential systems is a mid-range filter. LOOK FOR THE 'MERV NUMBER' on each filter. The MERV rating, from 1 to 20, tells you how dense the filter is...you want a filter that does a good job, but doesn't OVER-restrict airflow for a residential system. We recommend a MERV rating somewhere in the 8 to 12 range, even lower for older units. While we can't say that an air filter will absolutely prevent the flu from coming into your home, common sense would suggest that better, filtered, air in your home is a good idea. For other flu prevention tips, click here for recommendations from the CDC.
At AIR MD, it is our goal to keep your home comfortable, safe, and as healthy as possible for you and your family. Contact us anytime for repair service, maintenance, upgrades, or new systems. We are here to help. Call us at (731) 784-7106.
For over 30 years, the techs at AIR MD have been keeping West Tennessee homes and businesses comfortable. AIR MD repairs, replaces, and installs everything from small residential units to large commercial systems.
AIR MD services all makes and models of air conditioners, furnaces, and heat pumps. We are an independent Carrier dealer, and if your system is beyond repair, we work tirelessly to ensure your environment is back to the comfy temperature you expect.
AIR MD services Humboldt, Medina, Milan, Trenton, all of Gibson County as well as Madison, Crockett, and surrounding areas.
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