Types of Air Filters

You need to change your HVAC system's air filter regularly to keep your air clean and your system functioning efficiently. Do you know what kind of filter you need? Here's a brief guide to different types of air filters and how they work.

Fiberglass

The cheapest and most basic type of air filter, fiberglass filters are the lowest rated ones on the MERV scale. They can capture and remove large dust particles, but things like mold, pollen, and other allergens remain in your air.

Pleated

Made of cotton fabric and folded into pleats like a curtain, these filters are designed to remove smaller particles from the air, such as dust mites and pet dander. The more pleats the filter has, the better airflow it allows through it, and the more efficiently your HVAC system can heat or cool your home.

Electrostatic

Rather than simply creating a barrier to trap allergens and contaminants, this one actually generates an electrostatic charge, which attracts contaminants to it. They stick to the filter, while the clean air passes through. Electrostatic filters can remove things like mold, mildew, bacteria, and even cigarette smoke, which makes them ideal for allergy and asthma sufferers.

HEPA

High Efficiency Particulate Air filters. Designed for medical uses and laboratory clean rooms, these filters can remove 99.97 percent of impurities from the air, down to 0.3 microns. That includes viruses, sea salt, milled flour, and more. Unfortunately, these filters are too thick to fit into a regular HVAC system without damaging it. If you want extra air protection, you'll need to invest in a separate air purifier for your home, that's designed for the HEPA filter.

Washable

There are two types of air filters that are washable. Some cloth filters can be washed regularly instead of replaced. More common, though, are washable electrostatic filters. Washable filters last three to five years, making them much more practical than the expensive disposable ones, which must be replaced every few months.

To learn more about different types of air filters, contact us at Air Assurance. We proudly serve all of Broken Arrow's HVAC needs.

Get the Facts About Indoor Air Pollution and How to Improve It

Most people are aware that poor air quality is detrimental to health. However, a recent survey showed that many Americans are unaware that indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air and that many common products and behaviors contribute to indoor air pollution. The following tips will help you improve your home’s air and safeguard your family against many pollutants.

Change Your Air Filter

At minimum, you should change your HVAC air filter every three months, whether it appears soiled or not. More than half of the people surveyed did not follow this recommendation. Consider your air filter as one of the most important lines of defense against dust, pollen and other common pollutants. In dusty environments or during times of increased system operation, such as winter and summer, it is often best to check air filters every month and replace if needed, especially if someone in the home suffers from allergies.

Maintain Good Ventilation

Proper ventilation in the home helps remove harmful gasses and other pollutants. Keep features such as gas stoves and fireplaces properly maintained and have all ventilation professionally assessed. Many homes benefit from whole house ventilation systems. Also, remember the importance of having carbon monoxide (CO) detectors installed in your home. CO is odorless and any fuel-burning device or appliance can emit it.

Avoid Adding Pollutants

You might be adding to indoor pollution in ways you do not expect. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed said they burned scented candles in the home. While this seems harmless, burning scented candles puts particles of soot into the air. Other ways you could be contributing to indoor pollution include using a lot of household cleaners and deodorizers or storing paint and other chemicals indoors.

Keep Things Clean

Clean the home often to keep dust levels down. Use high quality vacuum cleaners with great suction and HEPA filtration, damp mop floors and use dusting cloths that trap dust.

For more advice about indoor air pollution and keeping a healthy home environment, please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Avesun/Shutterstock”

Reduce Household Dust to Improve Your Home's Indoor Air Quality

Asthma and allergies are no laughing matter, and excess dust can severely exacerbate the suffering. If you've been looking for ways to reduce household dust in your greater Tulsa area home, we suggest that you start with these tips:

• Upgrade your vacuum. Good suction won't remove all the dust from your carpet. For the best results, you need to find a vacuum with a strong agitator (the brush that sweeps the carpet) and a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.

• Remove your carpet. Carpets hold a great deal of dust, and when you walk across them, that dust is sent back into the air. Switching to alternate flooring such as laminate, wood or tile will cut down on hidden dust and allow for easier cleaning, which is best accomplished with the use of a canister vacuum.

• Use a micro-fiber cloth. Feather dusters spread around more dust than they collect. When you dust your home, you should be using a micro-fiber cloth or, at the very least, a damp rag. This will capture the dust instead of stirring it up, where it can irritate your respiratory system.

• Get a new filter. Not all HVAC filters are designed to catch dust and other contaminants, so you may want to upgrade to one that does. The best kind to use is an electrostatic filter attached to your ductwork, but those are expensive. If in doubt, contact an industry professional for help in deciding the best type of filter.

• Clean the air. If you have carpets, the vacuum you're using—no matter how powerful or expensive—will whip up dust and send it into the air, before settling on a new surface. You can filter out some of this dust by turning your thermostat to its "fan" position. For maximum effect, leave the fan on for 15 minutes after you've finished cleaning.

For more advice on ways to reduce household dust, or if you have any other concerns related to home comfort, please contact the friendly professionals at Air Assurance. We've been serving the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding area since 1985.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Craig Wactor/Shutterstock”

Reduce Allergies in Your Home By Reducing Dust

Dust, dust mites and other allergens annoy all of us. For someone with asthma or other sensitivities, dust can trigger coughing, wheezing, stuffy nose, skin rash and more severe allergic reactions. You can reduce allergies in your Broken Arrow home by reducing the amount of dust that enters and collects inside your home.

Air Filters

By keeping windows closed and using your HVAC system, you reduce allergies by reducing the amount of contaminants that enter your home. Before air enters your living area it passes through the air filter. This filter traps pollen, pet hair and other pollutants. These particles collect on the filter surface and eventually will restrict air flow. With too much buildup, dust begins to break loose and enter your air. It is important to change air filters on a regular basis for them to perform effectively.

The more expensive, high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) do not necessarily last longer. They trap smaller particles and may need to be replaced more often. Not all HVAC systems are designed for these dense filters. Too much air restriction could result in system damage as well as air leaks and defeat the original intent of the filter. Consult with an HVAC technician before switching to HEPA filters. If reducing allergies is a major concern for you, you may benefit from a whole-house air purifier.

Cleaning

• Run a damp mop over hard surfaces each day.

• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Paper bag vacuum filters allow dust to re-enter the air.

• To further reduce allergies: Wet-vacuum and use a steamer when possible. Wet-vacuum cleaning washes the carpets and the heat from steam cleaning kills dust mites.

• Choose tight-weave pillow and mattress covers. They are easier to clean and dust is less likely to penetrate.

Contact Air Assurance for more information about protecting the air inside your home. We began serving the residential and commercial HVAC system needs of the Tulsa metropolitan area in 1985. Our experts will evaluate yours system and consult with you so that you can make informed decisions about maintaining your air quality and HVAC system.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Lots of Air Cleaners to Choose From: Let These Factors Guide You

Lots of Air Cleaners to Choose From: Let These Factors Guide You

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental health risks. Your ventilation system is typically used to introduce clean outside air into your home. However, when there are too many contaminants outdoors or the weather limits the effectiveness of your ventilation system, an air cleaner can help rid these pollutants from your home.Air cleaners, or air purifiers, are either built into your heating and air conditioning system, or are used as a portable device that treats an area or a room rather than your entire home. There are many machines available on the market, all of which tout being the best, so it's important to know what to look out for before making a purchase.Things to Look Out for in Air Cleaners

• HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters: Trap tiny airborne particles such as dust and pollen, and are considered the most effective filter available. They are made from fibers that are randomly arranged and employ a three-step process to do the job.

• CADR (clean air delivery rate): Using a numerical value, the CADR indicates how much air can be filtered and delivered from a portable machine, and the maximum amount of space it can treat. It also reveals how quickly it can get rid of pollen, dust and smoke. A higher number means it operates faster, but that number does not necessarily tell you how thoroughly it works.

• "Asthma and allergy friendly": Determines if a machine really works to lower the amount of allergens in the air rather than just redistribute them. This Asthma and Allergy Foundation certification is relatively new, and only a few air cleaners have been deemed worthy of the label thus far.

Please note: Some machines labeled as air purifiers produce ozone, a pleasant odor that's released into your air. Be aware that ozone is considered a harmful lung irritant.

Our team of expert contractors at Air Assurance have been serving the Greater Tulsa metropolitan area since 1985. Contact or visit us online for more trustworthy tips on air cleaners, and other related topics.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock