Have you noticed an increase in allergies in your home? Sneezing and nasal congestion, aggravated by many harmful airborne particles can turn your home into a zone of discomfort very quickly.
The never-ending cycle of poor indoor air quality and microparticles doesn’t just affect your well-being but it can also impact your mental health and cognitive function. This can include issues with sleep, an ability to concentrate, fatigue, and even depression.
But rest assured, brighter days are ahead! Use this guide when looking for the best air filter for your home.
What to Consider when Buying Air Filters
When it comes to selecting the right air filter, it’s essential to consider your specific needs. Every detail plays an important role in ensuring that your filter is working it’s hardest to deliver clean air to you. Let’s dive into specifics.
These are more versatile, making them ideal for bedrooms, home offices, or any other congested areas. It’s important to ensure that the filter’s airflow capacity matches the size of the room to prevent straining the system or reducing filtration effectiveness.
Type of Living Space
Consider the various parts of your home and the activities you and your family love to do, as each area will have unique air quality conditions. Low-traffic areas such as the bedroom can accumulate allergens like dust and pet dander. Whereas high-traffic areas such as the living room can experience a higher concentration of airborne particles due to increased movement and foot traffic. Additionally, kitchens and bathrooms are prone to elevated humidity levels, leading to mold and mildew growth.Size of Living Space
It is important to also consider the square footage of the area you intend to filter. In spacious areas, air pollutants may spread more widely, requiring air filters with higher airflow capacities to effectively circulate the air. On the other hand, smaller areas may only require compact sized air filters that offer targeted filtration.These are more versatile, making them ideal for bedrooms, home offices, or any other congested areas. It’s important to ensure that the filter’s airflow capacity matches the size of the room to prevent straining the system or reducing filtration effectiveness.
What Allergens are Lurking
Testing for specific allergens in your home can help identify potential triggers for allergies, guiding you to choose the best AC filter for a more hygienic living environment. It’s recommended to get an allergen test kit from your local home improvement store or to take a test with an allergist. The results can determine if you are allergic to dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and mold as well as if you have certain food allergies. These kits might require you to collect samples from various surfaces or test the air itself using adhesive tapes or swabs.Your Indoor Air Quality
Your indoor air quality (IAQ) is the status of air quality within your home. It plays a role in maintaining the well-being of both you and your loved ones, even though its impact may go unnoticed. Understanding the importance of IAQ is a big step towards creating a healthier living environment within your home.
The composition of air in your household also includes the unwanted presence of harmful allergens and pollutants. These can vary broadly in nature and appearance. Despite being hard to see, these airborne particles can have physical effects by triggering allergies, causing asthma attacks, and other respiratory complications.
Allergens can create undesirable reactions for those who are susceptible. Common symptoms are sneezing, coughing, itching, and nasal congestion. Indoor allergens that cause these disappointing effects are dust mites, mold spores, pollen, and pet dander. For those who are allergy-prone, being in contact with these substances may result in intrusive allergic reactions.
Also, indoor air contains an array of pollutants that can threaten your overall health. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are examples of these, which are gases emitted from common household cleaning products. Similarly, tobacco smoke contains numerous harsh chemicals that can linger in the air long after a person has stopped smoking. This also possesses risks to non-smokers who might be in the vicinity.
The composition of air in your household also includes the unwanted presence of harmful allergens and pollutants. These can vary broadly in nature and appearance. Despite being hard to see, these airborne particles can have physical effects by triggering allergies, causing asthma attacks, and other respiratory complications.
Allergens can create undesirable reactions for those who are susceptible. Common symptoms are sneezing, coughing, itching, and nasal congestion. Indoor allergens that cause these disappointing effects are dust mites, mold spores, pollen, and pet dander. For those who are allergy-prone, being in contact with these substances may result in intrusive allergic reactions.
Also, indoor air contains an array of pollutants that can threaten your overall health. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are examples of these, which are gases emitted from common household cleaning products. Similarly, tobacco smoke contains numerous harsh chemicals that can linger in the air long after a person has stopped smoking. This also possesses risks to non-smokers who might be in the vicinity.
What is a MERV Rating?
The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) is a measure for an air filter’s ability to capture airborne particles. Understanding an air filter MERV rating is crucial when choosing the best air filter for your home, as it directly impacts how well the filter can improve IAQ .
The MERV scale ranges from 1 to 20, with the higher ratings indicating better filtration efficiency. Generally, household air filtration systems only use filters with ratings up to 13. They are as follows:
• MERV ratings 1 – 4: Provides basic filtration and captures larger particles such as dust and pollen. These are beneficial for environments where airborne contaminants are minimal.
• MERV ratings 5 – 8: Provides filtration for airborne mold spores and pet dander. Generally, the go-to for people who have furry pets at home.
• MERV ratings 9 – 13: Filters in this range provide even greater filtration efficiency, capturing finer particles including smoke, bacteria, and some viruses. They are also effective at trapping particles released from activities such as sneezing or coughing.
When choosing the best air filters for your home, it’s important to think about what your IAQ needs are and what allergens or pollutants might be present in your home. This corresponds to what you would look for in finding a suitable air filter. While a higher MERV rating might seem like the way to go, it’s important to find a balance between how it filters and how much airflow it allows.
Filters with higher ratings can slow down airflow more than ones with lower ratings. This can strain your HVAC system and lower its lifespan.
The MERV scale ranges from 1 to 20, with the higher ratings indicating better filtration efficiency. Generally, household air filtration systems only use filters with ratings up to 13. They are as follows:
• MERV ratings 1 – 4: Provides basic filtration and captures larger particles such as dust and pollen. These are beneficial for environments where airborne contaminants are minimal.
• MERV ratings 5 – 8: Provides filtration for airborne mold spores and pet dander. Generally, the go-to for people who have furry pets at home.
• MERV ratings 9 – 13: Filters in this range provide even greater filtration efficiency, capturing finer particles including smoke, bacteria, and some viruses. They are also effective at trapping particles released from activities such as sneezing or coughing.
When choosing the best air filters for your home, it’s important to think about what your IAQ needs are and what allergens or pollutants might be present in your home. This corresponds to what you would look for in finding a suitable air filter. While a higher MERV rating might seem like the way to go, it’s important to find a balance between how it filters and how much airflow it allows.
Filters with higher ratings can slow down airflow more than ones with lower ratings. This can strain your HVAC system and lower its lifespan.
Allergens/Asthma Triggers
Many households deal with allergens that can range from mild-to-severe. In general, allergens can be found in dust mite debris, pollen, pet dander, mold, and more. This can lead to difficulty in breathing, digestive issues, and wheezing, among other issues. On the other hand, asthma triggers in the air can include smoke, mold, insects, pets, and more. Using an HVAC air filter in your home helps to provide you and your family with refreshing indoor air.Combustion Pollutants
Combustion pollutants are a range of gases that can fill the air in your home. This can come from smoking, natural gas, wood, carbon monoxide, and more. At high levels, carbon monoxide is incredibly dangerous, causing fatigue, concentration issues, headaches, and even brain damage. When these gases are present, it is crucial to use an air filter to remove these particles from the air.Mold
Mold is constantly growing! They thrive in warm and humid spaces where you will commonly see them in the bathroom, basements, and the kitchen. It is imperative to clean these areas and have an air filter installed to capture hard to see mold spores.Household Dust & Dust Mite Debris
Like mold, household dust and dust mite debris are also a part of everyday life. Cleaning is key; however, dust mites can acclimate in tiny cracks and not-so-obvious places that makes it challenging to catch. An air filter can help remove and capture household dust particles, helping you care for your air and protect your indoor air quality.Pet Dander
Our pets are an integral part of our families, but they also come with allergens such as pet dander. This dander can also carry dust mites and dead skin cells that can lead to many issues like difficulty breathing and watery eyes. An air filter can capture pet dander, creating comfortable air for the family.Air Filter Types
There are tons of air filters available on the market, so understanding the various types of filters and their features is essential to finding the best filter for your home and family. Let’s look at each filter type’s characteristics as well as their strengths and limitations.
What Do Air Filters Capture?
Kleenex offers a selection of electrostatically charged hvac furnace air filters tailored to capture a range of air particles. This includes
household dust, pet dander, allergens, mold, and much more. Read on to find out which option is the best filter for your home.
Best Air Filters that Care for Your Health
Kleenex Allergen Air Filter (MERV 8)
The Kleenex Allergen Air Filter boasts a MERV 8 rating, indicating its efficiency in trapping and capturing airborne particles. This filter is engineered to filter common hard-to-see allergens, including lint, household dust, dust mite debris, smog, and pollen. By trapping these particles, it helps reduce allergens that circulate in your household air, promoting a fresher and healthier indoor environment.
Kleenex Advanced Allergen Air Filter (MERV 11)
With an air filter MERV 11 rating, the Kleenex Advanced Allergen Air Filter offers enhanced filtration performance, specifically targeting allergens like pet dander, dust mite debris, and smog. Goodbye to sniffles and watery eyes; this advanced filter helps you protect your home and family with clean air. Carry on with things you love indoors like snuggling with your furry companions. It is specifically designed to capture finer particles, equipped with advanced allergen protection, and clean indoor air quality for everyday life.
Kleenex Elite Allergen Air Filter (MERV 12)
The Kleenex Elite Allergen Air Filter raises the bar with a MERV 12 rating. It’s designed to trap a wide range of allergens and airborne particles such as cough/sneeze debris, airborne bacteria, and virus-carrying particles. This filter is Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly (Meets Certification Standards for Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America). Making it easier for you to care for your air. This air filter helps create a cleaner and healthier environment, protecting your home and family.
Kleenex Elite Allergen Air Filter (MERV 13)
With an even higher MERV 13 rating, the Kleenex Elite Allergen Air Filter sets a standard in air filtration. Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly (Meets Certification Standards for Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America), this filter excels in capturing and holding dust. Patented Dual Air Flow technology enables this filter to be installed in HVAC either direction. This elite allergen protection makes it easy to deep clean your indoor air.Find Kleenex Air Filters at a retailer near you.
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