Everyone hates a runny nose or a sore throat.
Luckily, by investing in an air purifier, you can avoid those nasty symptoms.
When Boise homeowners ask us which type of air filter to get, we usually recommend a whole-house air purifier for the best allergy and hay fever relief.
You can buy a portable air purifier, but a whole-home purification system will filter airborne contaminants and allergens from your entire home—not just one room or area.
In this blog we’ll go into 3 types of whole-home air purifier options, which are:
- A high-MERV filter
- UV light (germicidal) lamps
- Whole-home humidifier
Want a whole-home air purifier recommendation from Boise pro?
Option #1: A high-MERV air filter
Every central heating and cooling system has an air filter that prevents dust and debris from circulating throughout your home.
The effectiveness of an air filter is measured by its MERV rating. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. The higher the rating (1–16), the more efficient the filter is at removing allergens from your home.
To combat allergies, we recommend getting a MERV filter with a rating of 5 or higher. While low-MERV filters (1–4) can catch some allergy irritants like pollen, MERV 5+ filters can catch even smaller particles that aggravate allergies such as:
- Mold spores
- Dog and cat dander
- Microscopic dust mites
Note: For superior air quality, you can get a high-MERV filter (12+). If you opt for a high-MERV filter, you’ll likely need a professional to make some modifications to your HVAC system since these filters are much thicker than standard, low-MERV filters.
We offer MERV 15 filters, which capture up to 95% of airborne particles. These filters are also capable of removing bacteria and tobacco smoke.
Option #2: UV light (germicidal) lamps
UV germicidal lamps are installed in your AC system, near your cooling (evaporator) coil.
At the evaporator coil, your system removes moisture from warm air. The coil is located in a cool, damp place, which makes it a potential breeding ground for mold. If left unchecked, mold spores can be circulated into the air you breathe, aggravating your allergies.
Germicidal lamps use UV light to kill microbial contaminants, including mold spores, bacteria and fungi. However, since UV lamps only sterilize these contaminants (instead of removing them from the air completely), they are not very effective at eliminating pet dander and some types of pollen.
We usually recommend pairing a germicidal lamp with a high-MERV filter to remove all airborne allergy particles in your home.
Note: We also offer a cold plasma generator (another type of air purifier) that works well with a UV germicidal lamp. A plasma generator is installed in your ductwork near the air handler to eliminate mold, bacteria and other airborne pollutants.
Option #3: Whole-home humidifier
Here in Boise, the air can be very dry, especially during the fall and winter seasons. Unfortunately, that dry air aggravates allergy, asthma and eczema symptoms.
That’s why we recommend installing a whole-home humidifier. Adding the right amount of moisture to the air can soothe sinus passages, which relieves some of the painful symptoms caused by hay fever and seasonal allergies.
Whole-home humidifiers come in 2 different types:
- Bypass humidifier: A bypass humidifier is installed in your ductwork, typically on the return air duct. This type of humidifier will only work while your furnace is running.
- Fan-powered humidifier: This type of whole-home humidifier has a built-in fan, which means it can operate even while your furnace is turned off. These humidifiers do not need to be installed in your ductwork, which makes them ideal for homes where there is limited space near the return duct.
After inspecting your ductwork and available space, a professional can help you determine which type of humidifier will work best for you.
Want a whole-home air purifier? Contact a Boise air expert
We can recommend which option is best for your home, based on your allergy needs and budget.
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