Transforming Air Quality: HVAC Filtration Innovations
Just because you’re indoors doesn’t mean you’ve escaped the dangers of air pollution. In fact, the air quality in your home may face hazards you won’t encounter outdoors. If you want to improve indoor air quality—whether for health reasons or out of a desire for greater comfort—consider adding or upgrading your HVAC system’s air filtration qualities and capabilities.
Several modern innovations have emerged to help the air in your home stay clean and clear of irritants, pollutants, particulates, and more. Here are a few HVAC filtration innovations that transform air quality in your home.
Understanding HVAC Filtration Systems
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems do more than just keep your residence warm or cool. Some are rigged with filtration systems that keep the air in your home clear of dust, allergens, pollen, mold, bacteria, and more. Basic filters are fine and do much of the work mentioned already, but it’s always worth considering an upgrade.
Here are a few recent advances (as well as some familiar standbys) in filtration technology to consider adding to your current HVAC system.
Filters: From Basic to Advanced
HVAC filters come in a variety of styles. Here’s a rundown of each kind in order of effectiveness, cost, and other qualities.
Fiberglass Filters
This is the typical filter for the average HVAC system. While the most affordable, you get what you pay for with a fiberglass filter. The fiberglass material traps dust and other particles, but these basic filters fail to capture smaller matter, allowing particulates into the system while also permitting them to be redistributed through the home.
Pleated Filters
These are a step up. The pleated material is often cotton or polyester, which permits better air filtering. Pleated filters also have different levels of efficiency, so depending on how much you spend, the quality of the filtration increases or decreases.
HEPA Filters
HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air. These filters cost a bit more money but are excellent at capturing up to 99.97 percent of floating particles present in the air. For those who are serious about keeping the air in their home cleaner, HEPA filters are an excellent choice.
Activated Carbon Filters
Homeowners who want offensive odors, dust, and other particulates eliminated from the air should choose an activated charcoal filter. These filters eliminate foul smells and certain gases. Again, this type of filter is an item that demands a higher price but delivers more value as well.
Electrostatic Filters
A different approach to the other, more passive filter types, electrostatic filters use static electricity to attract many of the abovementioned nasty particles. As a bonus, due to their construction, many kinds of electrostatic filters are easy to clean and completely reusable.
Which filter type is right for you? That’s a question to discuss with your HVAC supplier or technician.
Mini Split Systems
Mini-splits are an alternative HVAC system offering a slew of benefits, especially when it comes to air filtration. These systems permit a more tailored approach to heating, cooling, and filtration, addressing specific needs and room requirements that other HVAC systems can’t. Mini-splits accommodate the following groundbreaking innovations. Review these features to determine which HVAC system best suits your needs.
Smart Air Filtration
How smart is your HVAC system? It might not be as smart as a mini-split equipped with smart air filtration. Smart air filtration allows the system to connect to a home’s Wi-Fi and use sensors to monitor the air quality, detecting dust, particulates, mold, and more. These filters can immediately adjust the level of filtration efficiency in response. You can control smart air filtration through an app or similar device, even when away from home, allowing you to keep your home fresh and clean anytime, anywhere.
UV-C Light Technology
Let there be light—ultraviolet (UV) light, to be specific. UV light has long been used to keep parts clean when it comes to killing bacteria, viruses, and similar organic breathing hazards. Many HVAC systems feature UV-C light tech to keep coils, ductwork, and other parts of the machine free from germs and other illness-inducing bacteria.
Nanofiber Filters
A relative newcomer to the filtration game, nanofibers are made from various polymers and other substances. These filters create an exceedingly dense web and provide an electrostatic charge that can catch particles as tiny as 0.1 microns. That sort of protection provides clearer air.
Other Benefits of Upgrading HVAC Filtration
Clean, clear air isn’t the only big benefit of upgrading your HVAC’s filtration capabilities. Read on to discover what else this change can do for you and your home.
Energy Efficiency
Better filters mean better-running HVAC systems that use less energy overall. And that means lower utility bills and a longer-lasting system that doesn’t require replacement or repair.
Cost Savings
Further cost savings emerge the more you invest in quality filters. Top-of-the-line filters need to be replaced less often so that the upfront cost quickly pays for itself over time.
Health Benefits
Great filters mean fewer breathing issues, less illness in your home, and better quality of life for those with chronic or ongoing respiratory diseases. These benefits translate into fewer missed days at work or play, fewer visits to the doctor, and improved health and well-being that leads to a better quality of life.
Those are just a few thoughts on transforming air quality through HVAC filtration innovations. HVAC filtration offers many benefits to your home and health, so it only makes sense to upgrade. Do you have questions about transforming your home’s air quality with HVAC filtration? Consider exploring options from trusted mini split manufacturers like Pioneer Mini Split. We offer a range of solutions to fit your home and health needs. Take the first step toward healthier living today and contact us for a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you and pairing you up with the proper filtration solution!
