Do Furnace Filters Make a Difference for Allergies? - An Expert's Perspective

If you or someone in your household suffers from allergies or lung conditions such as emphysema or COPD, an air filter may be a helpful addition to your home. According to Dr. Paul Enright, research professor of medicine at the University of Arizona, air purification systems are just one of the environmental changes you can make to relieve symptoms. However, if you're a healthy person living in a relatively unpolluted environment, there's no need to spend that money. When it comes to dealing with allergies and asthma, there is no single solution.

Homeowners can take steps to reduce allergens in their homes without relying on drugs. One way to do this is by cleaning or replacing furnace filters at the start of the first cold snap of the year. This eliminates many winter allergies. High-quality air filters are effective at trapping dust, animal dander, and other particles before they enter the air. This is especially important during the winter months when outdoor allergens are eliminated by a hard freeze but indoor allergens remain.

To best capture environmental triggers for asthma and allergies, homeowners should look for filters with higher MERV ratings. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has established a minimum energy efficiency value (MERV) rating system for filters. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said that HEPA filters can remove up to 99.97% of dust, pollen and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. If you or a member of your family has asthma, installing filters with higher MERV ratings may be the solution. In addition to furnace filters, double-leaf window nets that filter pollen and dust are available from several online suppliers (search for “air filter screen for windows”). As part of a heating and cooling system or as part of an air purifier, the best air filters for asthma in your home are the ones that can trap problem allergens and keep them away from your loved ones. Remember that an air filter is just one tool among many methods you can use to reduce allergens in your home.

Get help with other strategies that don't involve drugs and learn how to relieve indoor allergies and asthma symptoms by simply updating your air conditioner or oven filter. As an expert in the field of air filtration systems, I recommend that homeowners take steps to reduce allergens in their homes by cleaning or replacing furnace filters at the start of the cold season. High-quality air filters with higher MERV ratings are effective at trapping dust, animal dander, and other particles before they enter the air. HEPA filters can remove up to 99.97% of dust, pollen and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. Double-leaf window nets that filter pollen and dust are also available from several online suppliers. By taking these steps, homeowners can reduce allergens in their homes without relying on drugs and help relieve indoor allergies and asthma symptoms.

It is important to remember that an air filter is just one tool among many methods you can use to reduce allergens in your home.

Henrietta Puskarich
Henrietta Puskarich

Amateur twitter trailblazer. Hipster-friendly bacon evangelist. Award-winning bacon evangelist. Infuriatingly humble bacon scholar. Incurable web aficionado.

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