Is An Air Filtration System Right For Your Home? An HVAC Expert Weighs In

Did you know that dangerous pollutants might be living in your home's ductwork? Dander, dust, airborne viruses, and even mold spores can cause serious health problems. Some, such as allergies and asthma symptoms, are relatively easy to treat while others, such as lung conditions and cancers, can be fatal. There are simple things you can do to improve the air quality in your home, including dusting frequently or running an air purifier. But, if you're plagued by visible dust, unpleasant odors, or mold you can't get rid of, one heating, ventilation, and air conditioning expert says you should strongly consider an air filtration system.

"All homes with a central HVAC system should be using some form of filtration," according to Richie Drew, VP of Operations at One Hour Heating and AC. In his exclusive interview with House Digest, Drew said picking the right air filter is crucial. "Ensuring that the air filter you choose does not restrict the air flow too much is important. The system needs to be able to pull in the proper amount of air to maintain the proper static pressure and ultimately the proper comfort level in your home," he explained. "There are filters that also act as air cleaners that can not only capture airborne particulate matter but they can even help eliminate odors," he added.

Understanding how air filters work can help you pick the right one for your system. In his exclusive interview with House Digest, Richie Drew explained the basics. "Air filters are placed at the opening of the duct system called the 'return air side'. When the blower is running it pushes air through the duct work into the 'supply air side' and pulls air through the 'return air side.'" The HVAC expert said picking the right size filter is critical to balancing out this airflow exchange. "Too little return air or restricted return air can cause airflow and comfort issues," he said. The filter then captures unwanted particles before allowing air to pass through to the coils that cool it. "The filter's job is to keep the coil clean as long as possible," Drew told us. "As the filter loads up with debris it becomes less efficient and must be replaced." It's important to remember that air filters need to be cleaned or changed on a regular basis.

"There are several different kinds of filters to consider," Drew said. He described standard fiberglass models as "throw away filters," cautioning that they offer the bare minimum in terms of filtration. The HVAC expert prefers high-efficiency 5-inch media filters. "These are a great choice if you have multiple return grilles on one system or if you have high ceilings where climbing a ladder to change filters frequently could be an issue," he explained. Drew added that high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are "a good add on option."

According to Richie Drew, choosing the right air filtration system for your home depends on several different factors. In his exclusive interview with House Digest, the HVAC expert says you need to consider your home's size, specific allergen concerns, and maintenance requirements. "Larger homes may have multiple systems and multiple returns per system so the media filters would be more economical and require less maintenance," he explained. We also wanted to know how much you can expect to pay to install an air purifier in your HVAC system. "Prices vary widely from basic units to whole house solutions for air cleaning and filtration," Drew said, adding that you also need to consider ongoing maintenance and filter replacement costs before making your selection.

Drew recommended choosing systems with ultraviolet sterilization units, or "air scrubbers," if you or a loved one suffers from severe allergies, explaining they "are installed in the duct system after the filter to destroy [volatile organic compound] gases, odors, bacteria, and even viruses from the air stream." Drew said another option you may want to consider is an ionizer. He's not alone in that assessment; one study (via the National Library of Medicine) indicates that negative air ions relieve allergy symptoms, decrease stress, regulate sleep, and improve mood. According to the HVAC expert, "These products do not replace the filtration system, but rather work in conjunction with them to turn your HVAC system into an air cleaning machine."