Air Conditioner Filters and Allergens

Air conditioner filters have a huge effect on the amount of allergens we come into contact with on a daily basis. Allergens are a serious problem for many Americans. Some experience seasonal allergies, but for many others, allergies are a serious and debilitating problem with consequences that last the whole year round. Many people attribute their allergens to outdoor causes, like animals, plants, or smog, but those people fail to realize that the air inside our homes is significantly more polluted than the air outside. It’s really a frightening thought.

In the fight against allergens in our homes, air conditioner filters are really our first, last, best, and only defense. They cycle the air that we breathe, and can be responsible for either stopping allergens in their tracks, or propagating them throughout an environment. There are many different filters which can help keep the allergens at bay, including fiberglass panel filters, HEPA air filters, activated carbon air filters, pleated air filters, electrostatic air filters, and pre-cut media air filter pads. Each of these systems is different, and provides varying degrees of relief for different situations. It’s surprising when you stop and look just how many varieties there really are! It can be overwhelming.

When buying air conditioner filters, keep in mind that there can be a large degree of variety between the measurements of different systems. So when you are shopping you may not find a filter that matches exactly the dimensions of the filter you are trying to replace. Keep in mind that this is not the end of the world, just choose the most appropriately sized air filter that you can. Find the largest size that will still fit inside the unit.

While the cheap, pleated, disposable air filters are definitely the most popular, these also come with a few caveats. Be mindful that because they are inexpensive, they require slightly more attention than some other filters. If you do not change it as often as you should, it can actually break down within the system, causing damage that is very costly to repair. I realize that with all that we have to do in our daily lives, changing our air conditioner filters as often as we should seems like a daunting task. But it’s unfortunately one that we must perform.

I hope this post has given you some additional insight into how to make educated choices to help reduce allergens in your home. Thanks, and please keep reading my air conditioner filters blog!