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In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to take some time to explain what air filters can and cannot do for you. There’s been a lot of confusion and misinformation out there concerning the disease. Many people are taking advantage of this to peddle fake treatments. Some are even telling people false claims regarding air filtration systems and given that that is our area of expertise, we decided to debunk the myths for our friends and customers.
The number one most important thing you can do is listen to scientific authorities. Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are constantly updating their sites with new information concerning the COVID-19 crisis. Their recommendations regarding social distancing and hygiene are vitally important for everyone to follow in order to protect vulnerable populations in our society.
What Air Filters Can Do For Your Indoor Air Quality?
Air filters can trap a variety of pollutants in order to keep your air healthy. However, no air filter can reliably trap coronavirus from the air. Viruses are extremely small, less than 1 micron. Even the most discerning of filters cannot trap something that tiny.
However, they can catch a lot of common air pollutants! Some of the higher MERV rating filters can even catch cigarette smoke particles and bacteria. That does a lot to make your air healthier, even if it can’t catch microscopic viruses.
Besides, the most likely vector of transmission for this virus is through physical contact with an infected person or from droplets on a surface. An air filter won’t do anything to stop those.
How Do Air Filters Work?
There are two main types of air filters. The most common one is called HEPA. These filters utilize the same basic concepts as many of the filters you may be accustomed to in normal life. However, instead of a thin piece of paper filtering coffee grounds, its a few inches of tiny fiberglass particles woven together to filter the air of particulates.
The other main one is typically found in a more personal size and that one is UV. This uses ultraviolet light, hence the name. This form of light has disinfectant properties that can even kill bacteria and viruses. Hospitals have used the technology for a few years, but now it’s seeing some use in normal residences.
“Healthy Air” and What it Means for You
There’s still a lot a proper air filtration system can do for your respiratory health! Pollution contributes to millions of deaths every year. WHO estimates that 90% of the people in the world regularly breathe polluted air. Unfortunately, just going inside doesn’t mean you’re suddenly breathing pollutant-free air. Though, in your home, you do have the control to make it more like that with the right system.
Are Air Filters the Only Way?
Air filters are the line of defense you need every day. You should be using them and replacing them every month or two. However, they just can’t catch everything. Unfortunately, gunk and grime accumulate in your air ducts over the years. This forces your air filters to work harder and ultimately, leads to declining levels in indoor air quality.
Luckily, we can clean out your air ducts for you. That means fewer airborne irritants for your allergens. It also means pleasant, fresher smelling air for your entire home. Lastly, the cleanliness of your air impacts the cleanliness of your entire home. Dust is often brought in through vents before it settles on your household furniture.
Overall, our advice is to be skeptical of any product that claims to fully protect you from the coronavirus. The only way to do that is to follow the instructions and precautions laid out by the CDC and WHO
Be skeptical of any product that claims to cure coronavirus or protect you from it. The best way to do that is to follow CDC and WHO instructions and implementing social distancing. That being said, healthier cleaner air can only help boost your immune system. In the same way that someone with asthma can have worse symptoms if they’re in a smoke-filled room, you may experience worse respiratory health if you have poor indoor air quality.
Call us at (818) 275-5556 or fill out an online contact form to schedule your appointment today. Our HVAC experts take the utmost precautions when servicing your home.