Top 5 Benefits of Using an Air Filtration System for Your Home

Air quality is an environmental metric that the media is rightly paying more attention to. A recent study found that air pollution is responsible for upwards of 100,000 deaths in the United States every year, as fine particulate matter is a causal factor of respiratory disease, heart attack, and stroke. Polluted air also contributes to dizziness, headaches, chest pain, fatigue, poor sleep, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.

Particularly concerning is that indoor air quality is not any better than outdoor air quality on average. In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that indoor air quality is often substantially worse. This is largely due to poor ventilation and the subsequent accumulation of contaminants indoors.

What can be done? While we may not be able to control the quality of the air outside, we can take steps to improve the air quality within our homes. A good air filtration system for home use is remarkably efficient.

In this article, we’ll review some common airborne contaminants and explain how a home air purification system works. We’ll also enumerate the most noteworthy benefits of an air purifier.

Causes of Poor Air Quality

Outdoor air pollution is caused by a variety of human activities, though some natural processes contribute to poor air quality as well. The biggest culprits are:

• Car, bus, truck, train, and plane emissions
• Industrial emissions from factories and refineries
• Exhaust from powerplants that burn fossil fuels
• Byproducts of mining operations
• Agricultural chemicals and pesticides
• Smoke from wildfires
• Volcanic gases and ash
• Ultrafine dirt and dust
• Emissions from construction equipment
• Smoke from controlled burning of waste

Clearly, the causes of air pollution are numerous. Considered together, their effects are compounded, and pressure systems and weather patterns cause especially high concentrations of contaminants in localized areas.

These microscopic contaminants permeate homes and buildings, where there are additional pollutants. According to the EPA, the most significant causes of indoor air pollution are:

• Appliances that burn fuel, such as oil burners
• Building materials—such as flooring, pressed wood, upholstery, carpeting, and insulation—that release gases or fine particles into the air
• Household cleaning products
• Personal and hobby materials, such as nail polish and paint
• Radon
• Tobacco smoke
• Pollen, soot, and mold spores
• Fireplaces and chimneys

In reasonable doses, many of these contaminants have a negligible effect on human health. The problem is that poor indoor ventilation allows gases and fine particulate matter to concentrate to unhealthy levels. An adequate filtration system is required to remove some of these pollutants from the air.

How Does a House Air Filtration System Work?

There are a few different kinds of air filtration systems. These systems generally use a fan to direct the flow of air, but there is variety in the mechanisms they use to purify the air once inside the system or appliance.

One very common type is the panel filter. This indoor air filter can be flat or pleated, much like the filters installed in automobiles. It traps dust and soot effectively, but microparticles and gases can pass right through.

Sometimes, panel filters are stacked together to create extended filters. These are a bit more effective and require less frequent replacement, but they’re still ineffective against gases and ultrafine contaminants.

Electronic filters are more expensive than traditional media filters, but they are much more efficient. Electronic filters leverage an electrical charge to attract microparticles much like a magnet attracts metal.

There are also UV filters that are especially effective against biological contaminants, such as bacteria and viruses. They use ultraviolet light to neutralize pathogens, and for this reason are quite common in hospitals.

Panel filters and electronic filters are common mechanisms in freestanding air filtration units. Manufacturers use all mechanisms in built-in units that can be integrated into a home’s HVAC system.

5 Primary Benefits of Air Filtration Systems

Now that we know what’s polluting our air and how air filtration systems operate, let’s review the most important benefits of a quality air purifier.

1. Removal of airborne allergens and pathogens.

More than half of Americans report being bothered by allergies. For millions of people, airborne allergens are a perennial nuisance, and even people without allergies can be irritated by excess pollen, dander, mold spores, and dust. A good air purifier will remove these allergens from the air.

Some filters can also eliminate airborne bacteria and viruses. In other words, a good indoor filter can mean fewer colds and other contagious illnesses.

2. Elimination of harmful gases and chemicals.

As outlined above, countless materials common around the home can release gases, chemicals, and other irritants. Radon is also unfortunately common, and the EPA estimates radon to be the primary cause of lung cancer in the nonsmoking population. Air filters can wick these pollutants from the air so they don’t wind up in your lungs.

3. Asthma and respiratory relief.

Poor air quality exacerbates the symptoms of people with asthma and respiratory diseases. A good filtration system produces cleaner air, allowing sensitive groups to breathe more easily.

4. Neutralization of undesirable odors.

While air filtration systems benefit your health, there are also quality of life improvements to consider. A quality filter can quickly eliminate unwanted odors and cooking aromas, so your home will always smell fresh and clean.

5. Sleep improvement.

Air purifiers have been shown to improve sleep quality. The elimination of airborne irritants means less coughing and throat clearing throughout the night.

Breathe Easily with a Home Warranty

If your air filter is integrated into your home, your HVAC system is your first line of defense against air pollution. You can ensure that it continues to operate smoothly with an HVAC home warranty. Liberty Home Guard’s System Guard and Total Home Guard plans include HVAC coverage. Call us at (866)-834-5570 and we’ll talk you through everything from ductwork repair to home warranty AC replacement. Our plans will take your breath away—in a good way.