Your HVAC system heats and cools your home by circulating air. The air temperature is controlled in a furnace or AC, then circulated throughout your house until it gets warmer or cooler, whereupon it is pulled back in and the process starts all over. Your HVAC system doesn't care what's in the air that it uses, but you and your family do. If your Olathe heating and cooling system is carrying mold spores, allergens, dust, or other debris, they can be distributed throughout your house and into the air you breathe. That's why changing the air filters in your HVAC system is so vital, and why you should make sure that you change your filters as often as once a month.

Home air quality is important, especially during the winter here in Olathe, when most of us spend a lot of time stuck inside and we're not likely to have windows open to circulate a little fresh air. Plus, since we're in the midst of cold and flu season, we don't want a lot of germs being distributed around the house by our heating and cooling system. Hospitals use high-tech electronic air scrubbers to help prevent the spread of illness, but you can help your own family in the same way by making sure that air filters are changed regularly, or by installing an electronic air cleaner to help mitigate the spread of airborne disease.

Air Filters 101

Home air filters are rated based on how many particles they filter out of the air. One of the most common measurements is the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV. The higher the number, the better the filtration. But higher numbers aren't always best, since a filter that filters too much can force your HVAC system to work harder than it needs to, decreasing air flow or even burning out the engine.

The most important thing to remember is to change your filter regularly. With most HVAC systems, you simply pull out the old filter and slide in a replacement. Most filters have arrows printed on the sides that show you which way to point them—the arrows should line up with the direction of the airflow. If you have trouble remembering to change your filters, try writing the date on the side of the filter, or set up a reminder on your smartphone or digital assistant.

How they Help Maintain Good Home Air Quality

You may not think too much about the air in your house being dirty, but the Environmental Protection Agency has actually estimated that indoor air is more hazardous to our health than outside air. Considering that most of us spend a lot more time indoors than out, especially in the winter, that can become a big problem.

Here in Olathe, the biggest threats to indoor air quality include pollen, airborne dust, pet dander, and mold particles. While pollen may not be a big concern during the winter, the cold and flu season also brings with it the added dangers of airborne diseases. Fortunately, regularly replacing your air filter can have a major impact on air quality in the home, while investing in an electronic air cleaner can do even more, helping to filter out microscopic contaminants such as smoke or dust.

 

Upgrading Your Tech: Electronic Air Cleaners

Most of the time, your Olathe heating and cooling system does a pretty good job of keeping the worst allergens and other contaminates out of your air, as long as you keep your air filter changed on the regular. But if you're really serious about improving the quality of your indoor air, and especially about protecting your family against microscopic particles or airborne pathogens, you may want to invest in an electronic air cleaner.

Electronic air cleaners supplement your HVAC system in order to produce cleaner, healthier air, which they do by removing more airborne particles than even the best air filter can manage, including particles as small as 1 micron. This can help relieve the symptoms of asthma, allergies, and hay fever, not to mention making the air smell fresher and keeping carpets, drapes, and other furniture cleaner longer by preventing the buildup of dust and other particles.

How does an electronic air cleaner work? While air filters are simply that—filters that catch small particles that might otherwise pass through the air—an electronic air cleaner captures particles by imbuing them with a small static charge. This is why they can filter out contaminants that might otherwise get through a normal air filter. 

Brands, Models, and Installation

Here in Olathe, Davenport Service Company recommends two major brands of electronic air cleaner: the Lennox PureAir Electronic Air Cleaner and the Honeywell F300. Each is well suited to filtering out the allergens and other contaminants that we contend with on a daily basis in Olathe, while also being energy-efficient, environmentally sound, and a good addition to your Olathe heating and cooling system.

The Lennox PureAir Electronic Air Cleaner addresses airborne particles, germs and bacteria, and chemical odors throughout your home. In fact, it can filter out 99.9% of particulate matter like pet dander, pollen, or dust, 90% of airborne viruses, and around 50% of household odors and chemical vapors.

The Honeywell F300 Electronic Air Cleaner has been an affordable and sustainable solution for Olathe homeowners for years now, capturing 99% of airborne particles through a three-stage filtration process, with no need for replacement filters and a 10-Year Clean Coil Guarantee.

Not sure how one of these electronic air cleaners can be added to your home? While you may need some minor fabrication on the ductwork to connect an electronic air cleaner to an older model furnace, almost any Olathe heating and cooling system can be fitted with these new electronic air cleaners. 

Breathe Easy at Home

Everyone wants clean air in their home as well as lower energy bills, but while standard HVAC system filters have gotten really good at removing potentially harmful particulate matter from the air in your home, your standard Olathe heating and cooling system wasn't designed to push airflow through a super dense, high-performance filter. That means extra drag on the blower motor, which can lead to higher energy bills and extra wear and tear on your HVAC system. So why not ask Davenport Service Company about adding an electronic air cleaner to your home, and see what kind of difference it could make to your air quality and your energy bills? Just call Davenport Service Company at 913-441-2222 to learn more or get an estimate!