If you have bad allergies, you know how much they can disrupt your life. Preventing dust allergies is often one of your main goals—dust is everywhere and it seems to never go away. Use HEPA filters in your HVAC system clean your air and reduce the allergens that are floating around the home. In addition to dust, these filters also remove other small particles such as pet dander, pollen and mold spores.
HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air, filters are mechanical filters. They contain a fine mesh and force air through it. The mesh is the filter component, and it traps all of the impurities in the air so that they do not go back out into your home. This includes pulling dust and other small particulates out of the air and trapping it in the filter.
Choosing the Right HEPA Filter
The majority of air purification systems today use a HEPA filter. You can place an air purification system in the rooms in your home where you spend the most time. Ideally, you want to at least place a filtering system in your bedroom and your living room or family room. These rooms also tend to be most prone to dust because there is a lot of cloth furniture, as well as curtains and rugs used to furnish and decorate these rooms. Make sure that you replace the filter on a regular basis so that it is constantly working to trap and remove dust and other particles from the air. If you don’t replace your filter regularly, it can get overloaded with particulates and stop working properly.
Further Tips for Preventing Dust Allergies
Using a HEPA filter helps a lot, but this is not the only thing that you need to do to keep your house free from dust. For example, your curtains, drapes, and rugs tend to attract dust and trap it. This means that any time you step on a rug or move those curtains or drapes, you are releasing dust into the air. Use the following tips in addition to your HEPA filter to ensure the cleanest air possible:
• Vacuum your home on a regular basis
• Consider getting rid of carpeting and unnecessary rugs
• Bathe your pets or consider a pet that has low dander
• Frequently change your bedding and make sure that you use hot water to launder it
• Use furnace filters that are high-efficiency
• Cover your pillows and mattresses in plastic covers since these do not hold onto dust and other allergy-causing particles
• Consider using plastic or wood shades instead of drapes or curtains to make dust easier to remove
If you have allergies or breathing difficulties, a HEPA filter can help make your home safer and more comfortable. Aside from preventing dust-related allergies, a HEPA filter also improves the overall air quality in your home so that you can enjoy a cleaner, fresher space.