a snack and drink on a coffee table

Everything You Need to Know about HEPA Air Filtration Systems for Your Home

Unless you happen to work outdoors, you probably spend the majority of your time indoors throughout the year. Whether you’re at home or at the office, the quality of the air you breathe indoors can get stale pretty quickly and this can have potentially serious long-term repercussions on your health and general breathability. You may notice that during the winter it gets harder to breathe indoors. If that sensation goes away the instant you step outside and breathe in cool refreshing air, then it’s most likely caused by poor quality air circulation in your home. What your home needs is a high-quality air filtration system.

Portable HEPA air filtration systems for your homes purify the air you breathe and filter out harmful bacteria and pathogens that inhibit your breathability.

Things You Should Consider before Buying HEPA Air Filter Systems

Air purifiers are designed to cleanse the air that you breathe of toxins, pathogens, and allergens. Particles of these substances are trapped inside the air filters, so that only clean and purified air comes out.

It’s important to choose the right portable air filtration system for your home and family’s needs. Here are a few important factors to consider when looking into HEPA air filtration systems for your home.

The Room Size

Square footage is an important factor when deciding what type of air filtration system you need. Most portable air filtration systems have a minimal and maximum amount of space that they can effectively purify. Air Change per Hour (ACH) rate is also important because it can help diminish and keep allergy symptoms at bay. ACH indicates the number of times your air purifier can completely purify all of the air in a single space in one hour. During this process, all of the air in the room is completely filtered through the system and purified before being released back out.

Choose from small, medium, large, or whole-house air purifiers based on the amount of square footage you need to cover. A minimum of four air changes per hour is the ideal amount to effectively remove as much dust, pollen, and other allergens lingering in the air as possible.

Technology and Features

Modern air purification systems come with a variety of customizable features that you can choose based on your needs and comfort preferences. Common technological features for portable HEPA filtration systems include:

  • Wi-Fi connectivity and accompanying apps, so that you can remotely control and alter the settings of the air filter from your mobile device
  • Energy Star ratings and features that are designed to conserve energy and minimize your monthly electricity bills
  • Remote controls
  • Multiple fan speed options
  • Filter change indicators
  • Caster or cartwheels and handles for easy portability
  • Digital touchscreens with air quality indicators that provide real-time updates

Noise Rating

Air filtration systems have built-in fans. Depending on the size of the unit and the number of fans it contains, the noise levels can be quite high. Sizeable units that are meant to cover large spaces typically have multiple fans and can therefore make more noise than smaller units that are designed for personal or intimate spaces.

Check the noise rating of the air filtration system before purchasing it to make sure that it’s suitable for your space. If you’re looking to purchase a unit for your bedroom or home office, then the noise rating should be less than 50dB, unless you prefer a little white noise.

Maintenance Requirements

To extend the lifecycle of your air filtration system, it’s important to administer routine maintenance. That means replacing the air filters regularly. Fortunately, most modern units are equipped with filter change indicators that alert you when it’s time to replace the current air filter. HEPA filters are among the most cost-effective filters on the market because they only need to be changed out about once a year depending on usage frequency.

Types of Air Purification Systems

A wide range of air purification and filtration systems are currently available. Whichever one you choose depends largely on your current space requirements, your budget, and personal needs.

  • HEPA air filters are affordable, but they can only be recycled at hazardous waste processing plants or other government-sanctioned waste disposal sites
  • Carbon air filters have an average lifespan of about six months
  • Pre-filters need to be replaced at least every three months depending on usage frequency
  • AirFree air sterilizers are the most eco-friendly option as they don’t require the use of filters and instead rely on heat or UV light to effectively capture and kill germs and purify the air you breathe

Important Things You Should Know about HEPA Air Filtration Systems for Your Home

HEPA Filters and Effectiveness

CADR, which stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate, refers to the speed with which an air filtration system can effectively purify the air in your home. High-efficiency and effective filtration systems, such as those containing HEPA filters, can typically collect large amounts of particulate matter in shorter periods of time.

HEPA Air Filters Can Successfully Capture COVID-19 Particles

HEPA air filtrations can’t completely stop the spread of COVID-19 on their own. In fact, the CDC reports that COVID-19 particles are about 0.1 microns in size, whereas HEPA filters can only trap airborne particles that are 0.3 microns. However, COVID-19 particles are encased in larger human respiratory droplets when they’re exhaled, which increases their size just enough to make them easier to capture using HEPA filtration systems. When combined with other health and safety measures such as frequent hand sanitizing and washing and mask wearing, HEPA air filtration systems are a feasible defense against viral transmissions in private and public settings.

HEPA Air Filters Are Washable and Reusable

Some, not all, HEPA filters are washable and can be reused for an extended period of time. Read the manufacturer’s label carefully before making a purchase to be sure that this is possible.

How HEPA Air Filters Work in Your Space

Air enters into the filtration system and comes into contact with the HEPA filter, which then traps harmful contaminants and particulates through impaction, diffusion, and sieving. Impaction is the process of actively targeting and collecting the particulates and separating them from the air. Once impacted, the particulates move through the filter where they’re completely entrapped. The sieve is the material that holds the particulates and prevents them from moving through the filtration system and getting back into the air.

Purchase HEPA Air Filter Systems from Georgian Water & Air

Serving all of Simcoe County, the Greater Sudbury Area, and parts of the GTA, Georgian Water & Air provides local communities with high-quality whole-house and portable HEPA air filtration systems for the home. Contact us today to learn more about the value of these air purifiers and how they can improve your home’s air quality.