When it comes to allergies, it is essential to choose the right air filter for your home. An activated carbon air filter is the same as a regular carbon air filter, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. However, some manufacturers distinguish between the two simply because of the way the carbon is used inside the filter. To break up carbon fractures, activated carbon is heated to an extreme temperature, which increases its surface area and allows it to trap and store more foreign compounds in the indoor air supply.
This carbon material is then added to the filter medium in the form of a fine powder. The activated carbon medium works like a sponge, connecting at the molecular level with aromas, vapors and gases to prevent them from passing through air ducts. When selecting an air filter for allergies, consider the MERV rating. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and is a measure of how effectively a filter removes particles from the air. A traditional air filter can be very effective at cleaning indoor air, as long as it has a MERV rating of 8 or higher.
If you need to remove allergens, dust and dander, you may want to look for a filter with a higher MERV rating. 3M prefers the microparticle performance rating (MPR) for its filters, while Home Depot uses the FPR (Filter Performance Rating) filter performance rating for filters that bear the Home Depot name. If your HVAC system uses a thicker filter (typically 4 to 5 inches and usually mounted on the air handler), it's likely specifically designed for medium-efficiency MERV filtration. However, these filters have some drawbacks: first, they usually cost much more than basic fiberglass filters. Additionally, if there are other problems with air quality, you might consider improving it by combining it with an additional filter or using a furnace filter designed to minimize pet allergies. When properly positioning your oven filter, you help reduce the amount of airborne particles that cause pet allergies.
However, if the air filter is not properly adjusted, this can result in air whistling and inefficient performance. Additionally, some filters that simply carry the “carbon” label are made with blocks of powdered carbon that are compressed and heated to create the filter. This can cause carbon dust to enter the air ducts. If you've ever tried to find the best type of air filter for your home, you might have realized that there are a seemingly endless number of air filter options for the home. One option is an electrostatic or activated carbon 20x25x1 air filter.
This Aerostar MERV 13 air filter features a pleated design made of 100% synthetic electrostatic material, giving it high efficiency and allowing low air resistance, resulting in quieter air exchange.
