IAQ AIR FILTERS AND PURIFIERS IN NEW ORLEANS, LA

Types of Air Purifiers

Our trained and experienced professional technicians can evaluate your indoor air quality to determine the number of pollutants in your indoor air. After our evaluation, we will always have a thorough discussion with you to make the best recommendations for your home. There are many factors that need to be considered before installation. These factors include the size and layout of your home, the location of your air grates, the equipment already installed, the level of pollutants in the air, the type of contaminants in the air, your preferences, and your budget.

Ultimately, although you could opt for portable versions for small rooms, a whole house purifier that is installed with your HVAC system will be able to clean and purify the air in your home most efficiently. The HVAC system, as long as it uses forced air, will perform the work of delivering fresh air and providing air circulation while the installed air filter will catch particles and pollutants. You can typically find two types of air purifiers built into HVAC ductwork in New Orleans, LA homes:

• Return Air Systems: This equipment is placed where the interior air is delivered to the furnace prior to being heated or cooled. If this type of air purifier is right for you, there are many different models available, and our technicians can help pick one that fits your home.
• Supply Air Systems: This type is installed between the furnace and the vent, and the heated or cooled air passes through the air filter before being delivered to different rooms in your home. If this type of air purifier is right for you, there are many different models available; our technicians can help pick one that works for you and your home.

Types of Air Filters

In either of these systems, routine maintenance needs to be performed as often as every few months to as little as every year. Mainly, it is important to change the filters since air purification only works properly if the filters can catch the particles. Further, if the filters are not changed regularly, a significant build-up will create an ideal environment for further bacteria, mildew, mold, or dust. In addition to our installation services, our technicians provide ventilation and interior air system maintenance services to the New Orleans, LA area. At each maintenance visit, our team can inspect your system for issues, clean the components, change the filter, ensure the system is working optimally, and make any necessary minor repairs.

One factor that can make all the difference in the performance of your air purification is utilizing a quality filter. There are many different types of air filters on the market. An easy way to understand how well filters work is through the ASHRAE rating system called the MERV. An inefficient air filter would have the lowest score of 1, whereas an efficient filter would have a higher score. In HVAC air purifiers, you will find one of these five common air filters:

• Washable: Washable filters use electrostatic charge or cling to trap dirt and debris in the air. They must be cleaned properly, which involves separating their layers or folds carefully on a regular basis in order to filter the air. On the whole, they are considered inefficient, and we would not recommend using them in standard HVAC systems. They carry a MERV rating of 1-4, depending on the model.
• Fiberglass: Fiberglass filters are composed of spun glass fibers. They are an affordable disposable option, but they must be changed every month. Although they are the most common type of filters used for HVAC systems, they are only effective at filtering out large particles of debris, reflected by their MERV rating of 1-4. We don’t recommend them for air purification purposes.
• Pleated: Pleated filters are made up of cotton or polyester fibers woven into pleats or folds. These types of filters are effective at purifying indoor air. With a MERV rating of 5-13, they can filter out smaller particles such as dust and other pollutants. That said, your HVAC system will need to work a little harder to push air through them as they have low air filtration.
• Media: Media filters are deeply pleated and compressed polyester filters. The MERV ratings on media filters can vary, reaching up to 16, which can filter out very small particles such as bacteria and smoke. One of the most popular types of media filters is a HEPA filter.
• HEPA: HEPA filters, or High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters, work by trapping particles in deeply pleated paper or fine polyester. They are the most effective filters for purifying interior air, catching up to 99.97% of pollutants and contaminants. With a MERV rating of between 14-16, they are the most recommended type of filter on the market today.

Our bluefrog Home Service technicians will be able to make an accurate filter recommendation based on your current HVAC unit, the type of contaminants in your air, the level of air quality you would like to achieve, and your preferences regarding maintenance.

Contact us at 504-229-4848 to discuss indoor air quality options available to you.