If your home’s indoor air quality has become more important to you since the spread of COVID-19, you’re not alone. Nowadays, millions are spending more time indoors at home, where the air can be more polluted than the outdoor air, even in the biggest and most industrialized cities. As we head further into cold and flu season, many people are increasingly concerned about navigating these illnesses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and how to keep illness-causing germs out of their indoor air.
Naturally, this leads many to wonder: can my heating and cooling system’s air filter capture viruses? We’ll answer this question and more below.
Some Air Filters Can Help Capture Virus-Sized Particles
Every filter has an efficiency value that determines its ability to capture particles. The most common filter rating scale is “MERV,” which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. When you buy a home or install a new heating and cooling (HVAC) system, you’ll typically get an air filter with a MERV-8. A MERV-8 filter will help keep dust and large airborne particles out of your HVAC equipment, but it doesn’t have an efficiency value high enough to trap virus-sized particles.
To capture small particles like viruses, the EPA recommends filters with MERV-13 or higher. However, there are a few things to consider along with this recommendation:
- You should only equip your system with the highest-rated filter that it’s designed to handle. If the rating is too high, your system won’t get enough airflow, which can cause the equipment to run up your energy bills and even break down. Consult the owner’s manual or an HVAC professional to see the highest-rated filter you can use.
- Don’t neglect handwashing, sanitizing, and other measures aimed at preventing the spread of illness. You should not rely solely on your air filter to keep you safe from germs at home.
ActivePure® Technology Can Help Eradicate Airborne and Surface Contaminants
If you’re looking for a more proactive approach to killing germs in your home, technology may have an answer. Aerus has developed the Air Scrubber, an air purifier that works in tandem with residential and commercial HVAC systems to:
- Attack both airborne and surface contaminants
- Protect people from pollutants and contagions
- Reduce smoke and bad smells
- Prevent dust buildup in HVAC equipment
Rather than relying on harmful ozone, ActivePure® technology converts free oxygen and water molecules into oxidizers that get released back into your living space. One oxidizer you might be familiar with is hydrogen peroxide, which helps prevent infections in open wounds. The oxidizers created by ActivePure® technology are called ActivePure Molecules, and they are safe to breathe and effective at killing germs.
If you would like more information about whether the Air Scrubber by Aerus® is right for your home, please don’t hesitate to contact our indoor air quality experts at Dial One Sonshine: (714) 613-1016.