The air in your home can be a source of a variety of contaminants if you don't take proper care to purify it. Everything from dust and pet dander to mold spores can be floating around in the air in your home, and you'll breathe it in if you don't take the steps to filter and clean the air. This is especially problematic when you have someone in your home with respiratory issues, asthma, or severe allergies. Here's a look at what you need to know about residential air filtration systems and how you can choose the right one for your home.

Know What's In The Air

You can't adequately prepare an air filtration system for your home without fully understanding what you're trying to filter out. The only accurate way to know what needs to be addressed is through sampling and testing the air in your home.

Many air filtration installation companies will provide testing as a part of your filtration purchase and installation package. If you're looking to have an air filtration system installed that meets your home's specific needs, talk with the company about testing the air in your home first. That way, you will have a clear and detailed report of what has been found present that will need to be addressed with your filter choices.

Consider The Filters You Want

Once you know what's in the air in your home, you can start creating a plan to address those contaminants. The filters you use will be dependent on this. For example, if you're just looking to address dust particles, you can usually opt for traditional air filters. When you have allergens in the air, HEPA filters are often the best choice. You may also need to add a charcoal filter if there are other contaminants that you are concerned about.

Talk with your air filtration system provider about the air sampling reports you received to find out what types of filters will be best. Once you know what kind of filter or filters you will need, you can more easily choose the filtration system that those filters will work with.

Ask About Routine Maintenance

Like any other filter, the filters in your home's air filtration system will need to be either cleaned or replaced periodically. Additionally, the system may need to be inspected and maintained once a year. Your air filtration specialist will tell you what your specific air filtration system needs so that you can plan accordingly. Always keep up with the filter replacement or cleaning schedule to ensure that your home's air filtration system is working at its best. When the filters are neglected, they can get clogged. This will inhibit airflow and filtration ability, leaving you with more contaminants in the air in your home.

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