There are chances that we will get sick any time of the year. But the season when most people suffer from cold and flu-type diseases, we call that season Flu Season. Normally, flu season starts in early September and proceeds to the end of December. However, it is helpful to protect ourselves year round in order to prevent illness. That is where the impact of air filters on air quality becomes a relevant topic.
How Do Flu Viruses Spread?
Flues are mainly caused by viruses. From the above timeframe of the flu season, we are more susceptible to flu and cold during the winter seasons. Viruses that cause flues can infect the body in various ways. Viruses can be airborne, or they can be spread through water. But have you ever wondered why we get more flu during the cold seasons? That is because some pathogens are more active in a lower temperature, and people tend to stay indoors for long periods of time. So the pathogens stuck indoors lower the air quality and causes diseases. The cold weather also slows down our ability to clear the mucus in our noses, making it easier for viruses to infect our bodies. That is the reason we need to use air filters to improve the air quality of our homes.
Impact of Air Filters during Flu Season
Most viruses that cause diseases are mostly spread through airflow. Just look at the Corona Virus. But these days, we need to keep safe from all other pathogens as well, not just the COVID-19 virus. And cleaning the air of any unwanted particles and microorganisms is what an air filter does.
Keeps the Air Clean
An air filter is found in all types of HVAC units. The main job of this filter is to separate all types of allergens, viruses, and bacteria from the air to keep the airflow clean. Without an air filter, the indoor air becomes stuffy and full of pathogens and other allergens, especially in the winter when windows stay shut. The HVAC filter sizes can vary with each unit. Although we are not currently in flu season, an air filter can still benefit us by filtering out allergens or any summer colds going around.
Provides Ventilation
Good ventilation is a must to keep the air quality clean. But we avoid opening windows to air out the place during the cold seasons. This creates a hub for viruses to make your home theirs. Air filters are ventilating systems that trap dirt, dust, and pathogens while sending in clean air.
Removes Contaminants
The indoor air needs to be cleaned depending on the area and condition of the air. There are various air filter sizes for example 19x25x1 air filters, 13×21.5×1 air filters or more available at Custom Filters Direct that need to be paired with the right HVAC unit to remove contaminants from the air.
What Can We Do to Maintain the Air Quality?
Now that we know how important clean air and air filters are, we must take good care to make sure we use our knowledge to the best of our advantage. Just owning an air filter is not all.
All air filters need proper looking after. As the main function of air filters is carried out by trapping dust and other elements in the filters, they can get clogged very easily. The build-up of the clog can cause the machine to break down or worse. Instead of cleaning the air, it can increase the contamination if not cleaned or changed regularly.
Conclusion
We used masks when we go out to protect ourselves from any harmful particles. But we spend most of our time cooped up indoors during the winter without worrying about the possibility of a huge number of viruses and bacteria in the air. Having a good furnace or air conditioner with good quality residential HVAC filters is very important to keep your family healthy. HVAC air filters can keep the house clean from all types of tangible and intangible particles in the air. We can prevent flu infections in our families with just a little precaution.