A Guide for Buying the Best Furnace Filters for Allergies

A dust-free home is a happy home, and it’s essential for people with allergies. If you or a family member is constantly sneezing, coughing, and experiencing watery eyes, consider investing in anti-allergen furnace filters. 

A high-quality furnace filter for allergies can significantly improve your quality of life. While all furnace filters are designed to eliminate airborne particles, some are better than others. In this article, we’ll explain the importance of furnace filters and introduce you to the different types of furnace filter allergies. 

Indoor Air Quality and Your Allergy Symptoms

The air quality inside your house is vital if you or a family member has allergies. Many common allergens that cause reactions—pollen, dander, dust mites, and mould spores—can get trapped in your home’s air ducts and circulate through the air you breathe. Inhaling these causes constant sneezing, blocked nose, and watery eyes. 

Over time, these allergens build up on furnace filters and reduce their efficiency. As a result, they don’t trap as much airborne debris as they ought to, which means more allergy-causing particles floating in the air.

Do Filters Help Reduce Allergies?

Furnace filters for allergies are not a cure-all, but they can help reduce symptoms. These tightly knit netting trap airborne particles and allergens so the warm or cool indoor air you inhale is clean. The smaller the filter, the better it is at trapping allergens, such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander, which makes filters with smaller pores the best furnace filters as they trap more particles.

Read more: Your Best Guide to Buying a Home Furnace

Rating of the Best Air Filters for Allergies 

Filters are rated based on their ability to capture tiny particles. The higher the number, the better it traps allergens. 

Three rating systems apply for air filters: MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values), MPR (Microparticle Performance Rating), and FPR (Filter Performance Rating). Knowing these and their best figures for allergies will help you pick the right air filter for your needs.

MERV Rating of 9 to 12

The MERV rating is the industry-standard measure of a filter’s effectiveness at trapping particles. For people with allergies, the best allergy furnace filter has a nine to 12 rating, which means a filter can remove up to 90% of airborne particles, including dust mites, pollen, and pet dander. They can also capture as small as 1 micron of particles.

However, a high filter performance rating has more HVAC resistance. This restricts airflow and forces your appliance to work too hard, making it vulnerable to premature wear and tear. In addition, you may not get the air velocity needed to reach all parts of your home, leading to temperature inconsistencies.

MPR Rating of 800 to 1,085

This air filter rating system by 3M rates a filter’s ability to capture microparticles. The scale goes from 100 to 2,800; the higher the number, the more the filter effectively traps minute particles. The best furnace filters for allergies have an MPR of 800 to 1,085, equivalent to MERV eight to 11.

FPR Rating of 9 to 10

The FPR rating is a home air filter rating system developed by The Home Depot brand. It rates filters on a scale from four to 10, with 10 being the most effective. An air filter with a nine to 10 FPR rating is equivalent to 11 to 13 MERV.

Types of Furnace Filters for Allergies 

You can double your furnace’s filtering efficiency with the right furnace filter. Choose from the types below.

Disposable Fibreglass Filters

A disposable filter is the best air filter for furnaces in terms of affordability. You can buy these for low costs in bulk at hardware stores. They have a MERV rating of four to 12, enough to capture pollen, pet allergens, and legionella. A disposable filter has a lifespan of 90 days. Once its time is up, replace it with a fresh filter to maintain efficient heating performance and filtering. 

Read more: The All-In-One HVAC Maintenance Guide You Need

Reusable Filters

Reusable or washable filters are eco-friendly choices that help reduce waste. Instead of throwing a used filter, this type requires a thorough wash before being placed back in the furnace. While a reusable filter is accessible and economical, they have a low MERV rating ranging from one to four and aren’t efficient in capturing airborne particles.

Pleated Filters

This filter type consists of cloth or paper folded into multiple pleats. The design increases the filter’s surface area, allowing it to capture more particles. 

A pleated filter is the best furnace filter for dust, pollen, and other allergens. Its MERV rating of five above helps alleviate allergy symptoms.

Read more: Why Installing a Humidifier at Home is Good for Your Health

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters

With a MERV rating of 17 above, a HEPA filter is the best furnace air filter to remove up to 98% of air pollutants indoors. This thicker filter type is more expensive than the disposable fibreglass option, but it’s the best option against allergies. 

Activated Carbon Filters

The best furnace filters can come in pairs. HEPA and activated carbon filters are often paired to lessen air pollution indoors. Activated carbon filters have heat-activated carbon fractures with enormous surface areas. 

Their linked connections trap volatile organic compounds (VOC) from paint thinners, natural gas, air sprays, and floor cleaners. Installing this in your filter can neutralize unpleasant odours and make the air more breathable. 

Read more: Essential Information On Air Quality Improvement

How to Choose an Allergy Furnace Filter 

Not all filters can remove allergens and air pollution due to the composition and materials used. Choose a filter type that removes most particles from the air. See our tips below to help you find the best furnace filter for allergies. 

Check the Rating

Look at ratings first to find an effective furnace filter for allergies. You’d want to choose filters with high MERV, MPR or Performance Ratings to ensure they efficiently trap contaminants.

Choose the Right Size

HVAC filters come in different sizes with three-part dimensions: length, width, and depth or thickness. The most common sizes of furnace filters are:

• 10 X 20 X 1″
• 14 X 20 X 1″
• 16 X 24 X 1″
• 18 X 30 X 1″

The right furnace air filter size for your unit ensures a snug fit, so check exact measurements before buying. Below are signs you’re using the wrong allergy furnace filter size:

• Rattling noises come from the unit, meaning it could be too small.
• Your filter is too big and needs to be forced into the furnace. Doing this could damage the unit and form gaps for unfiltered air to pass.
• If your furnace’s air filter has bent corners when you remove it, it may be too big for your furnace.
• If there’s an increased dust buildup around your home, your filter may be too small.

Important Note: Thick furnace filters may last long since they have larger capacities to capture particles before requiring replacement. However, allergic people should know pet allergens easily clog up these filters. 

Choose Pleated Filters

This is a good option for quality indoor air especially for people with allergies because it can capture more particles than a non-pleated filter. The pleats in the filter increase its surface area so it can hold more dirt and debris, making it the best furnace filter for allergies. 

However, a pleated air filter has downsides. The filter’s pleats stress HVAC systems and restrict airflow due to increased resistance.

Cost

The best furnace filters may be more expensive than other types, but they’re the most cost-effective option. You’re paying for their effective performance in filtering common allergens. Pleated and HEPA filters are high-priced options but contribute massively to good indoor air quality. 

Need Help Choosing the Best Air Filter for a Furnace? 

Ratings, size, wrinkles, and costs are factors you must consider when buying the correct furnace filter allergies. If you’re unsure what you bought is correct, LG Home Comfort is here to help.

We care about your indoor air quality. Ask us for advice on the best furnace filters. Our technicians can visit your home and assess the air with our sensor technology. In minutes, we’ll provide a suggestion that solves your allergy problem.

Schedule a visit now by contacting us!