Roundup of Best Air Filters for Seasonal Allergies in New York

Fall is a great time to be outside and open the windows, but it’s also a time when pollen explodes from late-blooming trees, shrubs and grasses. There is help, however, in the best air filters for your HVAC system.

Upgraded filters trap those particles and clear the air. They’re an inexpensive way to breathe easier and clean the air at the same time, along with helping your HVAC system.

Types to Consider

Air filters are graded on the size of particles that they trap before they enter the heating and cooling system. Look for their MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) ratings, usually printed on the filter frame or its packaging. The scale runs from 1 to 16, and a higher number indicates that it removes smaller particulates.

Some manufacturers use terms like “good, better, or best” to describe how well their filters perform. When choosing the best air filters without a numeric rating, look for pleated filters labeled better or best.

Pollen measures between 10 and 1,000 microns in size, and a filter with a MERV rating of 9 or greater will trap nearly all that pass through the air filter. If don’t need heating or cooling, you can clear the air by setting the air handler’s fan to “on” instead of “auto.” Running the fan continuously will increase your energy bills, but the relief you experience may be worth it.

A Word of Caution

Before upgrading the filter, check your owner’s manual or ask your HVAC contractor about the maximum MERV-rated filter you can use. If the filter is too dense for your system, the air flowing through the air handler will slow too much. Besides harming its components, slow air flow increases the time it takes to heat or cool your home, driving up energy costs.

Using the best air filters to deal with fall allergies can improve your symptoms and help your HVAC system last longer. To learn more, contact C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning, providing trusted services for Middletown homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482. 

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