Air duct cleaning removes dust, debris, and contaminants built up inside your home’s HVAC system. But installing HEPA filters in addition to duct cleaning can offer even greater air purification benefits. HEPA filters trap tiny particles that standard filters miss, enhancing the results of your duct cleaning and improving indoor air quality.
What are HEPA Filters?
HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. HEPA filters use a dense mesh design and small pores to capture 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size. This includes pollutants like dust, pet dander, and microbes.
Standard filters may only remove particles 3 microns and larger, allowing smaller allergens and contaminants to pass through. Meanwhile, these filters can trap particles 100 times smaller, substantially improving the amount and type of particles they remove from circulated air.
How HEPA Filters Pair with Air Duct Cleaning
HEPA filters provide a few key benefits when paired with traditional air duct cleaning:
- Higher levels of particle removal. Removing smaller particles down to 0.3 microns allows these filters to catch more dust, mold, and bacteria that standard filters miss. This means duct cleaning removes even more contaminants from your system.
- Ongoing filtration. Once these filters are installed, they continually filter particles from the air moving through your ducts. So contaminants are continuously prevented from resettling after your initial duct cleaning.
- Improved air quality. With these filters capturing so many tiny particles, the quality of air circulated through your HVAC system notably improves. This may lessen allergies and irritation caused by indoor pollutants.
Pros of HEPA Filters
- Pros
- Exceptional particle removal
- Long filter life of up to 2 years
- Effective for allergy and asthma sufferers
Should You Install HEPA Filters?
For most homeowners, the benefits of these filters outweigh any drawbacks. If you want the absolute cleanest air possible from your duct system, pairing these filters with duct cleaning delivers the best results. HEPA filters catch what duct cleaning misses so all bases are covered for maximum particle removal.
However, standard filters still provide value if tighter budgets are a concern. The choice comes down to your priorities, sensitivity to indoor pollutants, and budget. But in general, HEPA filters enhance the effects of duct cleaning and are recommended for those who want the highest level of air purification within their HVAC system.
In conclusion, while air duct cleaning removes built-up contaminants, installing these filters afterward can trap any remaining particles for the cleanest possible air. HEPA filters complement duct cleaning by filling in where traditional methods fall short.