The Filtered Files - Filters Fast

Benefits of Filtration: Reasons Filtration Matter to You and Your Family

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There are many reasons why you need to be drinking clean, healthy, filtered water and also using HEPA air filters in your home. The most important reason is you are making sure you are doing everything possible to keep you and your family safe and in overall good health!

Filtering your water is the only way to ensure that you are drinking clean water. Your body weight is made up of approximately 60% water. So staying hydrated is extremely important! Water keeps your tissues and other organs moist and regulates your body’s temperature. By doing everyday things like breathing, sweating, and even digestion of the food you eat, you are losing water. There are so many contaminants that you have to worry about in the water source going in to your home today. Chemicals, lead, bacteria and so much more can be found in different water sources. Municipal water treatment facilities sometimes experience outbreaks of bacterial contaminants in the tap water. You have probably heard on your local news at one time or another giving the public a warning to “boil your water”.

Did you know that there are over 2000 known drinking water contaminants that can be present in tap water? Not only that, there are several different types of cancer that can be attributed when certain toxic materials are found in water. The EPA has even gone on to state that lead in drinking water contributes to 480,000 cases of learning disorders each year in children here in the U.S. Lead also has been found to cause birth defects in pregnant women. The unpleasant facts just seem to go on and on!  If you aren’t using any type of water filtration in your home, now is the time to research what will work for you and your family. Find a filtration system that removes the bad things without removing the beneficial minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Air filtration is something else to important for your family’s health. If you aren’t using a HEPA filter in your furnace or air conditioner unit, you should be!  These filters are truly fabulous for trapping irritating airborne particles such as pollen, pet dander, dust, dust mites, and tobacco smoke. If you or a family member suffers with allergies or other breathing conditions, HEPA filters are highly recommended. Also, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter will capture and trap particles in carpets and rugs that can cause allergy symptoms.

If you are filtering your water and using HEPA filters in your home’s furnace and air conditioning unit, you are taking important steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Keep up the great work! If you aren’t using any type of filtration (whether water or air), it’s time to start!  Visit  www.filtersfast.com and start enjoying clean living!

How Filtration Plays an Important Role in Allergy Defense

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Image Credit: http://www.buildingmoxie.com/2014/03/create-an-allergy-free-air-conditioning-system/

Image Credit: http://www.buildingmoxie.com/2014/03/create-an-allergy-free-air-conditioning-system/

Let’s talk indoor allergies. Most of us think that people with allergies suffer mostly during the spring and summer months. That’s not necessarily true. They also suffer during the winter months as well. Did you know that there is an estimated 50 million people who suffer with either indoor or outdoor allergies? Some suffer with both. If you suffer with indoor allergies, there are steps that you can take to help relieve the symptoms. The biggest challenge of course is in identifying the allergens that trigger the symptoms. Using proper filtration in your home is the first step in finding relief from whatever indoor allergen (dust, dust mites, molds, pet dander) that is making you miserable!

Whether you are stuck inside your home during the cold winter months or getting ready to start enjoying flowers blooming in the spring, having a high-efficiency media filter with a MERV rating of 11 or 12 in your furnace or air conditioning unit is a must! You want to be using an air filter that captures at least 99.97% of all particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter, or larger.

One major trigger for indoor allergies is dust. If dust is your enemy, having a great media filter that will help remove particulates floating around in your home is the way to go.  Remember to use a damp cloth when dusting so that you aren’t just spreading the dust around, sending it airborne. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter also helps to capture the dust that has settled on your floors or carpets after dusting furniture. Also, keep those air vents and air returns clean. If you change your air filter at least every three months, you will help keep the air clean year round in your home. Another thing to consider is to have your heating and air conditioner units inspected and serviced every six months.

If you are having problems with humidity in your home, using a hygrometer to measure the humidity is helpful. You want the humidity level below 55%. If you live in a state where it is humid and sticky (like Florida), a dehumidifier might give you some relief.

Whatever indoor allergies you may suffer with, know that relief is just a filter away!  Defend yourself by finding out what will work best for you by visiting www.filtersfast.com and start getting that well deserved good night sleep!

Washable Air Filter vs. Disposable Air Filter – Which is the best choice?

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Image Credit: www.healthyhomefilterco.com/ba-alum.html

We all know that air filters keep our heating and air conditioning units in our homes working efficiently.  The purpose of an air filter is to catch and trap particles like dust, pollen, and pet dander that circulate throughout the home.  So choosing the best air filter is important but can also be confusing because of the different varieties that are on the market today. If we want to keep the air quality in our homes to be clean and healthy as possible, we have to be diligent on keeping a clean air filter. Keep in mind, not all air filters offer the same performance.

What type of air filter are you using today?  Let’s take a moment and compare the washable air filter and the disposable air filter.

Performance

Washable air filters usually have a MERV rating of 1 to 4.  They can effectively catch larger particles like dust and soot.  But if you have a pet, the pet dander is too small to be caught in this type of filter.  Even bacteria, viruses and smoke are not effectively filtered out.

Disposable air filters are more effective in capturing small particles (dust, allergens, pet dander, smoke, bacteria, and viruses) and MERV ratings go as high as 16.

Maintenance

Washable air filters require you maintain them monthly.  Once you have washed off all of the dust, you must make sure that it thoroughly dries before placing back in your unit.  If placed back when it’s damp or wet, you are inviting bacteria and fungus to form, and then circulating it throughout your home.

Disposable air filters simply require you removing the old one, tossing it in the garbage and replacing with a new one. Done! This air filter takes less time and less effort when it comes to maintenance.

Cost

Washable air filters are costly and most are meant to be last several years.

Disposable air filters are reasonably inexpensive.

If you would like to learn more about these two types of air filters, or need help to determine if you are using the right air filter, please visit www.filtersfast.com.   Find out which is the best product that you should be using to keep your heating and air conditioning unit working more efficiently for you.