When winter rolls around, most people think about how to stay warm. However, few think about how winter can be one of the worst seasons for air quality. In fact, your home can quickly become a polluted environment because your home is sealed up tight and your heating system runs non-stop during winter. If your home feels stuffy, dusty, and uncomfortable to breathe during the winter, there’s a reason why.
Why Indoor Air Quality Decreases During Winter
Homes are sealed tighter. During winter, windows and doors remain closed because of the cold weather. While this helps to keep your home warm, it also traps dust, pet dander, allergens, and household odors inside your home. As a result, your home becomes a breeding ground for all these impurities.
Heating systems stir up particles. During winter, your heating system runs non-stop to keep your home warm. As a result, your heating system blows air and particles throughout your home. As your heating system’s filters get clogged, they lose their ability to trap dust, pollen, smoke, and mold spores. As a result, your heating system ends up working harder than necessary.
Winter means more cooking, cleaning, candles, pets, and people. All of these activities result in more particles in the air. This may be particularly noticeable for pet owners because pets spend less time outdoors during the winter months and more time indoors shedding.
How HEPA Filters Can Help in Winter
High-quality HEPA filters can help improve indoor air quality during the winter months. True HEPA filters can capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. This includes dust, allergens, pet dander, smoke particles, and mold spores.
Changing your filters regularly ensures that your air purifier or HVAC system continues to run efficiently during peak indoor usage.
How Often Should I Replace My Filters?
Winter is a peak usage time for filters. The recommended frequency for replacing filters is as follows:
HEPA filters: Replace every 6 to 12 months.
Carbon filters: Replace every 3 to 6 months.
Breathe Easier All Winter
Winter does not have to mean stale indoor air. Changing your filters regularly and using high-quality HEPA filters can help keep your home air fresh and clean all winter long.
Using fresh filters can make a big difference, particularly during the winter months when people spend more time indoors.
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