The benefits of attaching asthma filters to an AC unit

The Asthma Foundation of Australia suggests there are two main triggers to avoid if you have asthma. These are pollutants and moisture. Dust mites and mould in the home can also trigger asthma and allergies. Unfortunately, all the cleaning, vacuuming and dusting in the world can’t solve this problem; but regulating airflow and humidity levels can help. This is where air conditioning and asthma filters come in.

The filters can be attached to an air conditioning unit to help your family breathe easier and some units come with them already installed.

What are they?

The function of asthma filters is in its name; they work to filter out the above-mentioned triggers to eliminate them from the air you are breathing. Conveniently they can be fitted to many existing units rather than you having to purchase a whole other appliance such as an air purifier.

Air conditioning can keep the humidity and temperature in your home stable as it dries out the air. In reducing the humidity, it becomes more difficult for mould and dust mites to proliferate. As doors and windows would generally be closed to keep the cool or warm air in, especially when using your AC, not as much pollen is able to get through. This can be particularly helpful during times when the pollen and humidity counts are high.

Air conditioners filter the air and then release it into your home. The filtering process is very helpful for asthmatics as it removes and prevents environmental allergens such as pollution and pollen coming inside, so choosing a unit that has a good filter or changing your filter to a new type designed to reduce allergens is essential.

What are the benefits of asthma filters?

One of the most important benefits of asthma filters is their ability to reduce the amount of allergy triggers in the air by trapping incredibly small and potentially harmful particles in the air. They can also;

• Be retrofitted to certain systems.
• Keep your indoor unit and ducts cleaner for maximum efficiency.
• Ensure the filters of your air conditioning system are regularly maintained and cleaned as they’ll need to be updated every 12 months.
• Refrigerated reverse-cycle systems can remove moisture from the air, effectively eliminating a source that mould, bacteria and dust mites thrive on. Every day we create 30 litres of moisture by performing tasks we wouldn’t normally think about like cooking, showering and washing clothes.
• Harness filtered air to create a force that effectively expels existing stale air (along with toxins) from your home through cracks around your windows and doors or vents.

Cost-effectiveness

One of the great things about filters is that they can also be cost-effective, with not much outlay to vastly improve the quality of air you breathe.

Prices vary but you would be looking at spending roughly:

• Self-Install (Filters Supplied Only)= $150 inc GST
• Supply and Install= $200 inc GST
• 5 Year Supply and Install= $600 inc GST

Depending on your budget you can install your own to save money or have a reliable air conditioning installation company do it for you. And if you’re not sure if the benefits out way the cost you can always buy the product, install it and see how it goes for 12 months as the filters are generally disposable.

Which options are available?

If you are looking at reducing asthma triggers in the home. there are a number of ways to do so. You can have a new allergy smart air conditioning system installed, buy filters for an existing system or buy a separate air filtration system.

The Asthma Foundation has their own range of approved products called Sensitive Choice. Included under this banner are Daikin’s inverter split system air conditioners. These systems have air-purifying filters to trap airborne particles, keeping the air fresh and clean. Another feature of Daikin inverter split systems is an air-purifying filter with a deodorising function. This filter has the impressive function of trapping microscopic particles, eliminating odours and neutralising bacteria and viruses.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries also have models offering similar features including a Plasma Filter System that has been designed to ensure fresh and clean air is circulated. This system also neutralises contaminants such as allergens, viruses and bacteria. These models offer two air purifying filters and a deodorising filter, offering an advanced filtration system that is ideal for those suffering from Asthma and other airborne allergies.

If you already have a unit installed and want to save on costs you can buy filters for your air conditioning unit and install them yourselves or have a professional do it for you.

There are of course separate devices aimed purely at air filtration. We would suggest that instead of wasting energy and driving your electricity bills up with multiple devices it’s better to kill two birds with one stone and get a system or filters that will address several triggers at once.

Our recommendation

We would suggest if you already have an air conditioning system that Sensitive Choice’s recommendation of AirClean Filters is a good choice. They offer great features and can be added to an existing unit. These filters are highly efficient and can trap pollutants over 10 times smaller when compared to traditional panel filters.

AirClean Filters are designed to slide into existing and new return air grilles. They have 5mm and 10mm inserts that can provide extra length or width as required and come in standard and non-standard sizes. Conveniently they are available in all capital cities with the exception of Darwin where they may need to be ordered in.

These asthma filters are easy to install, or can be put in by your preferred installation company. They carry the blue butterfly symbol, indicating a product that has been identified as potentially beneficial for people affected by asthma and allergies. AirClean Filters are the only disposable filter brand for both residential and commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning applications to be recognised by the Sensitive Choice program for superior air filtration.

These asthma filters catch asthma, allergy and hay fever triggers such as pollen, virus carriers, lint dust, mould spores and dust mites. This means you and your family can look forward to some relief from pollutants and breathe a little easier.