February....Love is not the only thing in the air this month. Allergens from pollen, grasses, molds, and dust are in the air too. It's impossible to control these allergens outdoors but you can do one simple thing to reduce them indoors. Change your furnace filter!

There are several options to choose from. Each filter the air as it circulates through your house, but some filter out more of the things that make allergy sufferers miserable.

The most basic is the fiberglass filter. They sell for around $2 and are meant to be changed once a month. They prevent larger particles like dust, lint, and debris from getting into your system and have a

MERV rating of 2-3. MERV is an acronym for Minimum-Efficiency Reporting Value.

The standard Ace pleated filter has a minimum MERV rating of 8. This is made of a cotton media with expanded metal mesh support. These will trap particles such as pollen, plant spores, lint, pet hair and household dust. They are the most often purchased type of filter because the price is good at around $5, and they filter most of the irritations that plague most allergy sufferers. These should be changed a minimum of every 3 months.   Schemper's will have these available on a RED HOT BUY at 3 for $9.99 all month long. If you compare how often you change this filter to the cheaper one that needs changing every month, the Ace pleated filters are definitely the better buy! Stock up now and save!

Higher MERV ratings are available in the 3M Filtrete brand filters. The red label offers a MERV rating of 11 and will filter smaller particles such as smoke, pet dander and smog. The purple label also has a MERV rating of 11 but has electrostatically charged fibers to attract and capture microscopic airborne particles such as bacteria and viruses. Along with the higher MERV ratings comes a higher price. These sell for around $13-$19 and should be changed every 3 months. If you have highly sensitive people in your home, one of these filters might be the best choice for you.

It would seem that the higher the MERV rating and the smaller particles that can be filtered out of the air in our homes, would be better, right? Well...maybe. You must also take into consideration the air flow and how much air is being filtered by these denser filters. If the air flow is restricted so less air is moving through the filter, then less of the air in your home is actually being filtered. You need to find the best filter for your unit air flow. 

The best way to provide the cleanest air in your home is to change filters at least the 3 month recommendation for all pleated filters and 1 month for fiberglass filters. Changing them sooner if your unit is running often will help keep the air you breath cleaner too. Spring may be in the air, but you can make the choice to have less allergens in your home.