If face masks protect the air that humans breathe, air filters are certainly the face masks of the furnace system — clearing particles from the air-stream that a home “breathes” and transmits to those within.
“The historic event in which we now find ourselves with the COVID-19 pandemic - has caused renewed awareness of just how important healthy air is inside our homes and elsewhere,” said Paige Freeland, marketing manager at General Filters.
“It is the job of the filter to catch things in the air,” said Duke Wiser, president of Dynamic Air Quality Solutions. “Coronavirus can be airborne. If there [are coronavirus particles] in the air in the house (i.e. if someone in the home is already infected), there is a good chance it will wind up on a filter media.”
PRECAUTIONS
While the risk is probably fairly low, there’s no reason not to take precautions, and ensure to clean your filter at least every 2-3 months. Pull it and take a look at it to determine if it needs to be changed or not. Call me if you are unsure!
CATCH, NOT KILL
While filters may catch viruses, they don’t kill them. The purpose of a furnace filter, is not to “treat/remove” or “degrade/kill” COVID-19 or any other virus or pathogen. But also remember your home health is important in the future as well (post Pandemic) - Cold and flu viruses happen every year.