What Air Filter Should You Purchase If You Live in a City with Smog?

Big cities offer lots of convenience, but they also tend to have worse air quality than their suburban or rural counterparts. Smog, that layer of gray gloom that hangs over busy cities, carries chemical pollutants and particles that residents of those cities tend to breathe in daily.

If you live in a city with smog, you likely want to do all you can to keep it from impacting your health. In your home, you can get some relief with the air filters you choose, which can help you keep smog from ruining your indoor air quality.

MERV 13 filters offer the highest possible filtration for residential usage. City dwellers may want to consider using filters to clear the air indoors.

What Do MERV 13 Air Filters Remove from the Air in Your Home?

MERV 13 air filters block particles that are 1 micron in size and smaller particles. They can remove dust, pollen, pet dander, germs, mold spores, bacteria, smoke, and smog from the air.

When you live in a smoggy location, choosing an air filter that can remove those pollutants is imperative. You can know how clean or dirty the air is outside by checking the Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures daily air quality.

If the AQI is at 0 to 50, it is considered good. If it is 151 to 200, it is unhealthy. If it is 301 to 500, it is hazardous. The AQI was created by the EPA to warn residents of how dangerous the air may be each day. It is based on 5 major air pollutants that include carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide. All of these pollutants combine to form smog.

Fortunately, with a MERV 13 air filter, you can capture many of these pollutants that infiltrate your home.

What Makes Smog Pollutants Dangerous?

The pollutants that create smog can have serious effects on your health.

Particulate Matter

Solids and liquids that are small and light comprise particulate matter. They can get into your lungs and travel through your bloodstream, increasing your chances of chronic diseases.

Sulfur Dioxide

Sulfur dioxide comes from burning fuels like coal or diesel. It can aggravate existing conditions in the heart and lungs.

Nitrogen Oxide

This irritating pollutant can affect your lungs and immune system. Regular exposure can increase your risk of illnesses, including pneumonia. It’s very dangerous since it interacts with other pollutants, forming ground-level ozone and particulate matter.

There is also carbon monoxide, a poisonous pollutant emitted from motor vehicles, and ozone, which can create smog at ground level. If you live in a smoggy location, purifying the air in your home using a MERV 13 filter can help you breathe easier and mitigate the effects of living in the city.

Superior Smog Filtration With MERV 13 Air Filters

Since MERV 13 air filters have the highest rating for residential use, they are the best choice you can make if you live in a city with smog. They are great for reducing allergens, bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and other tiny particles.

However, MERV 13 air filters can’t be used in every HVAC system. They may be too restrictive with their airflow. It’s important to check before buying filters with this rating. You should ask your HVAC professional if your system can accommodate MERV 13 filters. If not, you can likely use a MERV 11 air filter, which can filter out smoke and smog.