Can I really turn my home furnace and air conditioner into a whole-house air cleaner? Yes. Inexpensive air filters made from blue fiberglass or coated hogs' hair only serve to keep large dust balls from clogging up the mechanical works of the HVAC system, and to lower fire risks. They are not designed to prevent mold, pollen, dust mite particles or pet and human dander flakes from collecting in the ducts and circulating through the system into the air in your home.

Recent advances in filtration media technology allow high efficiency disposable filters (like the AllergyZone Furnace Filter) to be used in these systems. High efficiency disposable filters protect equipment better, and turn the system into a whole house air filter.

Buying an AllergyZone Furnace Filter, installing it into your HVAC system, and setting your thermostat FAN to ON, will keep the air continuously circulating, removing harmful particulates from your entire home. Sit back and enjoy the comfort of breathing AllergyZone.

Why should I change my filter every 3 months?

There are three finely balanced attributes associated with every air filter:

• Efficiency of the filter to remove small particles
• Good air flow to maintain a good air exchange rate
• The Holding Capacity of the filter or how much dirt and particulates the filter will hold before cutting off good air flow.

AllergyZone calls these three attributes, the FILTER QUALITY TRIANGLE™. AllergyZone Furnace Filter excels at balancing the FILTER QUALITY TRIANGLE™. In most homes, a three month change interval is optimal to allow the filter to work at its best performance.

Our Subscription Service is designed to take the hassle out of remembering to replace your filter.

What is your Subscription Service?

AllergyZone's unique Subscription Service is a simple and convenient way to ensure the seasonal changing of your residential filter. Once you place an order, a new AllergyZone filter will be delivered to your door every three months, just in time to replace the existing one.

Or if you prefer, we can send the AllergyZone filters all at one time so that you have a constant reminder in front of you to change the filter in a timely manner.

Where can I buy the AllergyZone Furnace Filter?

You can buy AllergyZone Furnace Filters directly from this web site, or find retailers using our handy Store Locator.

What is a MERV 12 rating?

The MERV value (Minimum Efficiency Rating Value) is based on independent tests developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The MERV value is a universal scale allowing the consumer to compare filter efficiency.

The MERV value is based on the efficiency of a filter to capture a range of particles which cause indoor air quality and allergy problems. The higher the MERV value is, the more efficient the filter is. Residential air filter ratings range from MERV 1 to MERV 12.

MERV ratings above 12 currently are available only to special industrial, healthcare, or scientific applications. The AllergyZone Furnace Filter has earned a MERV 12 rating, providing the best solution for the home environment. The AllergyZone Furnace Filter provides the optimal balance of efficiency to remove particles, low resistance to airflow, and high dust holding capacity - the OPTIMAL FILTER QUALITY TRIANGLE™.

Why AllergyZone filters instead of some other, cheaper brand?

The simple answer is that AllergyZone filters are the best quality disposable residential air filters on the market. Unlike cheaper brands, AllergyZone filters can have a significant impact on the air quality in your home, reducing allergy and asthma symptoms and enabling your entire family to breath easier.

In independent laboratory testing, AllergyZone filters earned the highest efficiency rating of any 1" disposable air filter available for residential system use, a MERV 12 rating. In durability tests conducted by an independent laboratory, AllergyZone filters withstood over 60% greater particulate load than the leading competitor offering MERV 12 filters.

Which are healthier, disposable or washable "permanent" filters?

No one would seriously consider washing and reusing an automotive oil filter. Washing a furnace filter is a similarly impractical solution.

Washing filters is an unpleasant task, discouraging regular cleaning. Washable filters must be removed, washed, dried and reinstalled. Even then, they almost are never fully cleaned or dried before being reinstalled. Damp filters can allow the growth of molds such as aspergillus or penicillium, effectively making them even less healthy than they were when originally installed. Also, the efficiency ratings of most permanent filters are in the 6 to 8 range-significantly lower than the MERV 12 rating obtained by the AllergyZone Furnace Filter.

For much less than the price of washable filters, AllergyZone disposable filters can be delivered to your door every three months by our Home Delivery Service.

Are HEPA room air cleaners more effective than disposable filters on the furnace?

HEPA air cleaners are highly efficient for removing particles from the air, but are only effective in the room where they are placed. If the door to the room is closed, the air quality in that room may have less particulates, but the air circulation in the room (and even the entire home) can be compromised, leading to overall poorer air quality.

By using the high efficiency AllergyZone Furnace Filter, you can transform your heating and air conditioning system into a whole-house air cleaner, improving both the air quality and air circulation in your home.

Buy an AllergyZone Furnace Filter, install it into your furnace and/or air conditioner. Set your thermostat FAN to ON, so the air is continuously circulating. Sit back and enjoy the comfort of breathing AllergyZone Clean Air. Then, if a HEPA air cleaner is still used in the bedroom or other living area, it will be even more effective by further cleaning the already filtered air.

Do ozone-generating room air cleaners and "ionizers" improve air quality?

Ozone, a molecule with three atoms of oxygen, is categorized as a pollutant/toxic substance by the Environmental Protection Agency. Low concentrations of ozone can create a harmless clean air smell that may mask other odors. Even though the smell is improved, ozone has NO air filtration effects. Greater concentrations are associated with headaches, throat and nasal dryness, bronchitis, decreased pulmonary function capacity and other ailments.

The EPA has found in their testing that neither Ionizers nor Ozone "Clean Air" Machines offer reliable or safe means for improving indoor air quality. The EPA and other experts in improving indoor air quality recommend the use of a high efficiency pleated media air filter like the AllergyZone Furnace Filter.

View EPA website discussion on this topic

Disclaimer - EPA does not test clean air filters

Potentially Hazardous Ozone Generators Sold as Air Purifiers

For more information on Ozone and Health, click on Ozone and Health

I've seen other "Heat Exchange" face masks. Why is the AllergyZone BreathXchange better? Personal Respiratory Heat Exchange (PRHE) devices have been around since the 1800's. The first patent was in 1898. Since that time the evolution of the technology has been to make them simpler and more affordable. The AllergyZone BreathXchange utilizes a simple lightweight and affordable PHRE. The AllergyZone BreathXchange offers the following advantages.

• Quality. The AllergyZone BreathXchange is made of the finest materials. The QXtec heat exchanger is made with the highest standards and is thoroughly tested. The entire assembly is durable and machine washable.
• Breathability. There is little resistance to breathing, allowing use while exercising or sleeping.
• Acoustics. Your friends can hear and understand you.
• Price. The AllergyZone BreathXchange is priced competitively with standard face masks and can be less than half the price of other PHRE face masks.

How does the AllergyZone BreathXchange work?

The AllergyZone BreathXchange products contain a lightweight thermal conversion module that captures warm vapor typically expended in normal breathing. The module actually captures warmth when you exhale. As you inhale the cold air, the module gently warms the air, returning heat into your body. This advanced technology allows you to constantly breathe in fresh, warm air while trapping moisture to keep your mask drier. The AllergyZone BreathXchange mask keeps your core body temperature warm when you're facing extremely frigid outdoor elements and allows you to breathe moist air to avoid dehydration.

Does the AllergyZone BreathXchange require batteries?

No. The heat is captured from your exhaled breath. This heat is normally wasted.

Does the facemask get wet, gooey or icy?

No. The module captures the water vapor and returns it to the air you breathe. The moisture management is handled by the heat exchanger - not the fleece. Breathing humidified air puts less stress on your body.

How are the masks cleaned?

The entire assembly can be machine-washed in cold water and line dried. The module can be washed over 100 times without deterioration, or harm. The fabric mask can be machine-washed in cold water and line dried. We recommend washing the fabric in cold water to increase the longevity of the fleece.

Is this new technology patented?

There is a patent and a patent pending for this product.

I have asthma (or other health condition) and cold air is not good for me. Is this a treatment?

This is not FDA certified as a medical device. This is a cold weather product designed to keep you warm and comfortable just like gloves, hats and jackets. This device heats the air you inhale.

If breathing warm air could be beneficial for your condition, consult your physician.

Is the desiccant safe?

Yes! The desiccant (a substance that sustains dryness in a moderately-well sealed container) is bonded to the plastic and is not inhaled. The desiccant is used in baby powder and it is also used to thicken milkshakes.

How can I get a BreathXchange product?

You can use our handy Store Locator. Enter a zip code near your home. Also available online. Find a Store >>

Does this mask fog your glasses/goggles?

Not if you use the Vapor Shield accessory included in the package. When goggles are worn over the portion covering the cheeks, the goggles do not fog.