IAQ for a Pollen-Heavy Spring in Metro Atlanta

Atlanta pollen is real — and your HVAC system is the single biggest lever you have

Atlanta routinely hits pollen counts above 4,000 grains/m³ between mid-March and late April. Most homes treat this with the 1-inch fiberglass filter the previous installer slid into the return — and that filter catches less than 10% of pollen particles.

What actually moves the needle

1. A 4" or 5" pleated cabinet filter (MERV 13). 5× the surface area of a 1" filter, captures 85%+ of pollen particles, lasts 6–12 months. The single highest-return IAQ upgrade for an Atlanta home. Cost: a few hundred dollars installed.
2. A HEPA-grade media cabinet or a HEPA bypass unit. Captures 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. Best fit: homes with severe allergy sufferers or asthma, especially if you have pets.
3. UV germicidal lights at the coil. Don't help with pollen directly, but they keep the coil mold-free, which keeps mold spores out of the air you breathe. Pair with #1 or #2.
4. A whole-home dehumidifier. Pollen sticks to humid mucous membranes more aggressively. Dropping indoor RH from 60% to 45% is a measurable allergy-symptom improvement for most homeowners.

What's marketing

"Ionizers" without a clear ASHRAE-citation of efficacy. "PCO" without the cell-type-and-test-data conversation. "Plug-in air purifiers" that move 50 CFM in a home that needs 800. We won't sell any of these without honest data to back them up.

See IAQ services →