The air filter in your home heating and air conditioning system helps remove respirable particles from the air, making your home safer and healthier for your family. Most air filters in A/C units need to be changed every 30-90 days, depending on the type of filter, and the amount of airborne particles in the home. However, there is a difference in the level of quality and efficiency of air filters, which can impact the overall performance. For homes with larger families, especially furry family members, choosing a higher quality air filter may improve the air you breathe.
Choosing The Right A/C Filter
There are several varieties of air filters, each with different ratings and effectiveness for cleaning the air in your home. Two of the rating factors used on air filters are the clean air delivery rate (CADR) and the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). CADR shows the percentage of particles removed from the air, multiplying the percentage by the amount of air flowing through the filter. MERV ratings gauge the size of particles that the air filter can trap, with higher values giving increased filtration.
In addition to ratings, each type of filter can have different quality and longevity standards. Some of the most common filters used include:
- Mechanical – A common type of disposable filter, these use fiber strands to filter out particles.
- Pleated – Pleated filters come in different varieties. The cheaper models use fiberglass, which only filter out larger particles and can be irritating to people with respiratory problems.
- HEPA – High Efficiency Particulate Air filter, or HEPA filters, can remove over 99% of particles in the air.
Talk to your HVAC professional about which filter would give your home the most protection against airborne particles. They can recommend the filter that would be the best fit for the size and capacity of your home.
Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC
