Are All A/C Filters The Same?

March 25th, 2014 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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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

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Air Filter Efficiency

February 28th, 2013 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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Replacing the air filter on your HVAC system regularly is an excellent way to help keep your system working efficiently and maximizing its lifespan.  The primary purpose of the air filter is to protect the evaporator coil and other components from accumulating a layer of dust, dirt and debris.  A dirty coil cannot transfer heat efficiently which causes the system to work harder to heat and cool your home.  This translates into higher costs and more wear and tear on the system.  In addition to protecting your HVAC system, the air filter can help improve indoor air quality.  Replacing the air filter is an important part of any HVAC system maintenance program.

Air filters are available in different efficiency ratings called MERV which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.  The higher the MERV, the better the filter is at catching smaller airborne particles.  The standard fiberglass air filters that are the original equipment on most HVAC systems typically have a MERV rating of about 1 to 4.  These fiberglass filters do a good job of capturing large dust particles and pet hair, but are not effective at collecting smaller particles, pollen, and other airborne contaminants.

High efficiency pleated filters have MERV ratings from 8 to 12 and can capture much smaller particles including mold spores, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander.   It is possible to have too much of a good thing with regard to MERV.  Air filters with a very high MERV will reduce airflow through your system and reduce system efficiency, especially when they are dirty.  They also clog very quickly and should be changed more frequently than standard air filters.

If you choose to go with a high efficiency filter, it may be a good idea to avoid the filters with the highest MERV rating unless you are certain that your system is designed to operate efficiently with the reduced air flow.  A pleated filter with a more modest efficiency rating will do a much better job of protecting your system and reducing airborne contaminates than standard fiberglass filters while having a minimal effect on air flow.

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Why Is Changing Your Furnace Filter So Important?

December 11th, 2012 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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Any heating professional will tell you to faithfully change your furnace’s air filter on a regular schedule, all year round. If you look up heating or furnace maintenance advice, changing your furnace filters often will inevitably be on the list. Why is this small task given such importance? 

Many people have the mistaken impression that furnace filters are intended to filter the air coming from the furnace into the home. In actuality, the furnace filter’s primary purpose is to protect the furnace by filter the air that comes into the furnace. When you wait too long in between filter changes, the filters begin to get clogged with particles they have trapped from the air. The more particles that are trapped in your filter, the more difficult it is for air to flow through the filter. It is this obstruction of airflow that you want to avoid. 

When airflow is restricted by a dirty furnace filter, your furnace has work harder. This means that the life of your furnace may be decreased and service calls may be more frequent, all because you didn’t change your inexpensive furnace filter as often as you should.

When choosing a furnace filter, you might assume that a more expensive furnace filter does not need to be changed as often as a less expensive one. In reality, the opposite can be true. Some furnace filters which advertise their ability to trap minute particles are more dense than the standard furnace filters. This means that these filters can also become clogged faster than your standard filters and should be changed more frequently, not less frequently. 

Protect your furnace and lengthen its life by frequent changes of the furnace filter.

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High Efficiency Furnace Filters

May 9th, 2012 Posted in Uncategorized
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Forced air heating and cooling systems such as a heat pump or a central air conditioning system combined with a furnace are equipped with a furnace filter or air filter to reduce airborne contaminants and to help keep the heat exchanger and coil free of dust, dirt and debris.  Most homeowners know to change the filter regularly, but you can improve indoor air quality and provide an added measure of protection for your system by upgrading to a high efficiency furnace filter.

The standard blue fiberglass filters that most HVAC systems are equipped with do a good job of collecting large particles of dust and hair, but a lot of smaller particle easily pass through these filters.  Medium and high efficiency filters do a much better job of capturing smaller airborne particles.  These filters are pleated and can be purchased through your HVAC contractor or at your local home improvement center.

Furnace filters are rated based on their ability to capture small particles.  The higher the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV), the better job the filter will do in capturing small particles.  Standard filters have very low MERV ratings, but pleated filters are made with a  range of MERV ratings from medium efficiency to ultra-high efficiency.  Before you rush out and buy the filter with the highest MERV rating you can find, keep in mind that these filters also restrict air flow.

Filter manufacturers claim that the airflow restriction is not significant, but an older system could be negatively affected by installation of an air filter with a very high MERV rating.  Try using a medium efficiency filter first.  If your system can move air through a medium efficiency filter without a problem, then you could consider a further upgrade.  Remember to check the filter frequently and change it whenever it gets dirty.

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