Today’s discussion will be about choosing the right Air Filter for your HVAC system here in South Florida.
General Filter Knowledge: (Understanding Air Filters and How to Choose the Right One)
How Air Filters Function and Work:
MERV Ratings and Filter Efficiency:
Air Filter Maintenance:
General Filter Knowledge: (Understanding Air Filters and How to Choose the Right One)
Selecting filters that are just right for your home can be difficult and confusing. No matter which type of HVAC unit your home has, every unit needs a quality air filter that fits properly to maximize your indoor air quality and keep your unit running efficiently.
Air filters should be checked at least once a month. If the air filter is dirty, change them out with a fresh new air filter. How do you know if your air filters are dirty and require changing or cleaning? Remove your air filter and hold it up to a light source, if you can’t see any light through the filter, then it is time for it to be changed.
The air filter in your home’s HVAC unit is a critical component of the whole system. Not only do they play an important role in indoor comfort, but they also have a major impact on the whole HVAC equipment.
How Air Filters Function and Work:
There are typically two types of manufactured filters made from these two materials: Spun Fiberglass material or Pleated Paper/Cloth. The materials are typically enclosed in a cardboard frame, then made into different sizes to fit all various air conditioning units available. The filter’s primary function is to trap and hold all different kinds of particulates and contaminants in the air that circulate throughout the heating and cooling system in the home. See the list below of a few contaminants that can affect your health and comfort.
Mold & Spores
Pollen, Hair & Animal Fur
Bacteria/Microorganisms
Dusts & Dirt
Fibers & Lint
Metal, Plaster, or even Wood Particles
Air filtration occurs when the disbursed air is “sucked” back into the HVAC unit where it is conditioned and then used again. During this process, air is forced through the air filter. The filter then traps the particles and contaminants, removing them from the air, and no longer being able to recirculate into the air you breathe.
MERV Ratings and Filter Efficiency:
MERV Stands for “Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value”. It is a numeric value for rating and comparing the filter’s efficiency and performance. Like most products we purchase, there are lower-end, mid-level, and high-end choices available. Not all products are created equal and therefore not all air filters will clean your air with the same efficiency. The higher the quality, the more contaminants will be removed from your indoor air and the more costly they will be.
The range for MERV Value is typically from 1-16; the number indicating how well the filter will remove materials from the air, so the higher the MERV rating the better the filtration.
MERV 1-4: Common standard filters. Basic filtration. Low cost.
MERV 6-8: Good filtration and typically used in residential settings. Made of cloth or pleated paper.
MERV 9-12: Middle-of-the-road filters with relatively high efficiency. Can trap particles of 1 micron or larger.
MERV 13-16: Highest efficiency, best standard filters available. Can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns or larger.
Air Filter Maintenance:
It is extremely important to keep your air filters clean and change them regularly because all the air that circulates through your HVAC unit, to heat or cool your home, will eventually pass through the air filters. Dirty, clogged air filters can cause your HVAC unit to malfunction and damage the equipment, Reduce airflow inside the HVAC system making the fans work harder and wear out quicker, Not remove particulates and contaminants as effectively as they should, and release these contaminants back into your indoor air (this is the air that you and your family, pets and children breathe), this may cause contaminants to build up in your duct system and cause the HVAC unit to work harder, increasing your home’s energy use and causing your monthly electric bills to increase.
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