The primary purpose of a furnace air filter is to capture airborne contaminants, not for the sake of air quality, but to keep them away from the heating and cooling system. Nonetheless, since the filter eliminates pollutants for the benefit of the system, air quality also benefits from its removal. Disposable pleated air filters are made of polyester or cotton paper and are capable of removing smaller particles, such as spores, mites and other allergens. However, the downside of cleaner air is that system performance decreases with these filters.
They can add more resistance to airflow, making the system more expensive to operate. Pleated filters can also cause strain on the fan motor, which affects the cooling of the evaporator coil and can cause the coil to freeze. They are also more costly than basic fiberglass filters. HEPA filters have such tight filtration that they tend to restrict airflow so much that they are not practical for most residential forced air systems. It is important to install the new filter facing the right direction.
Look for arrows on the filter frame that indicate the direction of air flow. Expensive air filters are made of higher quality materials, last longer, trap particles more efficiently, and have a larger surface area to filter. At MERV 13, you'll find the highest rating for most of the most popular residential HVAC filter sizes. You can rely on the filter to stop bacteria, smoke and other microscopic particles. As an expert in this field, I can tell you that there are several key differences between cheap and expensive air filters that may not be obvious to the naked eye.
Some filter brands and retailers use alternative scales, such as the Home Depot Air Filter Performance Rating (FPR) system or the MPR (on 3M Filtrete air filters). When it comes to air conditioning filters and oven filters, they are not identical, but neither are they completely different products. The differences between heating filters and air conditioning filters begin to occur in older homes or in homes that have special heating and cooling needs (such as homes in New England, where the winter climate is much more intense than here in Alabama).Any pleated HVAC filter can improve your home's indoor air quality by trapping dust, pollen, and other small particles, such as a quieter, more passive vacuum. Cheap air filters are usually made of lower quality materials, such as cardboard and paper, that don't last as long as their more expensive counterparts.
When HVAC filters get dirty and clogged with debris, air can't flow freely through the ducts, making your home less comfortable and, over time, can damage your HVAC equipment. You should expect to replace the filter every three to 12 months of use, depending on the size of the filter. Cheap air filters are often less efficient at trapping particles, meaning that more harmful airborne contaminants can enter the HVAC system and circulate throughout the home or office. MERV stands for “Minimum Value for Reporting Efficiency” and measures how well an air filter can remove particles from the air. We also control the extent to which each filter restricts airflow using a differential pressure transducer installed throughout the air filter. As an expert in this field I can tell you that it is important to invest in a good quality furnace air filter if you want to ensure your home's indoor air quality is up to par.
High-quality filters will last longer than their cheaper counterparts and will be more effective at trapping particles like dust mites and other allergens. Additionally, they will help keep your HVAC system running smoothly by reducing strain on its fan motor and preventing clogs in its ducts.
