Filters are hardworking instruments that are designed to stop dirt from entering your air conditioning system and ductwork. Alas, while the humble filter achieves the near Herculean feat of keeping your Indoor Air pathogen-free, its design and abilities are often tragically misunderstood. Hopefully, “The Filtration Story” will help you decide the next best filter for your system, so you can keep your Indoor Air Quality dirt-free all year long.
What’s the Best Filter for your HVAC System?
If this isn’t your first Help!! Blog, you know our mantra: “Bigger is Not Always Better.” While some filters stop more dirt than others, this extra feature can come at a steep cost: The life of your air conditioning system. Like most installation projects, a professional will be able to tell you which filter is best for your home.
What Dirt Does a Filter Prevent from Entering Your Airflow?
- Dust: Dust is comprised of organic and inorganic materials that break down and enter your airflow (the specifics of which we’ll address further down the list). These materials can be human and animal dander, minerals from outdoor soil, paper fibers or any other materials found in the local environment.
- Animal and Human Dander: These particles can range from 100 microns to as small as 0.0001 microns in size. To give you an idea of the size of a micron, a human hair is 100 microns. Most particles smaller than 10 microns are not visible to the naked eye.
- Pollen and Allergens: There are lots of allergens floating around that we can’t even see! These include pollen, dust and dust mite feces!
- Pathogens: There are even some airborne pathogens that can be trapped by a filter! This prevents the potential spread of germs and illness.
When it comes down to it, filters are your first line of defense against poor Indoor Air Quality!
How Many HVAC Filters are there to Choose From?
Not all filters are created equal. In fact, some filters can harm your air conditioning and duct system by restricting airflow and can even cause premature compressor failures. So, what type of filter should you use?
- Grocery Store Throwaways: Grocery or department store filters only stop about 7-10% of the dirt. (The large dirt.)
- Pleated filters: These filters are a better start, but you should still be careful. Some pleated filters can restrict airflow.
- Electrostatic filters: These filters trap an average 60-70% of airborne dust and dirt, but most claim more.
- Media filters: Now you’re getting somewhere! These filters start out at 65% efficient and climb to 98% efficient as they fill up with dirt.
- Electronic Filters: Here’s where it’s important to consult with a professional. These filters can zap the dirt right out of the air but require plenty of maintenance.
Is there an Industry-Standard Filter Rating?
Yes! It is known as the MERV Rating. The MERV Rating is a standard that manufacturers provide upon which consumers can base their filter buying decisions. A higher MERV Rating usually means a higher airflow restriction. However, this is not true for all filter manufacturers. Most of the 1-inch filters with high MERV Ratings are very restrictive. This causes the air in your ductwork to be colder than it should be and can create mold problems.
So Which HVAC Filter is Right for My Home?
Every home is different, so it’s important to do your research in order to make the right choice for your home. A professional will be able to help evaluate your home and you make the best filter-buying decision. Help!! will put as much effort into determining the right filter for your house as we do determining the right air conditioning unit.
Most importantly, the most expensive filters are not necessarily the right one for your home. Maybe the Grocery Store Throwaways are the only filters your current system can use. Every house is different and requires different solutions to improve the air quality. Additionally, some homes will require Ultra Violet Lights in the ductwork to help prevent mold and bacteria from forming.
Ask Help!! About Your Next Filtration Project
Help!! Air Conditioning is here to answer all of your questions. Our number one goal is to return your home to a comfortable, safe environment. Call today for a FREE consultation!
Thank you,
Korey Knobloch
733-5888
