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16.10.2024
Brooke Kirshne
The air is one of the most essential things for sustaining life on Earth. Without air, life is impossible, but in today’s world, air quality is declining rapidly. This global problem is caused by many factors, and the most common is air pollution. Air pollution is primarily caused by harmful gas emissions from industries and cars. This problem also affects indoor air quality significantly, but this issue can be fixed easily with the help of HVAC air filters. The system that spreads cool or heated air throughout the house or workplace is called an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system.
An air filter is one of the most important parts of an HVAC system, and they come in many different varieties. The main purpose of a filter is to provide clean indoor air. Many people may find it difficult to select an air that completes their desired needs. In this blog, individuals will be guided properly and learn everything related to choosing an air filter. So readers should read this blog till the end because after that they will be able to make the best decision when buying an air filter.
Benefits Of HVAC Air Filters
An air filter is a crucial thing for an HVAC system because it provides many benefits to the system and its users. Individuals will understand the importance of an air filter by learning its role. Here is the key role of HVAC air filters:
1. Improve Indoor Air Quality
The HVAC air filters help to remove airborne particles like dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, etc. These particles decrease the quality of air inside houses and workplaces, and by terminating them, the quality of indoor air increases. So neglecting the importance of an air filter is not wise.
2. Improve HVAC’s Efficiency
Contaminants that are present in the air can affect the HVAC system’s efficiency in providing cool or heated air. An HVAC air filter removes contaminants, which allows the system to work smoothly without any stress, and as a result, its efficiency improves.
3. Protects HVAC Units
Air consists of many large airborne particles that may harm the HVAC unit by causing damage to its components when the unit pulls the air. So by eliminating these damage-causing particles, an HVAC system stays protected and works without any damage.
4. Relieves Asthma And Allergy Symptoms
Allergens like pollen, mold spores, pet dander, dust, etc. are some of the major causes that worsen the conditions of individuals who have asthma or allergies. A high-quality air filter can effectively remove these allergens from the air and relieve the symptoms of asthma and allergies.
Types Of HVAC Air Filters
| Types | Definition | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleated Filters | Air filters that are made of cotton or paper that are folded into a series of pleats are known as pleated filters. | Efficiently captures most of the small and large airborne particles from indoor air. | These filters have high initial costs, which may not fit into the budget of many people. |
| Fiberglass Filters | Filters that are made of fiberglass, like woven and spun glass, are known as fiberglass filters. | These filters are effective at capturing large airborne particles and allow proper airflow. | Fiberglass filters are not efficient at capturing small contaminants and these filters are not biodegradable. |
| HEPA Filters | HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate and they are a type of pleated mechanical filter. | These filters are highly efficient at capturing fine particles and remove 99.97% of airborne pollutants. | HEPA filters don’t remove gasses and odors and have high airflow resistance which makes the HVAC system work more. |
| Electrostatic Filters | Air filters that use static electricity to capture airborne particles are known as electrostatic filters. | These filters are budget-friendly options for removing small airborne pollutants effectively. | Electrostatic filters are not effective at capturing large particles which may affect the indoor environment. |
| Washable Filters | Filters that are washable and can be reused for a long time are known as washable air filters. | The washable air filters have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years which is great for long-term savings. | These are only able to capture large particles and need to be washed regularly for efficient performance. |
| Activated Carbon Filters | Filters that use activated carbon (charcoal) to eliminate airborne pollutants are known as activated carbon filters. | These filters efficiently remove gasses like VOCs, and unpleasant odors from the indoor environment. | Activated carbon filters are not effective at capturing particles like dust, pollen, etc. |
| UV Light Filters | Air filters that use UV-C light to eliminate contaminants from the air are known as UV light filters. | UV light filters are effective at terminating bacteria and viruses from the air which provides a sterile indoor environment. | These filters can be harmful because they release ozone which is a very toxic gas. |
Role Of MERV Ratings
The MERV ratings play a crucial role when selecting an air filter. The MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) is an air filter rating system that helps to identify the efficiency of an air filter. This system rates a filter by analyzing its ability to remove particles according to their size. The size of the particles is measured in micrometers (microns). If the size of the particle that the filter removes gets smaller, then its rating increases, and the ratings range from 1 to 20.
Guide To Buying HVAC Air Filters
When people try to buy a new HVAC air filter they don’t have any idea how they will select a filter that fulfills their requirements. Choosing an air filter can be difficult sometimes, so here are some important key points that will guide to buy an HVAC air filter:
1. Compatibility
Understanding whether an air filter is compatible with an HVAC system or not is one of the important points that many individuals may ignore. Many HVAC systems may not handle the high airflow restrictions that some air filters create, so it is wise to check the compatibility in the manual of the HVAC system.
2. Size
Air filters come in different sizes and learning about them will help HVAC users to find a filter that fits properly into their HVAC system. To find the size of an air filter people should look at their air filter because most of the time nominal size is mentioned on it. If the size is not mentioned on the filter then check the HVAC’s manual or measuring the existing filter will do the work.
3. MERV Ratings
MERV ratings are also an important key factor that should be considered before buying a filter. Which MERV-rated filter an HVAC user should buy depends on the condition of their indoor air quality. Homes that are dusty or have pets require air filters that have higher ratings. On the other hand, clean houses that have less air-polluted environments don’t require high-rated filters.
4. Type
As mentioned in the earlier sections air filters have many types and every one of them is different. So it is important to consider the filter’s type because some filters are efficient at removing fine particles and some are effective at eliminating harmful gaseous substances from indoor air.
5. Budget
HVAC users should consider the budget before making any decision on selecting an air filter. People should always select those filters that can be bought easily when a new filter replacement is needed. Air filters are not a one-time investment so that’s the reason buying a filter that doesn’t impact the pocket in the long run is a wise decision.
Maintenance Of HVAC Air Filters
After selecting and purchasing an air filter many individuals usually forget that their HVAC air filters need maintenance also. Regular maintenance of an air filter helps to ensure that the indoor air is clean and the filter is at its optimal performance. Here are the key maintenance steps that every HVAC user should do:
1. Inspect Regularly
Regular inspection of an air filter is necessary because over time the filter starts getting dirtier and it can get clogged also. Sometimes air filters get damaged because of airborne particles. So inspecting the air filter once every month helps to know whether the air filter needs a new replacement or not.
2. Regularly Replace Air Filters
Air filters need to be replaced regularly because with time filter efficiency starts decreasing. Every air filter has a different schedule to be replaced, some filters may need a replacement within a month and some may take 3 to 6 months. Replacing the air filter regularly ensures that the HVAC system works efficiently and indoor space is full of clean air.
3. Clean The Areas Near Filters
If the areas that are near the air filters are not clean, then the filters may get dirty more frequently. The air filters capture pollutants continuously because of dust and debris present in the unclean areas. So it is important to clean the areas near filters to prevent unnecessary filter replacements.
4. Wash The Filter If It Is Washable
HVAC users should wash their washable filters regularly because these filters require maintenance on monthly. So users of these types of filters should wash them once a month to make sure that they work efficiently. It is important to let the filter dry properly before putting it back into the HVAC system.
Conclusion
Air quality is important to maintain a comfortable living environment in the home or workplace. An air filter helps to improve indoor air quality significantly by capturing airborne pollutants like dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, etc. but buying an HVAC air filter is a tricky task. Filters are available in many different varieties which makes it difficult to select a particular filter. So by understanding filter types, compatibility, size, and MERV ratings HVAC users can easily identify which air filter will meet their air filtration desires. Regular maintenance of HVAC filters is crucial for their efficiency.
Timely filter replacement, regular inspection, and cleaning the dirty areas near the filters are some of the points for doing proper maintenance of an air filter. A properly maintained air filter provides benefits like improving HVAC efficiency, protecting HVAC units, and relieving asthma and allergy symptoms. Are you trying to find an HVAC air filter that suits your needs? Don’t worry! Custom Filters Direct will provide you with your desired air filter. We are known for providing customized high-quality air filters to our customers. To know more about our services contact us at (877) 812-7983.
