What Are Furnace Filters?

Imagine living in a place where every breath that you take is as pure as the first wind of the morning. This is specifically what an excellent furnace filter has been designed to offer. Even though we might not constantly think about it, the quality of the air we breathe has an important influence on our health. The key component of any HVAC system is furnace filters. Using the correct furnace filter is one of the best methods to maintain clean air in our homes. Located in the space between the furnace and the return air duct, these filters are essential components of your HVAC system. Before dust, pet hair, and other airborne particles can get into your heating and cooling system, it is their responsibility to capture them. 

How Furnace Filters Work

Before knowing how furnace filters work, let’s know how they can be beneficial in two main ways. In the first place, they improve the quality of the air in your house, making it healthier for every individual to breathe, particularly those who have respiratory or allergy problems. Second, they protect your HVAC system from damage by preventing dust and debris accumulation inside, which helps your system last longer and work more efficiently.

By circulating air through a network of ducts and the furnace itself, your furnace contributes to the comfort of your house. The way it operates is as follows: air from your rooms is brought back into the system through the return ducts, which draw cold air into the furnace. After that, the air passes through a heat exchanger to get warmed up. The air enters your rooms through the vents once it has been heated and flows through the ducts. The cooler air is forced back through the return ducts by the heated air as it moves throughout your house, and the cycle repeats itself. 

The air gets contaminated with dirt, dust, and other tiny particles as this process is ongoing. This air travels through the furnace filter before it gets back to your rooms.  These particles are captured by the filter, which stops them from going back into your living areas through the other parts of the HVAC system. This reduces the quantity of allergens and dust in the air you breathe and keeps the air in your house cleaner.

Types Of Furnace Air Filters

You must choose a suitable furnace filter to maintain the efficiency of your HVAC system and improve the quality of the air in your house. The various kinds of furnace filters are listed here, along with a few pros and cons.

1. Pleated Filters:

They are made with folds that expand the surface area of the material, which helps them capture more particles. They are made of cotton or polyester. When it comes to trapping tiny pollutants like dirt and mold spores, they perform better than fiberglass filters. There are disposable and reusable forms of these filters.

Pros:

• Efficient in capturing tiny particles.
• Greater durability than fiberglass filters.

Cons:

• They are more expensive than regular fiberglass filters.
• It may increase the noise level of the furnace fan.

2. Fiberglass Filters:

These are among the most widely used and reasonably priced filters available. These affordable filters will not block system airflow because they are made of spun fiberglass layers supported by a metal grid. Only 25% of the smaller particles are captured by them, indicating that their ability to filter them out is limited.

Pros:

• They are very reasonably priced.
• These filters can be easily replaced.

Cons:

• These filters have little ability to capture tiny particles, including pet dander and pollen.
• They need to be changed frequently.

3. Activated Carbon Filters:

The function of these filters is to purify the air from gases, smoke, and odors. They increase the quality of the air in your house by holding these tiny particles on the outermost layer of carbon.

Pros:

• They are great at eliminating odors and dangerous gases.
• These filters are both durable and affordable.

Cons:

• It does not capture viruses, bacteria, or allergies. 
• These filters are unsuccessful at trapping tiny particles or fine dust.

4. UV filters:

As the air passes through them, they use UV light to either remove or destroy dangerous viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms. They are inefficient at filtering dust and other typical air pollutants, but they are perfect for individuals with weak immune systems.

Pros:

• These filters destroy viruses and bacteria. 
• They help protect individuals whose immune systems are weak.

Cons:

• They cannot filter out allergies, pollen, or dust.
• They may generate small levels of smog and be costly.

5. Electrostatic filters:

They are a great choice for those who suffer from allergies because they generate an electrical charge that attracts and captures airborne particles. These filters have a MERV rating ranging from 4 to 10, and they can be washable or disposable, depending on what system you have.

Pros:

• These filters capture allergies and tiny particles effectively.
• Over time, their reusable options can result in financial savings.

Cons:

• These filters are less effective at removing bigger particles like dust.
• If washable, they might need to be cleaned frequently.

6. Polyester filters:

With the ability to capture up to 95% of airborne contaminants that are 5 microns or larger, these filters are highly effective at removing dangerous particles from the air. They provide extra protection over standard fiberglass filters as they are made of high-quality materials.

Pros:

• These filters are great at removing harmful particles.
• They enhance the quality of air in your house.

Cons:

• These filters are costlier than fiberglass filters.
• They might need replacements more frequently.

7. HEPA filters:

With a 99.97% removal rate of dust, mold, pollen particles, pet dander, and germs, they are extremely efficient at clearing pollutants and allergens. Although they cost more, they offer the highest air quality, particularly for those who have respiratory or allergy problems.

Pros:

• They are exceptionally good at capturing tiny and large particles.
• They less often need to be replaced, therefore reducing expenses.

Cons:

• They might limit the passage of air through your HVAC system.
• These filters have a higher starting price in comparison to other filters.

8. Reusable and Washable Filters:

These filters are a more environmentally friendly choice because they can be cleaned and reused again. As they require fewer replacements over time, even if they are more expensive at first, they ultimately result in saving money.

Pros:

• These filters are long-term, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.
• They are easy to maintain and clean. 

Cons:

• To work properly, these filters need to be cleaned frequently.
• They are not good at getting rid of tiny particles and smells.

Tips For Choosing The Most Effective Furnace Air Filter

To maintain the efficiency of your HVAC system and guarantee excellent indoor air quality, it's important that you choose the correct air filter for your furnace. Tips on how to pick the perfect filter are as follows:

• Check The Filter Size: To start with, confirm that the filter you choose fits your system's size. There are differences in the thickness, height, and length of filters. The majority of filters have thicknesses ranging from 1 to 5 inches and lengths and heights between 10 and 30 inches. For information on the exact dimensions, check the handbook for your HVAC system or the size of the filter you currently have. A properly sized filter must be installed to ensure optimal system performance.
• Consider Your Home’s Air Quality: Keep in mind that factors like cooking, smoking, and pets can have an impact on the quality of the air in your house. Make sure the filter you choose handles each of these specific issues. Choosing a filter that will properly eliminate smoke and pet odors from your home is important.
• Think About Outdoor Air Quality: It's necessary to consider the air quality outside your house. If you are in a location with high levels of pollution or poor quality of air, go for a filter that has a larger surface area and an efficiency rating. This makes it easier to capture more of the dangerous particles that enter your house.
• Consider Your Budget: There is a range of costs for filters. Every thirty to ninety days, replaceable filters need to be changed, which can get expensive. Although it costs more, a washable filter has a ten-year usage limit. In the long term, this saves money and is environmentally friendly as well.
• Understand MERV Ratings: How well a filter catches particles is indicated by its MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating. A MERV rating of 8 to 13 is commonly suitable for the majority of houses. Hospitals and other locations with greater standards for air quality are the ideal market for filters with higher MERV ratings. Select a rating that suits your requirements because they might restrict airflow in an ordinary house HVAC system.
• Look At Family Health Needs: Make sure the filter you chose offers excellent filtering if someone in your family suffers from asthma or other respiratory conditions. Although they can be more costly and require additional equipment, HEPA filters are great. Ensure that the filter you pick meets the health requirements of your family and is suitable for your HVAC system.

How Much Do Furnace Filters Cost?

Furnace air filter costs can vary significantly depending on their thickness, MERV rating, and construction material. Some of the most affordable options are typical 1-inch fiberglass filters with a low MERV rating. But they must be replaced frequently. On the other hand, a 5-inch pleated filter of higher quality with a MERV 13 rating typically costs $45 to $65 or more. In the long run, a lot of people will find these more cost-effective filters to be their preferred choice, as they offer greater filtration and require replacement only after 9 to 12 months.

The Right Time To Change Your Furnace Filter

Replacing your furnace air filter every three months is generally a good idea. But based on your particular circumstances, the frequency might vary. If you live in a location with a lot of pollution in the air, have multiple pets, recently wrapped up any major home construction or renovations, or if any member of your family has respiratory problems, you may want to think about cleaning your filter more frequently. Frequent changes are beneficial in maintaining clean air quality because these conditions may speed up the buildup of dust and allergens.

On the other hand, you may not have to change the filter as frequently if your house is a vacation property that is not used throughout the year or if your furnace uses extremely thick filters, such as 3 inches or more. The filter may not need to be changed as often in these situations. To make sure your furnace operates well and your air stays fresh, check the condition of your filter and adjust your replacement plan as necessary.

Conclusion

It's important to understand furnace filters and how they work if you want to maintain a healthy HVAC system and clean indoor air. Furnace filters help maintain the efficient operation of your system while improving the quality of the air by capturing dust, allergies, and other particles. Choosing a filter that best suits your needs and surroundings is essential, as there are different types of filters available. Maintaining a clean and pleasant home is made possible by regularly checking and replacing your filter.

For all of your HVAC requirements, Custom Filters Direct is committed to offering excellent air filters along with expert customer service. To ensure your system operates at its best, our knowledgeable staff is here to guide you in selecting a suitable filter. A more pleasant house and enhanced air quality are the results of regular filter maintenance. Contact us at 1-877-958-5612 to find out more regarding our services and how we will help you.

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