The type of air filters you use in your HVAC system can have massive consequences for how well your system functions and the indoor air quality (IAQ) in your Charles Town, WV home. However, with so many different types of filters available, making a decision may feel daunting. Here’s some advice to help you decide which air filters are right for your home.
MERV Ratings
A filter’s purpose is to remove pollutants from the air that passes through it. Therefore, when seeking air filters for your home, you should, before anything else, think about their filtration. We measure a filter’s filtration ability by two metrics: the diameter of the smallest particle that it can trap and the proportion of those particles it can remove from the air.
To figure out a given filter’s power, look to its minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV. Filters’ MERV ratings can range from 1 to 20, with higher scores indicating a greater ability to remove larger proportions of smaller particles. Most HVAC systems use filters with MERV ratings between about 6 and 13, with industry professionals typically recommending that you choose ones that have a score of at least 8.
Even though a particular filter may have a high MERV rating, it doesn’t always mean that it is better than one with a lower rating. If you use filters in your HVAC system that have MERV ratings above 13, for example, you may begin to experience airflow issues, which may ultimately raise your utility bills and cause your system’s general performance to decline. Such filters are often fine enough to keep even ordinary air from flowing.
We should also discuss high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and ultra-low particulate air (ULPA) filters. HEPA filters’ MERV ratings fall between 17 and 19, and they can remove at least 99.97% of contaminating particles with diameters of at least 0.3 microns. ULPA filters have MERV scores of 20 and can remove at least 99.999% of particles with diameters of at least 0.12 microns.
These filters are far too powerful to use in ordinary HVAC systems without causing problems, but you can still reap benefits in another way. We recommend buying air purifiers and equipping them with either HEPA or ULPA filters. Alternately, you can incorporate them into whole-home air purification systems that won’t hinder airflow.
Materials
Manufacturers can create air filters out of various materials, each one with its own strengths and weaknesses. Fiberglass filters are inexpensive, but they have low MERV ratings, and you will need to replace them roughly every 30 days.
Pleated filters come in many different forms, but they generally have MERV ratings of at least 6. They are somewhat more expensive, and you will need to replace them approximately once every 90 days.
Finally, there are expensive electrostatic filters with MERV ratings of at least 10, and you should reserve them for serious IAQ-related difficulties. In general, though, the MERV rating will be a more important factor than the materials unless you have specific concerns.
Home Size
How large is your home? The general rule of thumb here is that, since greater volumes of air will circulate through larger houses, such homes will probably need larger and more powerful filters. If you live in a massive home, you will likely also need to change your filters more often, so be sure to keep some in stock.
Sources and Types of Pollution
The filters that can best serve your needs will vary according to the kinds and quantities of pollutants that you must contend with. For example, since pet dander and pollen are quite tiny, it would be wise to opt for stronger filters if you have pets at home or live in an environment with many plants.
If you combine the right set of HVAC filters with the proper habits necessary to care for them, you can enjoy marvelously clean air in your home in Charles Town, WV. However, creating these conditions is not always a simple matter. Call Griffith Energy Services today, ask for our IAQ services and breathe a sigh of relief.
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