When it comes to the health and comfort of your family, friends, and other guests, it's essential to get the most efficient air filter you can afford. Not only do filters allow people to breathe easier, but they can also reduce odors and make your home a more pleasant place to live. The right HVAC filters can make the difference between clogged air full of contaminants and clean air that is healthy and easy to breathe. Understanding the different types of home air filters is the first step to getting the best indoor air quality you deserve.
And if you really want to purify the air in your home, consider adding an air purifier. A secondary benefit of a good oven air filter is improved IAQ, which means the whole family breathes better. Good air filters can stop biological contaminants, pet dander, dirt, mold spores, and other pollutants. Cheap air filters can stop only the largest particles (sand and sand, hair, dust).
An electrostatic air filter is a washable air filter that uses static electricity to capture particles. Household HVAC air filters are rated based on their MERV rating, with most household filters between 1 and 13 (more than 13 are for HEPA filters). However, it is absolutely necessary for trained professionals to install these filters, as a deep medium filter will require changes to its ducts and blower. The recommendation of fiberglass air filters by HVAC technicians is due to the number of homeowners who do not change their air filters.
The value of an electrostatic filter is that it captures smaller particles than a standard washable filter and is completely reusable. Not only do filters remove dust allergens, mold spores, and other pollutants from the air your family breathes, but they also filter out fine dirt particles that can degrade the performance of the HVAC system itself. But when it comes time to replace it, does it really matter what type of filter you choose? Aren't all filters basically the same? If you can find a reusable filter that captures the types of contaminants you need to filter for your family, then you could pay more money upfront, but ultimately save money. All of them (and Owen) told us that MERV filters in this range restrict airflow more than low-MERV filters, as measured by the drop in air pressure that filters create when installed.
While these filters can cost more, the downside is that you don't have to buy them as often as filters that need to be changed monthly. In actual use, with the air in your home constantly recirculating through the ducts and passing through the filters each time, the cumulative effect of the filters increases. An ASHRAE study found that filters with a MERV rating of 4 or less met this standard, while a filter with a MERV rating of 8 doubled the pressure drop and a MERV rating of 11 tripled it. For example, hospitals use filters with a rating of 16, but that's not necessary for your home environment, and using a filter with such a high rating will increase your energy costs.
