Many home and business owners have HVAC units in their buildings, but few know what an HVAC filter is or how it works. This article will explain what an HVAC filter does, why you should choose a specific type of HVAC filter, and how often to change your filters. It also covers the benefits of regular maintenance checks and the kinds of problems that can occur if you neglect your system.
For more information on purchasing high-quality replacement filters for HVAC systems, call us at Austin AC today! Our experienced technicians provide top-quality service at affordable rates to keep your home’s air clean and fresh throughout the year.
What Is An HVAC Filter?
An HVAC filter is a part of any system that regulates airflow from outside into or out of a building. Particles such as pollen, dust, and other air pollutants enter the HVAC unit through the filter.
Different types of filters trap different size particles. For example, a high-efficiency pleated media or HEPA filter is very fine. It captures particles that are 0.3 microns in size, while a lower quality MERV rating of 8 will capture particles that are 10 to 40 microns in size. When choosing your type of filter for maximum comfort and cleanliness of your home or office’s indoor air environment, keep this fact in mind.
Why Filter Ratings Are Important
Choosing the proper rating for your building’s needs is essential because it ensures you get effective filtration without allowing too much pressure drop, which can reduce efficiency during operation. The primary way to find out which filter you should have requires knowing the proper size of your indoor blower, the number of supply registers and returns, and the cubic feet per minute or CFM that your system can handle.
Different filters also have different resistance levels to airflow, which is known as pressure drop. The higher the MERV rating, generally speaking, the more resistance it will have to airflow. However, this isn’t always true because other factors need to be considered, such as air filtration effectiveness for each specific type of HVAC filter, along with how well it traps contaminants in general. Studies show that a properly maintained pleated media filter rated around 9-10 on average has minimal airflow pressure drop while at the same time trapping nearly 100-percent of particles in the air.
Types of Air Filters That Work Best
The average American homeowner will need to replace their filters anywhere between one and seven times per year depending on several factors such as indoor air quality, climate conditions, the type of HVAC unit, home size, and level of insulation. One thing is for sure: you should never neglect your system’s filter because it directly affects the quality of your indoor environment even more than what most people realize.
What to Look For in Replacement Filters for Your HVAC
The most important thing you should look at when buying new filters is the filter’s MERV rating. This will tell you how effective the type of filter will be at trapping tiny particles like pollen, dust, and mold spores. You can choose from low-efficiency disposable pleated media filters to high-efficiency pleated media or HEPA filters.
Another important factor to look for in replacement filters is the quality of materials used to make them. The media’s physical characteristics (the fibers) will determine how well it catches contaminants and if they break down too fast or wear out easily after several weeks or months. For example, high-quality pleated media can last up to five years under normal conditions.
Types of HVAC Filters
The main types of filters used for cooling and heating systems are as follows:
Pleated Media Filters – These have been the standard in HVAC filtration for many years. They’re moderately priced, simple to install, easy to clean, and provide uniform resistance to airflow. Another benefit is that they don’t become too saturated with contaminants or waste excessive energy through pressure drops at low-efficiency levels. However, because these filters have a lower MERV rating than others, they only work best when installed in areas with little dust or dirt in the air.
Pleated Bag Filters – These are an old-fashioned air filter consisting of a paper bag with pleated aluminum wire mesh attached to it. This wire acts like tiny fingers that trap contaminants in the bag’s surface area, while the excess air (outside the bag) is filtered through another piece of media or HEPA filter. While this is not an efficient way to remove particles from your indoor environment, they can be used in areas where you need longer filtration times and slow airflow speeds because dust doesn’t settle very well on them.
High-Efficiency Pleated Filters (HEPA) – The most effective HVAC filters available today are HEPA filters, which meet strict efficiency levels set by the EPA or the Department of Energy. They are up to 99.97-percent efficient at removing particles in the 0.3-micron size range, which means they can trap pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and even microscopic bacteria in your home’s indoor environment.
The best HEPA filters on the market today meet ENERGY STAR guidelines set by the EPA. Improved high-efficiency filters have expanded media pleats that offer a larger surface area than standard low MERV models, allowing them to be more effective at trapping smaller particles without restricting airflow too much. However, these higher efficiency levels come at a price, so they are typically only used in homes where people need excellent air filtration for respiratory health concerns.
The Benefits of Regular Filter Maintenance
The easiest way to ensure that your HVAC unit will work at peak performance is to change the filter frequently. Not replacing filters can lead to reduced airflow through your system, which in turn causes higher energy use and excessive wear on components. Even when using high-efficiency MERV 8 filters, it’s still advisable to replace them every three months because they will collect dirt faster than lower efficiency models.
What You Should Know About HVAC Professionals
Even though changing your own filters may save you money, if you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a good chance that you’ll inadvertently cause damage during the process. Because of this, it’s best to let a professional do the job.
HVAC filters are an important part of maintaining your comfort system. They reduce airflow resistance which helps extend the life of components, they protect ductwork from damage, and they can help improve indoor air quality by trapping contaminants like mold spores, dust particles, and pet dander in your home’s environment. Call us for a consultation today to learn more about how HVAC filters work, why filter ratings are important, what types of air filters work best, the benefits of replacing filters regularly, and why you should schedule HVAC maintenance with a professional.