If there’s one thing your HVAC technician reiterates at every visit, it’s that you must change the HVAC system air filter frequently. Doing so preserves air quality and energy efficiency, ensuring that equipment doesn’t work too hard and break down.
But what air filter is best? You have many different types of air filters to choose from, each with its own pros and cons. An HVAC technician can provide recommendations tailored to your system, but in the meantime, here are some of the most common disposable and reusable filters.
What Does MERV Rating Mean?
Before getting into the different types of air filters, it’s important to understand the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating. These air filter ratings gauge how well they perform on a scale of one to 20. The higher the MERV rating, the more contaminants the filter can remove from your home, and the smaller the particles it can collect.
Different Types of Air Filters and How They Work
When you visit the home improvement store to purchase an air filter, you’ll find many options. Here are the most common.
HEPA Filters
If anyone in your home has allergies or asthma, a high-efficiency particulate air filter, or HEPA filter, is a great choice. With an average MERV rating between 11 and 16, these filters provide exceptional protection, removing over 99% of mold, bacteria dust, tobacco smoke, and pet dander from the air. Make sure that the HEPA filter you select is compatible with your equipment, as the higher MERV ratings can make it harder for the system to pull in air.
Pleated Filters
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced air filter, pleated filters are a good choice. These reusable or disposable filters, which have a MERV rating between five and 11, have cotton or polyester folds that trap airborne particles like dust and dander without impeding airflow. The more pleats the filter has, the better it is at capturing contaminants.
Fiberglass Filters
The least expensive option, fiberglass filters put the least amount of strain on your HVAC system. However, they also typically have a MERV rating of four, so they aren’t as effective as other disposable filters at removing contaminants from the air. You must replace them more often than different types of filters, too; most require replacement every 30 days to ensure they don’t block airflow.
Carbon Filters
Carbon filters remove odors and grease particles from the air in addition to typical contaminants like dust. A type of media filter, these filters have a larger surface area, which allows them to capture more contaminants without sacrificing airflow. They also have a high MERV rating and only require changing every six to 12 months, but on the downside, carbon filters (and other media filters) require professional installation.
Let Us Help You Find the Perfect Filters
These are just some of the different types of air filters for HVAC systems. If you need help selecting the perfect one for your Hamilton, NJ home, let the experts at Home Allegiance Heating & Air help.
Give us a call at (609) 375-8424; be sure to ask about our financing options.
