Which Type of Filter Is Ideal for Your HVAC System?

Your indoor air quality can be influenced by many things in your home, such as furniture, cosmetic products and air fresheners. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the amount of air pollutants in your living space can be up to five times greater than what’s outside. This is one of the many reasons you should include indoor air quality on your list of priorities. 

One way to minimize pollutants indoors is by choosing the right HVAC filter. Here’s a quick guide to help you select the right one.

 
Know which type of filter is suitable for your HVAC system.  The first thing you need to do is to determine the ideal type of filter for your HVAC system. You can usually find the recommended filter for your equipment in the manufacturer’s manual. Make sure to get filters that are fit for residential use and can remove the greatest amount of pollutants without affecting your unit’s airflow. If you’re not sure which filters to use for your equipment, HVAC maintenance experts at Bill Reynolds Heating & Air Conditioning can help you choose.

 
Disposable filters are the most common type that homeowners use. You can also get washable ones that you can clean and re-use every few months. However, you usually have to maintain washable filters more frequently, and they’re not as effective as disposable filters. Meanwhile, electrostatic filters utilize electricity to catch tiny particles, and you can get them in both disposable and washable variants. 

Look into filter MERV ratings.  The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating measures how well an HVAC filter can trap indoor air pollutants. This rating ranges from one to 16, and the higher the number is, the more particles the filter can catch. For residential use, the highest recommended MERV rating is 12. Anything higher than that value is meant for commercial structures, such as hospitals and laboratories.  Disposable fiberglass filters usually have a two or three MERV rating, while washable filters have a rating of between one and four. Disposable pleated filters are a great option for homes since they have a MERV rating of six to 12. This is the same for electrostatic pleated filters, which have a MERV rating of around eight to 12.