When you think clean air, the first thought that comes to mind isn’t usually the filters that are installed throughout your system. That is a problem considering the fact that the air filters are a huge part of the process that help make the air in your home comfortable and safe to breathe. The air coming from outside your home may contain any number of allergens or pollutants. The filters are designed to allow fresh airflow in while irritants are kept outside of your home. This raises indoor air quality and lets your home keep that fresh smell. However, the air filters in your system come in all different types and sizes. You need to find out which is best suited for your home.
Air Filter Sizes and Ratings
Air filters are actually rated on what is referred to as MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This scale lets you see just how effective your air filters are at cleaning up incoming airflow. The higher the rating, the more effective the filter, but not necessarily the best air filters for your systems. The best air filters for your home are the ones with more balanced MERV ratings. If the rating is too high, then filter is too tight and unable to process air as well. If the rating is too low, then any irritants will be able to pass through your ducts and into your home.
You will also need to find out the correct sizing for the filters throughout your system. You will be able to do so by reading the sizes off of the cardboard edge. Then, you can order a similarly sized replacement so that when it arrives the old one is replaced as soon as possible. There are hundreds of different air filter sizes, so simply assuming a size could lead to buying a filter that is unsuited for your home. With how important air filters are, you want to make sure that the ones you use properly work for a system.
Ineffective Air Filters
The usefulness of air filters is finite, They become less useful over time as they continue to clean out incoming airflow. If the filters are doing their job correctly, then they will soon be covered in a layer of captured particles. This is good since that means that these particles will not enter your home, but when there is enough of them that also means they become a blockage. Airflow is unable to pass effectively through dirty air filters leading to many problems.
Dirty air filters mean that the airflow coming in is stopped, which causes the air inside of your home to dry out and stagnate. Your air systems will try to push airflow forward by increasing their efforts, which causes strain and eventually mechanical damage. It will also cause a rise in electricity usage, which will increase your energy billing at the end of the month. Avoid these issues and more by purchasing new air filters and installing them before the old ones become a problem.
