The air filters for your HVAC system are one of its important parts and contribute to the quality of air in your home, as well as protect your equipment from premature wear and tear. If your home is dusty or you have family members who have asthma or allergies, upgrading the filters may help everyone breathe easier.
Everything associated with your heating and cooling system is engineered to work together for maximum efficiency and filters are no different. The air handler needs the proper airflow going through it to run at its best. When the filters get too dirty or you’re not using the right kind, efficiency falls. Your energy bills increase and your equipment suffers.
However, you can work with an HVAC contractor to find the best filter for your system, especially if you want your equipment to provide better filtration. Filters are rated by their MERV (minimum energy reporting value) rating, which runs from 0 to 16 for residential purposes.
Inexpensive fiberglass filters have ratings from 0 to 4, and the pleated filters can have ratings as high as 8. The highest rated air filters are called HEPA (high efficiency particulate air). Their ratings start at 16 and go to a MERV of 20. The fiberglass filters usually don’t remove airborne irritants like dust-mite waste, pollen or mold spores, where a pleated filter can.
HEPA filters can trap almost all the particulates in your air, with the exception of tobacco smoke. Whole-house air filtration is possible with HEPA filters, but it requires modifications to your system and special equipment. People with severe airborne allergies find relief when using this type of filtration.
Before choosing a higher-rated filter to trap more particles, be sure that your air handler can handle it, which an HVAC contractor can help you learn. The contractor uses equipment that measures airflow at various registers in your home to be sure that it’s adequate for the system.
If you’d like more information about air filters, contact Around the Clock Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ve provided HVAC services for the greater Los Angeles area since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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