We all know know that fresh clean air is important to our health. We
should also know that our home air filters need to be kept clean not
only for our health but also to protect the
air conditioning and heating equipment. A
dirty (or worse, no filter at all) filter can cause our heating and
air conditioning equipment to fail. By
maintaining a good filter maintenance schedule we protect our health and
the heating and cooling equipment.
Before we discuss the different
types of air conditioning and heating furnace
filters and which one is the best for you, I want to stress the
importance of keeping your air conditioning and heating furnace filters
clean. Air flow is very important to the efficiency of your
HVAC system and furnace filters play a key
role in maintaining the proper air flow. Whether it be your A.C. system or
your Heating system, both HVAC systems need the proper amount of designed
air flow throughout the HVAC system. Dirty HVAC furnace filters restrict the
airflow which results in higher energy and HVAC repair costs to you.
With the advent of SARS, anthrax, avian flu (bird
flu), biological, and chemical terrorism, filtering media's and refining
the air we breathe has become a necessity for healthy living. Granted,
it takes the best of HVAC filtering media's
and technology to stop the aforementioned hazards, but the better we can
filter the air in our living spaces the better we protect ourselves and
our health from harmful particulates and compounds. It is a fact that
certain dwellings cause people to become or remain ill. When an indoor
air quality program is instituted in these environments, people begin to
recover from illnesses that seemed insurmountable. The air we breathe
inside of buildings can be toxic to our health and needs to be addressed
before our health is affected in a negative way. You will find indoor
air quality solutions on these pages that will help you with the sick
building syndrome. Take it seriously now and breathe easier and
healthier later.
Furnace Filter
Categories
There are different definition, categories, and
ratings for
HVAC filtering media. High Performance HVAC
will do its best to take the confusion out of this and help you better
understand these different categories and ratings so you may choose for
yourself. First of all, HVAC
furnace filters are rated by a MERV value. MERV stands for Minimum
Efficiency Reporting Value and is a method developed by ASHRAE (the
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers) to test the effectiveness of HVAC air filters. The higher
MERV number the higher the effectiveness of the HVAC
furnace filters to block certain particles
and compounds. There are three distinct categories for HVAC air filters.
These are:
Mechanical Air Filters - This is your
typical off-the-shelf throw-away HVAC filter. This filter collects particles
in its filtering medium. After it collects so many particles you simply
remove it, throw it away, and replace it with another. Note that some
mechanical filter media's are washable. HEPA (High-efficiency particulate
air filters) are also in this category. There are three sub-categories for
mechanical air filters. These are:
1) A1 and A2 - these are the standard 1 inch
thick filters. These are typically rated MERV 1 to MERV 4.
2) B filter media's are 2 to 4 inches thick.
These filters typically range from MERV 1 to MERV 12.
3) C filter media's represent the HEPA
filters. MERV ratings for these filters exceed MERV 13 and are the most
expensive.
Electronic Air Cleaners - The electronic
air cleaner does not qualify for a MERV rating because its efficiency can
change depending on how clean it is. It is important that electronic air
cleaners are cleaned on a biannual basis (more frequently in dusty
environments) for best performance. Additionally, these work best when used
in conjunction with a mechanical filtering media.
Gas Phase Absorption - uses
carbon to absorb odors and gases from the air stream. This media is not very
effective at removing particulates and is used in mainly laboratory and
industrial settings.
It is important to understand that the better the
mechanical filter is at filtering the air the faster it will load up (or
become clogged with particles). This can affect the performance of your
equipment and the frequency of filter changes. Unless your dwelling is
particle and dust-free do not believe that the filter will last for
three months despite the air conditioner
filter manufacturers claims. Additionally it is imperative that the
filter has the proper fit with no air leaks around the frame which holds
the filter.
Now that you understand HVAC air filters, how they
work to eliminate particles from the air, and the different types and
ratings for
HVAC filters, you need to take action to set
up a planned filter changing routine. It is recommended that HVAC air
filters at least be checked every 30 days for excessive load up of
particles. If the filter is excessively loaded on a thirty day check
then you need to narrow the time 3 weeks or relax that schedule if they
are not loaded up. Some modern digital thermostats come with a air
filter reminder feature that will flash based on number of days or
runtime of the fan. These thermostats help you remember to change or
check your HVAC air filter on regular intervals.
