Air filters are vital for a safe, clean, and comfortable home, and quality air filters can save money for property owners. Installing and maintaining quality air filters will keep you breathing easy and your air system in good shape.
It may seem like all air filters are the same and the first one that fits is your perfect match. On the contrary, there is an entire ranking system that was designed to help you decide what kind of filter you really need.
This is called the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV scale. It ranks filters on efficiency in trapping air pollutants and contaminant particles. A higher MERV number is equivalent to higher efficiency.
The MERV Scale
There are five basic sections within a ranking of 1 through 20. A ranking of 1 to 4 is your basic filter, good for protecting heating and cooling. It won’t do much to remove other air contaminant particles.
A ranking of 5 to 8 is a decent filter for those without respiratory issues like asthma or allergies. Ranks 9 through 12 are good choices to help reduce allergy and asthma systems. For high-efficiency filtration, 13 to 16 is more adept at trapping tiny contaminants like bacteria and smoke particles.
Most homes won’t need higher than a ranking of 16—MERV filters rated 17 to 20 are high-efficiency particulate air filters that are more suitable for commercial and public spaces. These filters trap bacteria and viruses, reducing the spread of infection.
If your current filter is rated lower than 5, it may be time to look into a different model. Below are some of the most important reasons to make sure you are buying and using high-quality filters. And always check with an HVAC specialist to determine what your system can handle.
Reason #1: They Can Remove More Pollutants
Air filters absorb the pollutants from the air and remove them from the forced-air system your home uses. Higher-quality filters tend to be thicker and have more pleats, or accordion-like folds in the fabric.
These pleats increase the surface area of your filter, which means it can absorb more of the pollutants that would otherwise escape through your system to circulate throughout your home. The thickness of the filter allows it to trap smaller particles—even things like smoke particles or bacteria.
Reason #2: They Can Keep You Healthier
If you deal with any form of respiratory condition, it’s a good idea to invest in a high-quality filter. A cheap filter can potentially miss toxic allergens and other particles that can severely damage your health. If you don’t change it in time, it will also begin to circulate the particles it has managed to catch.
Even if you don’t have asthma, allergies, or another respiratory issue, it is much better for your well-being to breathe air free of dust and allergies.
Reason #3: They Can Save You Money
This might seem counterintuitive, but investing in a better filter at the start can save you lots of money in maintenance down the road. Clogged or dirty air filters limit the amount of air that can flow through your system because it’s harder to push air through a layer of grime.
Thus, your system will have to work harder than it usually does. It will need to use more energy, and that means a big increase in your utility bill. And when the fan motor burns out from overuse, you will be facing maintenance fees as well.
Reason #4: They Can Increase the Longevity of Your System
As it was mentioned above, failing to use the right quality of air filter or not replacing it in time is sure to damage your system and bring on the repair bills. First, the accumulation of dust and debris will severely limit the functionality of your air system.
These particles can also collect on the cooling coils. This will also hinder your system’s ability to regulate your home’s temperature, and the combination of this dirt can even make your system fail completely.
A high-quality filter can prevent most of this build-up. Make sure you check the MERV scale for your personal system, but try to get one with a higher number. Simply using a decent filter and replacing them regularly can keep the repairman at bay.
Conclusion
Though it may seem like all air filters are the same, they have many different properties that can affect your home, health, and wallet. Choose a high-quality air filter, and it will quickly prove its value.