When it comes to the air quality in your home, you may not realize how bad it is. Research has shown that the air quality in many homes is actually worse than the air quality in some of the biggest, busiest cities in the U.S. You may be wondering how you can help better the air quality in your home. Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning would like to talk about different types of air filters that can help improve the air quality in your home.
MERV Rating Chart
You may not know how to choose the right filter for your home to offer the highest amount of air filtration. Luckily, the American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers have created a rating scale to help buyers understand the efficiency of their filter. MERV rates air filters on a scale of 1 to 16. One being the least efficient and sixteen being the most efficient. You should note that just because a filter gets a score of 16, it doesn’t mean that the air filter is the most realistic choice for a home.
Washable HVAC Air Filters
When you buy a washable air filter, it has to get cleaned often. This makes it highly susceptible to fungus and mildew buildup if it hasn’t had time to completely dry after a washing. These aren’t very efficient filters and can end up causing more grief than they do good. Their MERV rating is between 1 and 4.
Fiberglass Air Filters
Fiberglass air filters do a great job at offering protection for your HVAC system by keeping debris out of it. They don’t offer much help in improving air quality though. This type of filter is tempting to many because the cost is very low, but they don’t offer any help with the quality of your air. This filter gets a MERV rating of 1-4 as well.
Polyester and Pleated Air Filters
The polyester and pleated air filter is the most highly recommended filter option for homes. They do a great job of trapping particles and dust in your air and actually improve the air quality in your home by about 45 percent. They are still very affordable and allow the right amount of air flow into your system while still catching all the debris that could damage it. This type of filter gets a MERV rating between 8 and 13.
High Efficiency Air Filters
This type of filter is most often seen in places like a hospital or other sterile environments. It gets the highest MERV rating of 14 to 16 and reduces pollutants by 85 percent. They aren’t normally used in residential settings because they are expensive, and most homes don’t need to be sterile.
Air Conditioning Installation, Replacement, Emergency Repairs, Preventive Maintenance in Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin, North LV & Henderson Nevada
When you are selecting the right air filter for you HVAC system, don’t forget that it needs a certain amount of air flow to run properly. Don’t choose a filter that restricts air too much to avoid issues with your system. If you have any questions or concerns with the filters in your home, Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning can help you find the answers. We can maintain, install, and repair any HVAC system. Call us today!