Changing your furnaces air filter can be a confusing challenge if you do not know much about HVAC systems. Choosing the right filter for your home can also be difficult. There are four major types of furnace filters that you could choose from:
- Pleated air filter
- Media air filter
- Electrostatic air filter
- HEPA air filter
No matter which type you choose, a dirty air filter can cause major damage to your HVAC systems. Clogged filters restrict air flow into the furnace. This can cause premature failure of parts like the blower motor. This also causes a backup of dirt and dust inside the unit that can buildup over time. This buildup can cause the unit to stop igniting. You don’t want to be one of those people who waste their good money on a service call that could have been prevented if they had just changed the filter.
If you are unsure what type of filter you have or it’s size, simply pull the filter from the unit and bring it with you to a local hardware store, or have Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning replace it for you when we do the maintenance on your HVAC systems.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people have problems with poor indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality means that there is a large amount of dust, pollen, dander, mold spores, and many other particles present in the air you breathe inside your home. These particles can be harmful to your health, especially if you have allergies or asthma. The easiest and cheapest way to improve air quality is to upgrade your furnaces filter. When searching for a new filter, you should pay attention to how efficient it is at removing particles from the air, how long it will last, and how much it will restrict air flow in your HVAC systems.
Pleated air filter- This is usually the standard filter that consumers put into their systems. It consists of a pleated sheet of material that is held up by a frame. The sheet of material is pleated in order to increase surface volume which allows it to capture more particles. Many of these filters have very low efficiencies. In order to be more efficient, the filter would have to be made out of a thicker material, but that would unfortunately restrict air flow into the system. They usually need to be replaced monthly.
Media air filter- This filter type consists of aluminum frame and disposable media pads. Each media pad has several fibrous layers that are able to capture particles efficiently. As a particle passes through each layer of the filter, it becomes less and less likely that it will escape the filter. These filters are able to be efficient without restricting air flow when they are replaced properly. The media filters should be checked monthly, but they usually only need to be replaced every 3 months.
Electrostatic air filter- This type of filter uses the power of static electricity to collect particles from the air. Electrostatic air filters are among the most efficient filters, and you do not have to sacrifice air flow to get better efficiency. They come in both electric and non-electric versions. Electric versions are more efficient, but they cost more than the non-electric form.
HEPA filters- This type of filter uses the High Efficiency Particulate Air technology that HEPA is known for to keep the air in your home clean. These filters are similar to the pleated filters in design, but they typically have a larger surface area and are much more efficient. HEPA filters boast 99.97% efficiency are removing particles down to 3 microns. However, with this efficiency come air flow issues. This filter should be checked monthly in order to prevent air flow problems, but they do last longer than pleated filters. They should be good for up to 3 months.
Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning is here to get your home moving in the right direction towards a cleaner and healthier air. We will help keep your HVAC systems running efficiently with our yearly tune-ups. We offer full service professional air duct cleanings to get any particle build up out of your duct work. Once the HVAC systems are cleaned out, Four Seasons will help you choose the right filter for your system. We even offer Lennox air cleaners and air purifiers to assist your furnaces filter in getting the air in your home as clean as possible. Clean air creates a healthy environment, and a healthy environment keeps you and your family healthy too! Call Four Season Heating and Air Conditioning today to learn more about improving your overall indoor air quality.
