Most people opt for a MERV 8 filter when it comes to air filter replacement. This type of filter is suitable for most residential areas, as it can remove contaminants from MERV 8 to MERV 13. Hospitals, on the other hand, usually use MERV 14 to MERV 20. When it comes to household filters, you have three main options: pleated filters, fiberglass filters, and reusable, washable filters. Each type has its own pros and cons, so let's take a closer look at them.
Most disposable filters for domestic air conditioning systems are made of fiberglass. Polyester filters, while more expensive, offer an improved ability to stop dust and allergens. Pleated designs usually have higher MERV indices. Choosing the right air filter can be a bit overwhelming.
In this article, we'll help you select the best type to meet your family's needs. Around MERV 8, filter designs typically use pleated materials (nonwoven materials made from materials such as fiberglass paper, polyester, and plastic) and can reliably capture pollen, mold spores, and many types of household dust. The secret is that they can capture tons of waste while using a relatively porous filter material, thanks to the enormous surface area where dirty air takes up approximately four times as much filter material as a 1-inch filter. If you don't have the reference point for an old filter, you'll need to use a measuring tape to measure ventilation. Getting an exact fit is crucial to having an effective air filter; an incorrect size won't fit and will cause the filter to stop working properly. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHARE) recommends a MERV 6 or higher. HEPA filters have such hermetic filtration that they tend to restrict airflow so much that they are impractical for most residential forced air systems.
You may need a screwdriver or pliers to open a hatch or a cover to get to the filter, but this is often not the case. Because static electricity is really the only filtering mechanism they use, they have difficulty attracting larger particles, which are harder to extract with a charge. If you have more mild allergies or allergies to something that doesn't exist in large quantities in your home, you can view a drop-down menu to see an Essential+ (MERV) filter. If the current filters are perfect, note (or take a picture) of the size printed on the filter frame. Fiberglass filters are the weakest option and are recommended only as “pre-filtering devices” by the National Air Filtration Association because of their ineffectiveness. In fact, it's the most important item for your home air you can buy, and since indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air (and no one likes breathing pollutants), you need a high-quality air filter. It's not until FPR 4 and 5 that filters begin to trap larger particles, such as household dust and lint, dust mites, pollen, and pet dander.
Selecting the right air filter for your home can be daunting but it doesn't have to be. Most people opt for a MERV 8 filter, which is suitable for most residential areas. This type of filter can remove contaminants from MERV 8 to MERV 13 while hospitals usually use MERV 14 to MERV 20. When it comes to household filters, you have three main options: pleated filters, fiberglass filters, and reusable washable filters.
Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages so let's take a closer look at them. Fiberglass filters are the weakest option and are recommended only as “pre-filtering devices” by the National Air Filtration Association due to their ineffectiveness. Polyester filters offer an improved ability to stop dust and allergens but they are more expensive than fiberglass ones. Pleated designs usually have higher MERV indices which makes them ideal for capturing pollen, mold spores, and many types of household dust.
When selecting an air filter, make sure you get an exact fit as this is crucial for having an effective air filter; an incorrect size won't fit and will cause the filter to stop working properly. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHARE) recommends a MERV 6 or higher. HEPA filters tend to restrict airflow so much that they are impractical for most residential forced air systems but they can be used if you have mild allergies or allergies to something that doesn't exist in large quantities in your home. It's important to note that static electricity is really the only filtering mechanism used by HEPA filters so they have difficulty attracting larger particles which are harder to extract with a charge.
It's not until FPR 4 and 5 that filters begin to trap larger particles such as household dust and lint, dust mites, pollen, and pet dander. Choosing the right air filter for your home doesn't have to be difficult if you know what type of filter you need based on your family's needs and what contaminants you want removed from your indoor air quality. Make sure you get an exact fit for your air filter replacement as this is crucial for having an effective air filter.
