Different Types of Air Filters
Air filters are one of the most important components of your home’s heating and cooling system. The primary function is to trap dirt, dust and other harmful particles from the air. Dirty or clogged air filters can affect the performance of your HVAC system, as well as indoor air quality.
Here are a few of the different types of air filters on the market:
HEPA Air Filters
HEPA filters are extremely efficient. In fact, they can remove up to 99% of airborne particles. They will trap smaller particulate irritants like pollen or mold. They provide the best filtration for your home.
Pleated Air Filters
Pleated air filters are made of polyester-blend fabric or folded sheets of cotton. Air filters with more pleats per foot are recommended since they allow you to have better airflow throughout your home.
They have superior dust-stopping ability. Pleated air filters will help keep your system in top working condition while removing pollutants from your home.
Fiberglass Air Filters
Fiberglass air filters are the most common type of air filter. These are disposable and are extremely affordable.
Originally, fiberglass air filters were developed to protect your HVAC system, not to trap dirt and other contaminants. They do a great job of protecting your equipment against dust particles, however, they aren’t that effective at decontaminating the air inside the home. This type of air filter usually has a MERV* rating of 10 and below. If you have family members with asthma or sever allergies, you may want to consider an alternative filter.
*MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Or in other words, how effective is your air filter? MERV ratings range from 1-20. Most residential home air systems can adequately remove airborne contaminants with a filter rated between MERV 8-13. The higher the MERV rating on a filter, the fewer dust particles and other contaminants can pass through it. MERV 14-20 are typically found in hospital and general surgery settings.