Want to save money, breathe easier, stop bacteria and viruses, and lengthen the lifespan of your HVAC equipment with one simple step? Well, my friend, let me introduce you to furnace filters!
I can hear you thinking “is that it? I already change out my filter once or twice a year. What else is there?”
The answer, potentially, is “a lot.”
Most homeowners know that changing out their filter is important (even though many forget to do it regularly!). But they stop short of getting the full benefits of their HVAC system, which can contribute massively to your comfort, health and peace of mind due to air quality in your home.
According to the EPA, modern Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors, and most of that is in their own home. It pays in numerous ways to take care of your air quality. Let’s find out exactly how.
How, When and Why to Change Your Furnace Filter
Most filters will come with a recommendation for how often you should change it out.
The first and most important advice, even if it’s the most obvious, is to actually do this. Seriously, for a small yearly cost, it does a lot to maintain the health and proper functioning of your HVAC system. Delay a filter replacement at your peril.
However, this isn’t the whole story. If you live in a densely populated area with a lot of air pollution, own pets, have smokers in the home, or have people in the household who have allergies or are immunocompromised, the normally-recommended timeline for filter replacements may not actually be correct.
In these instances, you should be checking your filter about once a month (this only takes a few seconds) and changing it when it’s clear that it’s become dirty and potentially clogged.
As for how to change it, we’ve made a detailed guide that you can read below:
The other part of the equation is choosing a filter type, which we discuss just below.
Types of Furnace Filters
Below we discuss common types of air filters and other air filtration methods, and briefly talk about pros and cons.
Fiberglass Filters
These are your basic filters, and are what you see most commonly used since they’re the cheapest option. The problem is that while they will keep larger debris from your air supply, smaller particles do not get captured in fiberglass filters, making them an imperfect solution for high-quality air control.
Pleated Filters
This is often what you’ll see recommended by HVAC professionals. Pleated filters are generally higher-quality than fiberglass filters, capture more particles, and can last longer before becoming too dirty to be effective.
They also come in a variety of sizes and widths, and so long as they preserve air flow, the wider options will be able to capture more dust, debris and harmful particulates in your air.
Electrostatic Filters
These filters are somewhat rare but viable in homes. They use an electrostatic charge to trap particles. Most filters of this type are reusable and washable, though some are disposable.
Carbon Filters
Activated carbon filters use carbon to trap particles and gasses. Some HVAC equipment will come with a carbon insert to help trap gasses and odors, such as some ductless mini-splits.
UV Lights
While not a filter in a technical sense, these can be used to neutralize organic material such as bacteria and viruses, making them inert and reducing the chance of mold or mildew buildups in the system.
Furnace Filters and Air Flow
In our guide above about replacing a furnace filter, we talk about making sure the filter is oriented in the proper direction (there will be an arrow to indicate the correct orientation).
If you’re changing your filter regularly outside of this, you’re generally doing everything needed to ensure proper air flow. However, the dangers of a clogged filters include an enormous reduction in airflow. This can result in:
- Little or no air blowing into rooms at the corners or ends of the home
- Hot and cold spots that never become comfortable
- Dust and debris buildup that isn’t being circulated through the filtration system
- Worsened allergies, coughs, flus and colds
If your filter is fine and these things are still issues, that’s when you probably need to call an HVAC professional to assess the air flow in your home and recommend solutions.
Furnace Filters and Air Quality
To talk about air quality, let’s talk about filter quality. We discussed types above, but each of those types can come in a variety of efficiency ratings, and this relates to the quality of the air ou breathe every day you’re in your home.
MERV Rating
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV, is a hard-to-remember acronym that basically just refers to the efficiency of a filter. Higher ratings are better, and typical MERV rating for a filter will run between about 6 and 13, though they can go higher or lower.
What Are HEPA Filters?
HEPA stands for High-efficiency Particulate Air and is a quality metric related to the percentage of particulates trapped at or below a certain microscopic size. These are intended to capture bacteria, viruses, even some radioactive particles (which is what they were originally invented for).
Anything at or above MERV 11 is considered HEPA. A filter around this level is usually going to be a solid option for homeowners looking to balance air filtration with airflow.
Can Filters Stop Viruses?
Yes. Look, there are no guarantees here, because if an airborne virus is in your home, it may not circulate through the filter before you catch it.
However, having a filter that removes airborne particles of viruses and bacteria can significantly reduce your chance of becoming sick.
MERV 13+ filters have even been found to stop coronavirus (COVID) particles consistently!
Additionally, accessories like UV lights that we mentioned earlier are great at killing organic material that enters your ductwork, and this includes many particles that carry illnesses. For those who suffer from terrible flu seasons, are immunocompromised, or live with elderly relatives, adding this to your HVAC system may be a quality-of-life or even life-saving addition!
Standalone and Ducted Air Cleaners
We have discussed ducted air cleaners in the form of UV lights, and some more sophisticated models like the Reme Halo will also emit harmless, charged ions into the airstream that bond with harmful particles and make them inert. This can be a viable whole-home solution that supplements a great filter!
But what about standalone air cleaners? The EPA is quite clear on a number of points related to standalone air cleaners, and we agree with their assessment:
- Ventilating with clean, outdoor air is the best way to spot-clean the air in your home.
- For areas where this isn’t possible (usually urban areas with poor air quality), standalone air cleaners can assist in keeping home air clean.
- They are not intended to purify the air in your entire home, only a single room or area.
If you are having trouble sleeping due to air quality, for example, keeping the bedroom door shut and using a standalone air purifier can help immensely with this.
But don’t expect it to do the same for your entire home. That’s what your HVAC system and filters are for.
Monitoring air quality alerts in your areas can also help you to understand when it might be beneficial to use an air purifier.
CABS Heating and Air Conditioning: Your Home Air Quality Experts
CABS does it all. Well, ok, we can’t detail your car. But when it comes to air quality, we have years of experience not just with filters but in assessing your home for any and all inefficiencies, then providing cost-effective solutions catered to your needs and budget.
Maybe your filter isn’t the problem (or maybe it is). You could have leaky ductwork, or poorly insulated ductwork. Or other issues with your system that prevent you from experiencing the comfort you deserve.
Our customers are often surprised to learn just how much their air quality improves after an air quality upgrade to one or more of these areas, and it comes with the added bonus of extending the lifespan of your HVAC system and making it more efficient and less costly.
So what are you waiting for? Our experts are waiting to provide you with a no-cost estimate on services to make your home its best self, helping you, your family and loved ones in the process. Call us today!
