4 Tips For Choosing The Best Air Filter

Homeowners are increasingly concerned about air quality. Fortunately, a good air filter can help them relax. It can help deliver filtered, fresh air by capturing a high proportion of possibly dangerous airborne particles, such as vapors, dust, pet dander, and irritants as the air passes through the filter.

But, with so many brands and sizes to choose from at the neighborhood hardware store, it’s challenging to know which one is best for you – and not all air filters are created equal. However, according to http://paperpoint.com/air-filter-frames/, there are four things you need to consider before choosing an air filter, and they are as follows:

MERV Rating

The MERV rating is the first thing you need to consider before buying an air filter. Select a filter with a MERV rating that coincides with the needs of your family and household. It is a rating system indicating how effectively an air filter will capture particles from your apartment’s circulated air—the MERV rating goes from 1 to 20. One is the least efficient, and 20 is the most efficient.

Furthermore, the better the rating, the finer the filtration. The lower the MERV rating, the more often you’ll need to substitute your filter. While higher-rated filters are more expensive, the increase in air quality may be worth it.

Other companies have their own rating systems, and the higher the rating number, the more the filtration system will capture as air passes through it. Consider this: the most efficient ‘filter’ would be a portion of plywood that would trap all pollutants and all air entering your home. That would provide the best air filtration, but it would also be an awful way to live.

On the recommendation of a specialist, you should use a higher MERV filter to ensure your system can move the appropriate air volume via highly efficient filters. A MERV rating of 6-8 would be the most popular choice for most systems. You probably don’t want to sacrifice energy efficiency for filter reliability. If your family suffers from allergies or respiratory issues and requires a high MERV air filter, consider a whole-home air filtration option that will meet your energy and filter efficiency requirements.

Pay Attention to Your Manufacturer’s Instructions

According to the EPA, the air inside your home could be up to five times more contaminated than the air outside. Choosing the right air filter for your residence, such as HEPA filters or activated carbon filters, is one way to promote health and wellbeing.

All air is cleaned using filters in an air purifier. The more effectively the installed filters absorb various pollutants, the purer the air will be. Some filters, such as HEPA, are particularly effective at removing pet dander, whereas others, like activated carbon filters, are particularly effective at eliminating kitchen smoke and other unpleasant odors. Ionizers and UV lights, on the other hand, actually eliminate dust particles and destroy pathogens.

Furthermore, some filtration technologies, such as ozone generating units, effectively remove mold, but they have an issue. You cannot use them around individuals who suffer from respiratory problems.

Fitting a HEPA filter into a furnace can decrease the volume of dust pumped through the heating system. (An electrodynamic filter, which utilizes an electric charge to capture particles, can accomplish the same thing.) This may benefit individuals with asthma and other chronic lung problems, but there is little evidence that it is necessary for everyone else.

Size And Material

You will never enjoy the full performance of your system and filter unless you have the correctly sized home air filter. Home air filters are generally 1″ thick, but there are a variety of standard width and height proportions, and some systems have denser filters. Check the label of your current filter for the exact dimensions, or measure it yourself. Paperboard filters are generally a great option since it is easy to customize their size.

Depth is also essential. For instance, if you have a typical 1-inch fiberglass filter, you will need to replace it monthly. A 4-inch pleated filter, on the other hand, has a much wider surface area, allowing it to trap more airborne particles and possibly last for months. For instance, many disposable pleated 4-inch filters with an 11+ MERV rating can last 6 to 12 months under ordinary household circumstances.

Fiberglass air filters are made of a single box-shaped panel. Although the single thin panel soaks up large particles, tinier pollutants can infiltrate your indoor airflow. These filters are cheap and disposable and their MERV ratings range from 1-4.

A washable filter is another feasible alternative. These filters are a little less convenient than pleated filters. Because the washable filter is reusable, it necessitates routine maintenance to maintain an acceptable level of performance. Fungi can grow on the filter material. Having a spare filter on hand to substitute the used one while it gets dry helps to limit fungus growth.

Air Quality Requirements

Check the owner’s manual of your HVAC system to see what kind and size of filter it suggests. With that information, you can limit your options and select a filter to deliver the proper home protection. Remember that lower-quality filters may need to be replaced more frequently than higher-quality ones, so consider both price and longevity when making your choice.

Filtration has evolved significantly in recent years. Homeowners want an air filter that will protect their families from toxic emissions and dust mites and even eliminate the need for dusting. Consider contacting a specialist before making your decision!