Picking the Right Air Filter for Your Home

By: bchauveau Tuesday October 20, 2020 comments

When it comes to the comfort of your home, one of the most important systems is your heating/air conditioning. If this has gone out on you in the extremes of winter or summer, then you know how miserable it can make you and your family.

But this system also keeps your home properly ventilated and it filters out the impurities that could cause you and your family to have difficulty breathing. This last part is of extreme importance, but many people don’t necessarily take care of their HVAC system as they should with the proper air filters.

If you want to ensure that your heating and air conditioning system works properly and lasts you for years to come, then you need to find the right air filters for your system. Here’s how:

• Filter Size - The first thing to look for when buying the right air filter is the size. This one won’t usually change that much. In fact, the length and width should always be the same. Generally, you will see filters labeled length by width by thickness. So, a filter labeled as 24x12x1 has a length of 24 inches, width of 12 inches, and thickness (height) of 1 inch. The last figure, thickness, is the only one that will vary.

• Look for the MERV rating - The next thing that you want to look for is the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. This is referring to how well the filter blocks air so that it can strain or filter the bad particles such as dust, dirt, and bacteria, out of your air system.

The problem with the MERV rating is that they can be misleading. Most people assume that they have to get the highest rating possible to have the cleanest air. This isn’t necessarily the case. The higher the MERV rating, the more expensive the filter. So yes, a filter with a MERV rating of 6-8, which filters 80-95% of your air, would be a better buy than a low-end filter with a rating of 1-4, which filters less than 80%.

But it may not be necessary to buy more expensive filters with MERV ratings of 13-16 (or higher) because they aren’t practical for a home. Most of these higher-end filters are the types used in industrial settings, laboratories, or medical buildings such as surgical rooms. While you might like the idea of having air filtered that heavily, it isn’t really practical for the average homeowner.

Ultimately, the best thing to do when picking a filter for your home is to look at what your HVAC system’s user manual has to say. Their recommendation means that the filter has been tested with the system and is known to work efficiently. Otherwise, you could just be throwing away money on an unnecessary expense.

Champion Carpet, Carpet Cleaning

A Colorado Family Legacy for over a quarter-century.

Champion Carpet cleaning has been serving Colorado families and business with superior customer service. Our quality speaks for itself and when coupled with our family values you will see why some of our customers have relied on us for decades. It's so clean you will feel like a Champion!

About the Author: bchauveau