At its core, an air filter is designed to remove impurities such as dust, pet dander, bacteria, and other particles from the air that flows through the system. Not only does this improve the air quality inside your home, but it also protects your HVAC system from potential damage. Air filters keep debris and air particles out of sensitive components, such as the duct system and the air handler. Debris will build up over time, creating a variety of problems, as well as polluting indoor air.
People living with allergies or other respiratory problems may benefit most from HEPA filters. A contractor needs to adjust these filters to fit your specific HVAC system. As the name suggests, UV filters use short-wave ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses. When air passes through the HVAC unit, UV lamps disinfect it with germicidal radiation.
UV filters are excellent for killing microorganisms that could be hazardous to health, including mold spores. A potential danger of UV filters is that they can transform oxygen into ozone, which can be hazardous to health. Even low amounts of ozone can cause coughing and chest pain, while higher amounts of ozone can worsen existing respiratory diseases, such as asthma. While UV filters are great at removing bacteria and viruses, they aren't as efficient when it comes to protecting against contaminants such as dust. That's why they're often part of a larger filtration mechanism, including HEPA air filters.
Ultraviolet light is invisible to the human eye and bulbs usually need to be changed every year, depending on the make and model of the HVAC system. Using small cotton and paper fibers, electrostatic filters create static electricity that acts as a magnet for dust and other particles in the air. The magnetism is strong enough to prevent these particles from spreading throughout the house, making them one of the best options for those who need a filter that can combat allergens. An additional advantage for electrostatic filters is that they are available both disposable and reusable. When it's time to change the filters, you can decide whether to wash and reuse them or throw them away and buy new ones. While certain types of air filters come with reusable and disposable options, washable filters are an eco-friendly way to save money.
The starting price of this type of air filter for HVAC systems is high, but it should be considered as an investment that will last for many years. The starting price is likely all you'll have to pay, as you can simply wash and reuse the filter over and over again instead of buying a new one every few months. Washable filters need to be maintained well to ensure they work as they should. As one of the main types of air filters, they come with maintenance instructions that must be followed. It is very important to ensure that the filter is completely dry before reattaching it.
Even the slightest amount of moisture that remains can cause mold and mildew to form on the filter and expel them into the air you breathe. When it comes to air filters for HVAC systems, media filters can provide more benefits than standard filters with high MERV ratings. Media filters provide the same level of filtration as a high MERV filter, but do so without the negative consequences of airflow or static pressure. In contrast, media filters have a larger surface area, which successfully avoids significant static pressure and provides better filtration. Media filters are very easy to maintain and ideal for filtering bacteria and other small airborne contaminants. Filtered dirt seals in the filter, preventing it from being ejected back into your home.
Media filters are also robust and cost-effective, so they need to be changed as infrequently as once or twice a year. In general, filters will be 1 inch thick for common systems and 5 inches thick for larger HVAC systems. The total filter size can range from a combination of height and length of 10 inches by 10 inches to 30 inches by 30 inches. In most homes, there is only one air filter. If you have a larger house with more than one unit, there will be a filter for each. The air filters are located behind a grille located near the air handler.
Air filters are a central but often underappreciated part of a central HVAC system. They don't just filter out bits of pollen and dust that would otherwise circulate around the house, reducing indoor air quality; they also provide a first line of defense against larger objects such as pieces of loose insulation that enter the system where they could cause damage or present a fire hazard. But if you don't change your air filter regularly, it can turn against you; clogged air filters are the number one cause of HVAC system failures. Portable air filters and HVAC filters can reduce indoor air pollution; however, they cannot remove all air pollutants. So what are air filters good for? What does an air filter do in your home once it's installed? The purpose of the main air cleaner is to clean the indoor air to make it healthier to breathe. Now that you know the importance of replacing air filters on a regular schedule, it's time to check and see if they need to be replaced today. Here's a brief introduction to air filters and why these seemingly minor components are so important to your home's heating and cooling systems: if you don't have adequate ventilation and air filters for purification, contaminants can build up inside. The following publications provide information on portable air filters and heating and air conditioning filters that are commonly used in homes: portable air purifiers (also known as air purifiers or air sanitizers) are designed to filter the air in an individual room or area. Let's take a look at each type of filter and its features to narrow down the types that best suit your needs.
