Air filters are an essential part of any home's HVAC system. They help to improve the air quality inside your home, protect your HVAC system from potential damage, and trap particles that are invisible to the naked eye. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore what air filters do, the different types of air filters available, and how they can help improve your indoor air quality. In its most basic function, an air filter removes impurities such as dust, pet dander, or even bacteria 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. Two places where dust and dirt can accumulate are the duct system and the air handler. Debris will build up over time creating a variety of problems, in addition to polluting indoor air. The purpose of air filters is to help improve the air quality in the house. Traps particles that are invisible to the naked eye.
If we could see what is floating in our houses, we would be surprised. When air is introduced into the HVAC system, it is first heated or cooled and then pushed through the ducts that lead it to every room in the house. The HVAC filter cleans the air just before it enters through the blower and circulates through the ducts. As air is forced through the filter, the material, usually cloth or pleated paper, traps any contaminants that are in the air. Indoor air quality is a crucial element for any homeowner, especially if your household members have respiratory problems. The right HVAC filters can make the difference between clogged air full of contaminants and clean air that is healthy and easy to breathe.
Understanding the different types of home air filters is the first step to getting the best indoor air quality you deserve. Outdoor air quality is affected by particles such as pollution, construction dust, ash, exhaust fumes, and outdoor allergens, such as pollen from trees and grasses. Gases build up from things like burning coal or diesel, car exhaust, and industrial waste. Some useful measures of outdoor air quality include the air quality index and pollen count. Air filters are an aftermarket product with a longevity that typically lasts 1 to 6 months for disposable filters. Portable air filters and HVAC filters can reduce indoor air pollution; however, they cannot remove all air pollutants. You may not realize that many homes have worse air quality than outside and that your home could be one of them. The pleats of these filters give them an advantage over the pleat-free options because they increase the filter surface area for better filtering.
The air in your home usually contains a lot of dust, dirt, and other contaminants, which could damage your HVAC system. Air filters with a MERV rating of 14 or higher capture more particulate matter, but also restrict airflow more and clog faster. As you can imagine, your air filter collects all types of dust, spores, hair, dander and other particles that are pumped through the air conditioning system. The downside to these filters is that they require your HVAC system to work a little harder to draw air through the unit, which can cause your HVAC system to lose efficiency sooner than expected. Evidence indicates that combining medium to high efficiency air filters with a portable air purifier used in the bedroom, along with a regular cleaning routine, are the best ways to manage asthma and allergy symptoms. Although they may look like nothing more than large cardboard boxes filled with fibers or pleated material, air filters affect several crucial areas of interior comfort and performance of HVAC equipment. Portable air purifiers, also known as air purifiers or air sanitizers, are designed to filter the air in an individual room or area.
Air filters can be beneficial in reducing the risk of acute respiratory attacks by trapping irritants trying to pass into the ventilation system ducts, allowing you to breathe better. All Temperature Air recommends that you change your air filter regularly to keep your home and HVAC system running smoothly.
