If you’re not familiar with air filters, you are not alone. Though important, they are a frequently overlooked part of your HVAC system. Below, we’ve compiled some information about what air filters are, what they do for your home and how you can choose the right one.
What Do Air Filters Do?
The air filter in your household heating and cooling system helps keep the air in your home clean and free of dust and other nasty particles. Internal air quality in your home can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, such as the health of your home air system, pets, level of dust and weather conditions in your area. The right filter can save you money on electricity and improve the air quality in your home.
Different Types of Air Filters
Four types of filters are found frequently in home HVAC systems. The first is the fiberglass filter, which is layered to filter air and held in a metal frame. Polyester and pleated filters have the same basic design but tend to feature better dust-blocking capabilities than their fiberglass counterparts. High-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters take out 99.7 percent of all particles. Washable filters are less common but don’t have to be replaced.
Filter Maintenance and Replacement
You should check your air filters once a month and have a professional look at them twice a year. If the filter is damp, dusty or moldy, it’s time for a new filter. But it could also mean that your current filter is not doing a good enough job for your system. Properly maintaining filters will help keep your system running cleanly, but if you aren’t using the right kind of filter, you may have to replace them more often. Using improper air filters can even cause damage to other parts of your system, such as heating coils and fans, if they are not collecting enough of the particles in the air.
Choosing the Right Filter
The type of filter you need depends on the size of your home, the length of use and the weather in your area. If you have a large family, pets or people with allergies in your home, you may need even stronger filters. A professional can tell you which filters are best-suited to your needs by taking a look at the condition of your central air system.
Why You Should Upgrade Filters
Indoor air quality affects your health and your comfort. Poor indoor air quality can be an environmental risk, compounding problems with allergies and respiratory illness. Hiring a professional to check out your air filters ensures that you have the right fit, which means you will have to replace filters less often and your home air system will last longer. Getting better filters will reduce pollutants in your air and save you money on electric bill through increased energy efficiency.
If you want to hire a pro to simplify the process, look no further than Cox Heating & Air Conditioning. We can help make your home cheaper to maintain, safer and more comfortable.
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