What’s the Best Kind of HVAC Air Filter to Use in Your Home?

Selecting the right air filter for your Delaware home may make a dramatic difference in HVAC efficiency and indoor air quality (IAQ). For the best results, it’s important to choose a filter that is the right fit for your IAQ needs and your HVAC system in size and performance.

Filter Efficiency

A filter’s efficiency determines which airborne contaminants will be removed from your home. When shopping for filters, look for the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. MERV ratings tell you exactly how efficient any particular filter is, with MERV 1 as the lowest and MERV 16 as the highest.

HVAC Performance

IAQ may be a deciding factor for choosing a filter for your home. However, the primary function of a filter is to protect HVAC components from the harm dirt and debris cause to parts and energy efficiency. For example, dirt buildup on the blower motor is going to make it work harder and use more energy. If dirt buildup becomes too much for too long, the motor will fail.

Dirt buildup on the evaporator coil restricts heat transfer, which reduces cooling performance and increases energy bills. A high-efficiency filter keeps the evaporator operating in a clean and clear state.

Choosing the Right Filter

Before you venture to the home store for new filters, write down the dimensions so you select the right size. Gaps around the filter allow air bypass. Additionally, consider that filters impede airflow in order to capture contaminants. A dense high-efficiency filter, such as MERV 16, is great for IAQ, but it may not be so great for your blower.

If you need a higher-efficiency filter, ask your HVAC tech to test your HVAC system for compatibility. Most households do well with improved IAQ and HVAC efficiency using MERV 7 to 13 range filters.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.

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