Various Types Of Heating and cooling Filters

The air filters in your HVAC system are the first and most effective measure in preserving your heating and cooling system. Any Heating and air conditioning expert will tell you to replace your filters often. Using fresh filters will drastically extend its life expectancy and this preventative maintenance can save you money on repairs or down the road. Not to forget to mention, they help keep up the air quality in your home.

Although some products claim to be productive for ninety days or even more, most industry experts advise changing your filters every thirty days. At any rate, you should check your filters regularly. The age of your HVAC system and the amount of usage will pinpoint how much wear and tear a filter suffers. You'll know your filters need to be swapped out when it's layered in thick airborne dirt and dust. When a filter is clogged up, not only is it no longer doing its job, it is decreasing the efficiency of your heating system as the dirt starts to absorb heat. It also turns into a fire hazard.

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What filter is best for your home? There are a variety of filters to choose from based on your budget and ideal air quality.

Fiberglass Filters:
these are your regular filters for a homeowner on a budget. They're composed of a number of layers of fiberglass mesh. These filter dust by physically entangling them in a dense net. While fiberglass filters are better than nothing, they tend to clog quickly and permit a large percentage of smaller particulates pass through.

Electrostatic Filters:
these filters are created from a material that produces an electrostatic charge as air flows through them. This static acts like a magnet for dust particles, attracting them and locking them into the filter. These are typically considered more effective than fiberglass filters, especially for owners with asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems. They should still be swapped out at least monthly to get their full benefit.

Electronic Filters:
these filters function by either pulling particles in with an artificially produced electrostatic charge, or by passing air through an ionizing device to charge the air around it and create an attraction between airborne particles and the filter. In either case, these filters are plugged into a power source and can be cleaned out instead of swapped out. These are usually considered the top of the line in filtration systems, and come with a increase in price.

Specialty Filters:
there are a multitude of companies offering specialized filters to combat specific air quality challenges. Some come pretreated with disinfectants so they not only capture particulate matter but also eliminate airborne bacteria or viruses that pass through, making them a beneficial choice for the immune-suppressed, or households with children or elderly residents. Filters made up of activated charcoal or carbon are available that can reduce foul odors if a residence has that problem. HEPA and micro-particle filters are usually regarded as the best for enhancing air quality in the home, and can even be found as freestanding air purifiers if you don’t want to have one built into your HVAC.

In the end your choice in air filter comes down to budget vs. quality. For most homeowners, a conventional fiberglass filter will do the trick, but for homes with older ductwork or residents with specific respiratory needs, you may need to upgrade to a more effective and therefore more pricey solution.

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