Choosing the right HVAC air filter for your home allows you to enjoy exceptionally clean air and avoid increasing your energy bills or overworking your system.

An HVAC air filter is designed to remove airborne pollutants from the air you breathe at home everyday. In essence, choosing the right air filter and maintaining it properly means clean, healthy air for you and your family. Not only that, a properly maintained air filter helps prevent your HVAC system from being overworked, and thus, lowering your energy bills and extending your system’s lifespan. When dirt or other airborne debris gets inside your HVAC system it can lead to system failure, meaning your air filter serves an incredibly important purpose for your home comfort.

It’s important to remember that HVAC air filters need to be changed regularly to continue working effectively as they can quickly fill up with dust, dirt, and other debris.

Choosing the Right Filter – MERV Ratings

With a plethora of options available on the market, choosing the right HVAC air filter can be tricky. The most telling sign of an air filter’s quality is its MERV rating. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and is a numerical score representing an air filter’s ability to absorb airborne particles as they travel through your HVAC system. Residential HVAC air filters can have a MERV rating ranging from 1-16. A lower MERV rating means that an air filter will remove a smaller percentage of airborne pollutants/debris from your HVAC system. A good rule of thumb is that a MERV rating between 7-12 is a sign of a high quality air filter.

Next, we’ll take a look at some of the most common HVAC air filter types and how they compare:

Fiberglass Air Filter

These are the most budget-friendly HVAC air filter option as they typically cost less than $10. Fiberglass air filters are able to capture roughly 20% of airborne pollutants, mostly larger contaminants like dust, small insects, and lint. These filters are able to protect your HVAC system from harmful debris, but are less effective in improving indoor air quality.

Fiberglass air filters have a MERV rating between 1-4 and should be replaced on a monthly basis.

Electrostatic Air Filter

Electrostatic air filters capture airborne contaminants by using self-charging electrostatic fibers that absorb small particles in the air. These filters are both affordable and good for use in homes with children and/or pets as they can capture small debris as well as airborne allergens.

Electrostatic air filters have a MERV rating between 6-8. These filters should be replaced once every three months for them to work effectively.

Pleated Air Filter

Pleated air filters are widely considered to be a better investment than fiberglass filters because they can effectively capture between 70-90% of airborne contaminants, while still being relatively affordable and easy to maintain. Pleated air filters are made from pleated cotton or polyester material, and the more pleats they have results in greater coverage against pollutants.

 Pleated air filters have a MERV rating between 6-13 and can be purchased for under $15. They should be replaced once every three months to maintain effectiveness.

High Efficiency Air Filter

High Efficiency Air Filters are the most effective residential air filters on the market, with the ability to capture up to 95% of airborne particles including pollen, tiny dust particles, and mold. They are made from 4-5 inch pleated synthetic cotton and are attached to a metal grid. Outside of standard high efficiency air filters, there are also UV filters that use ultraviolet light to kill germs.

High efficiency air filters have a MERV rating between 9-16. These filters should be replaced every 3-6 months.

It is important to consider that there is a trade off between HVAC air filter effectiveness and airflow throughout your home. While air filters with a higher MERV rating capture the most airborne contaminants, they also restrict airflow to your home. Having a filter with too much airflow restriction will cause your HVAC system to work harder to heat/cool your home and will thus result in higher utility costs and an increased chance of premature equipment failure.

Reusable Air Filter

Not all HVAC air filters are disposable after short-time use. Reusable air filters are also an option. Instead of replacing your filter on a monthly or every three months basis, reusable filters can be removed from your system and cleaned regularly. Similarly to how often a disposable filter needs replacement, reusable air filters need to be cleaned once every 1-3 months to work effectively.

With all the options available, we hope our one-stop guide helped you determine what type of HVAC air filter is best for your family’s home comfort. Need further guidance about your home comfort needs? The professionals at DeMark Home Ontario have all the answers to your HVAC queries. Contact us at any time and one of our HVAC professionals will be happy to answer any of your heating and cooling questions and help you find the perfect home comfort solution for your home. If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s furnace, air conditioner or water heater, we offer purchase, rental, and financing options for every budget and the top HVAC brands on the market. Our quick and efficient HVAC replacement is done by our team of fully licensed and trained technicians.

Give us a call at 1 (855) 998-2998 or fill out our online request form and we will gladly assist you with your request.

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