Indoor Air Quality
A lot of homeowners think that the air filter in their air conditioner and furnace are there to prevent dust and other particles from entering and damaging the equipment. While that's partly true, those filters are also there to filter those particles from the air that's circulating back into your home. If your home seems rather dusty, or you and your family are beginning to experience lots of colds or respiratory problems, you need to take a look at those filters to improve your indoor air quality.
When purchasing new filters for your HVAC system you need to look for 3 things to improve your indoor air quality:
Size:
Filter sizes vary from unit to unit. The best way to tell what size filter you need is to simply remove the existing filter and either read the label or measure it. Replace it with a filter of the same size.
Type:
There are 4 basic types of filters: Fiberglass, Pleated, Extended Pleated and Electronic. Each has its own benefits but the most important thing you need to consider is efficiency.
Efficiency:
Filters are rated for efficiency using the MERV rating system, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This rating tells you how well the filter traps dust particles and other contaminants that effect the air quality in your home.
A MERV rating of 1 to 4 traps 60 to 80% of all particles. A MERV rating of 5 to 8 traps 80 – 95%. A MERV rating of 9 – 12 means the filter will trap more than 95% of all particles and a rating of 13 to 16 means it captures more than 98%.
It might seem like a filter with a MERV rating between 13 and 16 would be the best choice to improve your indoor air quality but that's not always the case. Air needs to be able to flow freely through the filter so it can circulate through your home. If it can't pass easily through the filter then your furnace or air conditioner has to work that much harder to heat or cool the air. This additional work leads to higher fuel bills and puts a lot of strain on the system.
In most cases you'll be fine with a mid-range filter but if you have special requirements, such as allergies or respiratory problems, consult with one of our technicians and he'll be able to advise you on the best solution for your family's specific needs.
More more sever problems you may want to consider a UV whole-house air purifier which uses special UV filters to not only remove bacteria, pollutants from the air, but acts to purify the air as well, before recirculating it into the room. These air pufiying systems remove spores, pet dander, pollen and other minute pollutants that get missed by standard furnace filters.
Home humidifiers can also help improve the indoor air quality by increasing the moisture in the air. Our bodies require moisture and when the air in your home is too dry it can lead to things like dry, cracked skin, dull, brittle hair, and even respiratory problems.
The ductwork is another area that often becomes a source of concern. Leaks in intake ductwork can allow larger particles to enter your system. This leads to clogged filters, dirty coils and extra load on your furnace or air conditioner. Leaks in the outflow ductwork can allow those larger particles back into your home, reducing your indoor air quality and adding up to huge heat or cooling loss – which in turn leads to higher energy bills.
Oftentimes, we don't think to check ductwork and filters until the entire furnace or air conditioning system collapses under the load. Then you're looking at huge repair bills, and possibly even larger replacement costs. Regular maintenance checks help detect these smaller problems before they turn into big headaches. If you're experiencing a problem with your indoor air quality, it's time to call for a maintenance inspection.