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What Kind Of Air Filter Is The Best

June 30th, 2017 by Darwilladmin

There are lots of air filters available in the market. But, it takes a good air filter to provide your home with excellent air quality. On top of that, changing your air filters more often will help your indoor air quality . Plus, it will also keep your air conditioner efficient during its life. But what type of air filter is the best?

The Different Types of Air Filters

So far there are five most common air filters for your air conditioners. Each varies according to their physical design and energy efficiency. The different types of air filters include following:
  • Flat-paneled fiberglass air filters.
  • Pleated media air filters.
  • High-efficiency air filters.
  • True HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters.
  • Washable air filters.

Washable Air Filters

Washable air filters can come from plastic or metal. They have layers of polypropylene weave or wire mesh material. This prevents certain pollutants from entering your home. They do have a few disadvantages. They have a low MERV rating of 1 to 4, attracts mold, and are more expensive than disposable filters.

Flat-Paneled Fiberglass Air Filters

The fiberglass air filter usually carries a MERV rating of 1 to 4. The disposable filter of this model use layered fiberglass fibers. It is inexpensive and is not made for cleaning the air. They only remove 10% of air pollutants in your household. These filters are very thin. They provide protection for heating and cooling components instead.

The Pleated Media Air Filters

With a MERV rating of 10 to 13, the pleated media air filters are better than the fiberglass filters. They can remove up to 45% of the air pollutants in your home. Its structure has similar compositions with the fiberglass filters. It also has disposable pleated polyester filters. Pleated media filters are often mistaken for HEPA filters. They are large and have a few similarities with HEPA filters, but less airflow resistance.

High-Efficiency Air Filters

These filters are the most practical filters for residential HVAC systems. High-Efficiency Air filters have a MERV rating of 14 and 16 and can remove up to 85% of indoor pollutants. They can trap very fine particles in the air. This can include pollen, dust, mold and other micro irritants. Some of these filters are even coated with chemicals that kill microbes.

True High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters

True HEPA filters have the best filtration structure for your home. They are often recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These filters can remove up to 98% of air pollutants indoors and can block elements that are 0.3 microns. HEPA filters have 17 to 20 MERV ratings. Because of its large size and ability to restrict airflow, most residential HVAC units can’t use them. They can use a solo air purifier or an entire house filtration system instead.
 
Be able to identify the different types of air filters to find the type of air filter to get for your home. Make sure it’s compatible with your HVAC system. If you’re confused with the best air filter for you, call our professional technicians. We can assist you with your needs. Call Thornton Heating at 847-905-1608. Get advice from our HVAC experts, as well as more information and helpful tips.