When it comes to the health and comfort of your family, friends, and other guests, investing in an air filter is a wise decision. An air filter can remove impurities such as dust, pet dander, or even bacteria from the air that flows through the system. Not only does this improve the air quality inside your home, but it also protects your HVAC system from potential damage. If you want to purify the air in your home even further, you can consider adding an air purifier.
However, you should be aware of the different types of filters available and their respective benefits and drawbacks. For instance, washable air filters are more expensive but should last for years instead of months. On the other hand, they usually have lower MERV ratings and require frequent maintenance to prevent mold from forming in your air unit. When it comes to filter levels for retail, MERV 1 to 16 is the most common range.
This range “takes it from filters that could catch a golf ball” to those that can “catch almost everything”, according to Owen. Some filters are designed to trap particles as the air passes through them, while others can neutralize other particles in the air without filtering them first. If you're looking for an efficient air filter, Nordic Pure is a good option. If you can't find Nordic Pure in your size or prefer to buy a new filter in a store right away, Honeywell's FPR 9 filters and Filtrete's MPR 1500 filters are similar and widely available in retail stores.
Some filters are reusable and washable, but require meticulous maintenance so they are not usually found in the most effective air purifiers. Your home's air filter blocks problems in the air that a ventilation system can pump from the outside. This means that in addition to the purchase price of an air purifier, you should also consider operating costs and filter replacement costs. Dirty or clogged filters are never good for your system, and if you choose to use an expensive air filter instead of a cheaper one, it can be quite expensive.
The average household benefits from having a filter that is rated high enough to block problems in the air, but not so high as to cause airflow complications. The new filters avoid additional billing over time by allowing air to pass through them with the minimum required airflow. That's why it's important to use only air filters with the MERV rating recommended by the HVAC system manufacturer. In addition, there are other things happening in your home that can affect effectiveness, such as ventilation (windows open or closed) and new particles that constantly emerge, so the air may not be as filtered as the claims lead you to believe. The cheapest filters are made of spun fiberglass which does very little to filter the air compared to materials such as paper, cotton or polyester.
Airflow in your home is the direct path that air follows through a duct system and filters to enter multiple rooms.
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