It’s extremely important to check and replace your furnace filters often. Filters serve two functions: they protect the delicate furnace parts inside your furnace and they catch contaminants and pollutants before they’re distributed throughout your home.
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) Ratings
The ratings of furnace filters run between 1 and 16. The higher the MERV rating, the more particles the filter can remove. Higher MERV usually is better if it doesn’t restrict airflow beyond your furnace system’s specifications.
Types of Furnace Filters
There are a number of options when it comes to furnace filters:
Standard Fiberglass Furnace Filter: This is the least expensive filter available, but it only lasts about 30 days. The woven fibreglass strands trap large airborne particles but can’t contain allergens and other pollutants from circulating throughout your home. These filters usually have a very low MERV rating.
Standard Pleated Furnace Filter: Made from synthetic fibre, the pleats on these filters help trap smaller particles like dust, pollen, dander and mould. Pleating increases the surface area that airstream encounters which allow greater loading of particulate. These filters last about 60 days and have a higher MERV rating than standard filters.
Large Media Furnace Filter: Large Media furnace filters measure up to 5 inches in width and are pleated with many times more surface area than the Standard and Standard Pleated filters. The increased size—and MERV rating—allows them to catch smaller particles and pollutants which makes them a good choice for people that suffer from allergies and asthma. These filters can last six months and longer.
It’s important to choose the right filter for your furnace and your needs. A certified heating professional can recommend the right product for your home. During an annual furnace tune-up, you can ask your technician which filter is the best option for you and your family.
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Delta Air Systems has been providing quality heating and cooling service to the Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph and Cambridge areas since the 1950s.
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