Furnace and AC filters should be changed about every 90 days. Making sure your system is equipped with capable air filtration is the first step, but filters that are too dirty or clogged will stop serving their purpose.
Heating maintenance and AC maintenance are essential for removing all the airborne contaminants that can affect the air you breathe at home. Make sure to follow your IAQ specialist’s advice on how to best manage and maintain your air filtration system.
HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air (filter). These filters remove almost 100% of airborne particles, including dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria. The most air-quality-sensitive spaces, such as a hospital, use HEPA filters in their HVAC systems.
Not every home requires a HEPA filter and not every HVAC system is equipped to house one. But one of our IAQ specialists at Cencal can evaluate your home’s air quality and make recommendations. If you have people prone to allergies in your household, this may be the right choice for air filtration.
Cencal offers furnace and air conditioning framework upgrades so that you can always breathe the cleanest air possible, even if you have an older HVAC system.
The minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) is a rating that describes how well an air filter removes impurities. These values range from 1 to 20. The higher the value, the higher the quality of the air passing through the filter.
Ratings are determined by measuring the size (in microns) of the smallest particles that can pass through the filter. The highest-rated air filters are also the most efficient.
Different HVAC systems can support different types of air filters. Cencal Mechanical performs structural upgrades to your existing furnace or air conditioner to make sure that you can enjoy the most advanced air filter technology.
The most common types of HVAC air filters include:
- Disposable Fiberglass: these filters are affordable but have a low MERV rating. They will block large particles and debris.
- Disposable Pleated: the most common type of filter, these provide better air quality because the pleats create more surface area for filtering.
- Permanent Reusable: a type of filter that can be washed and reused. They are more expensive and require regular cleaning but can last up to 5 years.
- HEPA Filters: these filters are the most efficient at trapping particles and contaminants. They have the highest MERV rating and are commonly used in hospitals and other spaces that are air-quality-sensitive.
Air filtration is an essential part of any HVAC system. Not only do air filters extend the life of your heating and cooling systems and keep your ducts cleaner, but they also keep you and your family safer.
Air filters trap particles and contaminants in your home’s air supply before the air is distributed throughout your living space. The outside air used to heat or cool your home may contain:
- Allergens
- Dust
- Dirt
- Pollen
- Pet hair & dander
- Smoke & other fumes
- Bacteria & viruses
- Mold spores
Proper air filtration helps prevent you and your family from getting headaches, coughs, dry eyes, sore throats, allergies, sneezing fits, and sinus congestions. Allergy-sensitive households should consider investing in top-rated air filtration.
