Maintaining an HVAC or heating unit isn’t as simple as having one and then just leaving it until it finally gives out.
You need to take care of your temp control unit just as much as it cares for you! There are many parts that need to be taken care of regularly and one of the most important parts is the filter.
What is an air filter for and why is it so important? An air filter is basically a component of the aircon, a furnace, or an HVAC unit that prevents the dust, dirt, and even loose animal fur from circulating around the house. It’s a very important part of the unit because it’s the one responsible for keeping the air clean.
There will come a time when you’ll need to replace your air filter. Here are a few things you might want to consider before doing so.
Size Of The Filter
In most cases, the filter of your units is going to be taken into consideration as well. Proper sizing is important because if it’s too small, it won’t block the debris efficiently. If it’s too large, you won’t be able to put it inside your furnace or air conditioning unit as well.
There are many ways through which you can determine the size of your filter. It’s recommended that you take the filter to the place you’re buying from and then have a comparative look at the sizes of the units. Remember, sizing is one of the most important aspects of getting a filter.
Brands
Even air filters have brands too. Keep in mind that some aircon, furnace, or HVAC units are very picky when it comes to filtering compatibility. As such, it’s best to understand whether or not a filter is compatible with your unit first. It’s best to pick a filter brand that’s similar to the HVAC unit you have so you are guaranteed that it works properly.
Replace Or Clean?
It’s not always that filters need to be replaced with something new. Sometimes, you can clean the filter so that it begins to work properly as well. Before you order a new filter, you should check out if it’s a problem that you can clean away first as we’ve found that this is the case mostly.
To clean the filter, you simply have to open up your aircon unit and then take the filter out. Inspect if there are any holes in the filter. If it’s pure dirt, you can gently wash away all of the dirt buildups from the unit. Using a small amount of pressurized water can remove the debris away.
Filter Grade
Not all filters are the same. Obviously, some filters can prevent tinier pollutants from entering. However, keep in mind that better filters are going to set you back more money. Since this is your health we are talking about, it’s a good investment that can help you stay healthy.
Higher grades of filters are better for your lungs and respiratory systems because the amount of dirt they filter is a lot more as compared to standard filters. As such, it’s very recommendable to save your money and invest in a good filter for your home instead of settling for a cheap one.
Measuring Filter Efficacy
There are a few ways you can measure the efficacy of an air filter. If we’re talking about a subjective look at the numbers, you should consider the MERV system. This grades mechanical filters on a 1 to 20 scale which determines what they can filter.
Grades 1 to 4 are low efficiency and are mostly designed to protect the unit but they cannot improve air quality. Grades 5 to 13 can remove small to large particles from the air including molds, bacteria, and viruses. The top grades can filter out small particles of around 0.3 microns or larger in size.
Is It Necessary?
The short answer is that yes, air filters are necessary for your HVAC unit. In fact, you should never run these systems without a filter because you are putting your health at serious risk in doing so. It doesn’t take much for the HVAC unit to suck up allergens or viruses and then have it circulate around the house.
An air filter might not be something that you see regularly but it’s definitely something that you need to properly maintain and keep a close watch on as much as possible. It can protect you and other people inside the house from viruses and other potential issues so get a replacement when needed.