Choosing the Right Air Filter for Your Home’s HVAC System

Having clean air to breathe in your home is essential to your health and well-being. Indoor air quality is affected by chemicals in cleaners, pets, building materials used throughout the house, tobacco use, and more. When it comes to your family’s health, it’s important to choose an air filter for your HVAC system that will work to keep your home’s air clean.

But what kind of air filter is the best to choose? What are the differences between the three main types of air filters used in home HVAC units?

MERV Ratings

Before we start explaining types of air filters and their differences, it’s good to understand the MERV rating system air filters use. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. The MERV on a filter informs a consumer how much dust and contaminants can pass through the filter.

The higher the rating, the more particles the filter traps. So, a higher MERV means cleaner air in your home.

However, the higher the MERV, the harder your HVAC system must work to pull air. Using a filter with a higher MERV rating than is recommended by the manufacturer can ruin an HVAC unit and may negate any warranty on the system.

The MERV scale goes from 1-20, with most home air filters falling in the 4-11 range. A filter with the highest rating of 20 is the kind used in a “clean air” room in a hospital setting.

Fiberglass Air Filters

With a MERV rating of 4, fiberglass air filters are the least expensive of the three main types used in home HVAC systems. They are probably the most commonly used air filter in homes.

They provide a minimum amount of protection for a home’s heating and cooling system. But they aren’t the best choice if you’re looking to protect your family’s health. They don’t keep a lot of dust or small contaminant particles out of your home’s circulated air.

Fiberglass Air Filters are made from spun glass. They are referred to as disposable, as you need to replace them every 30 days.

Pleated Air Filters

This is a “middle of the road” filter. These filters are more expensive than fiberglass filters. But they last up to 90 days to provide more value. They are reasonably effective at filtering mold spores, pollen, dust, and pet dander. They have a MERV rating of 5-8. For consumers looking for an eco-friendlier choice, you can recycle pleated air filters. They consist of sheets of paper, polyester, or cotton folded into pleats.

HEPA Filters

The acronym HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. They remove minuscule particles and contaminants from your home’s air. HEPA filters are the most effective at screening 99.97% of dust, viruses, mold, pollen, pet dander, and bacteria of the three filter choices. They are also the most expensive filter out of the three types.

HEPA filters must be tested, certified, and labeled by manufacturers. Because of these rigorous standards, HEPA filters are 11 or higher on the MERV scale. These filters are very thick and dense. This means they can interfere with the airflow process of your HVAC unit. Check to see if HEPA filters are recommended for your HVAC.

Choosing the Right Filter

No matter which air filter you choose for your home, Sneade’s Ace Home Center has what you need. Our knowledgeable staff can help you choose the right filter or answer any questions you have.