Each component of
the HVAC system is designed for a specific function. The ac filter or
furnace filter is the ONLY component in the HVAC system designed to
allow you to regulate the quality of air passing through the
system.
Because the ac
filter and/or furnace filter plays such an important role in regulating the quality
of the indoor air, we wanted to discuss the various types of ac filters
and/or furnace filters commonly in use in homes and offices.
Here is an overview of the
types of commonly used AC Furnace Filters:
Foam AC Furnace Filters
Foam filters are not normally used in home or office heating and air
conditioning systems. Foam filters are widely used in the RV and travel trailer
industry in the AC System but provide miminal removal of air pollutants or protection
of the equipment. Foam AC Filters are used, primarily, due to cost. Foam
AC Filters are reusable, requiring removal and cleaning, usually by hot water,
detergent or cleaning solvents. After the lengthy cleaning and drying process,
these AC Filters are reinstalled in the system. We do not recommend the use of
these filters in your heating and/or air conditioning system for replacement
of your AC Furnace Filter!
Fiberglass AC Furnace Filters
Fiberglass AC Furnace Filters are the least expensive type of AC Furnace
filters. Fiberglass AC Furnace filters were originally designed for one purpose,
to protect your HVAC equipment from damage as the result of the collection
of debris (indoor air pollutants) inside the HVAC system. Various manufacturers,
in an effort to out-sell competition, resort to selling these AC Furnace Filters
to unwary consumers by promoting a cost savings.
Fiberglass AC
Furnace Filters are not only the least expensive conventional AC Furnace Filters
sold, they are the least effective in removing harmful pollutants from the air
you breathe. The fibers used in making up the Fiberglass AC Furnace Filter will
begin to degrade soon after the AC Furnace Filter is installed, releasing harmful
fiberglass into the HVAC system and ultimately into your indoor air. As
a consequence, there is a potential health risk associated with fiberglass ac furnace
filters. Because fiberglass ac furnace filters are manufactured in a flat
sheet and mounted into the filter frame in the same way, the surface area that
filters your indoor air is minimized. Big-box retailers, as well as less scrupulous
HVAC contractors, routinely market these AC Furnace Filters. We do not recommend
them for use.
Pleated AC Furnace Filters
Pleated AC Furnace Filters represent a significant upgrade in air filter
quality and performance over fiberglass ac furnace filters. The pleated material
used in this type of filter is normally a woven "fabric" made of polyester.The
tighter "weave" captures much more of the pollutants passing through the
filter as the furnace or air conditioning system operates.
Pleated ac
furnace filters filters incorporate into their design the use of "pleats", creating
a washboard appearance. The advantage with this design is that is dramatically
increases the surface area of the filter media used to capture harmful and
unwanted indoor air pollutants in your home. If you took a pleated ac furnace
filter filter apart and stretched out the filter material, you would discover
a sizable difference in the overall square footage of these types of filters used
in air filtration vs. the flat fiberglass design.
Reusable AC Furnace Filters
Many resusable ac furnace filter manufacturers produce filters which
tout the value of a reusable filter. The filter media is washable while the
frame is, most often, manufactured from some form of metal allowing for extended
use of the ac furnace filter. Though the idea of a reusable filter is attractive
due to the cost savings over disposable filters like your typical fiberglass
or pleated filters, there are a number of reasons why we do not recommend
these filters.
Reusable AC Furnace Filters present a number of problems
not associated with disposable ac furnace filters.
To properly clean
reusable ac furnace it is necessary to remove the filter, transport it through
the home or office into an area that will allow for adequate cleaning. This
is normally accomplished through rinsing with water or a suitable cleaner. Not
only is this a dirty and time consuming process, the ac furnace filter must be
dried thoroughly to allow re-introduction into the HVAC system. Assuming the
cleaning process was adequate, drying is an overnight process or the use of an
external dryer such as a hair dryer is used. This means that you either turn off
your system for the duration of the cleaning and drying of the filter or risk
the possibility of creating a "safe harbor" for mold and various other biological
contaminants in the filter.
With the use of chemical cleaners, the
media material in the ac furnace filter will absorb the chemicals and remain
in the filter media. Careful handling in a room with plenty of air flow is essential.
When the air in your HVAC reaches room temperature, the Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOC's) present in the chemical used to clean the ac furnace filter
that was absorbed into the media material will begin to release into your indoor
air causing a potential health risk. In addition to posing a health risk, not
to mention the time, energy and mess included with this form of filtration, we
have found that virtually all reusable ac furnace filters serverely reduce the
flow of air through the system resulting a dramatic loss in efficiency and an
increase in operating costs. In the end, we are convinced this is not a good solution.
Electrostatic AC Furnace Filters
Electrostatic AC Furnace Filters are, most often, plugged into an external
power source to cause the AC Furnace filter media to become electrified,
causing the AC Furnace Filter to act like a magnet in attracting more of the pollutants
passing through the AC Furnace Filter. Though these types of AC Furnace
Filters have proven to capture more of the pollutants present in indoor air,
the necessity for connecting to an external power source is often expensive and
relies on continuous power for this type of AC Furnace filter to be effective.
In conclusion, we have found that pleated, electrostatic filters offer the greatest
efficiency, both in terms of air filtration, operating efficiency and cost savings
over other alternatives. Now that I you have an overview of the different types
of filters, how can you tell one from another?
In an effort to aid the consumer in determining the difference between the
quality of one filter compared to another, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating,
and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) developed a rating system called the MERV Rating?
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. ASHRAE assigns a MERV number intended to help people compare air filters that are for use in heating and
air conditioning systems. The MERV rating designates the efficiency of the air filter, regardless of whether it is
used as an air conditioner filter or furnace filter or in an HVAC system that combines
both heating and air conditioning into one HVAC system. The MERV rating ranks air filter efficiency by assigning a number ranging from 1 to 16, with
one being the lowest air filter efficiency and 16 the highest air filter efficiency
when used in a the typical HVAC system (special use systems in commercial
settings may employ higher MERV efficiencies).
Particles in the
indoor air that pass through the System's ac filter or furnace filter is measured
in microns, which is 1/1000 of a millimeter. A human hair is about 100 microns
wide. Regardless of the purpose, whether it is used as air conditioning filter
or furnace filter or used in a combination HVAC system, our ac filters and/or
furnace filters capture airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns!
A
MERV 12 rating represents the best balance between the removal of airborne particulates
such as dust, pollen, airborne pathogens, etc. on the one hand and the overall
HVAC system efficiency, on the other. Air filters above MERV12 generally require larger, more expensive HVAC systems not normally intended for
traditional home or smaller office heating and air conditioning systems. This is
due to the “drag” imposed on the HVAC system. Top-notch HVAC professionals
who buy from us daily highly endorse the MERV12 rating as providing the
highest efficiency of an air filter while not overtaxing the HVAC system.
MERV12 requires 80% or better air filter efficiency on 1 - 3 micron
particles and greater than 90% air filter efficiency on 3 -10 micron
airborne particles when tested in accordance with ASHRAE Test Standard
52.2 used in testing air filters and air filter efficiency.
Our air filters measured 97.8% air filter efficiency in removing
airborne particles 3-10 microns in size, 84.1% air filter efficiency in
removing airborne 1-3 microns in size and 60% air filter efficiency for
smaller particles thus exceeding minimum MERV12 standards.
Our AC and Furnace Filters - Why They Are Better?
Our AC Filters and Furnace Filters are what we firmly believe to be the finest
solution for your HVAC system. They are the perfect balance between maximum
filtration and optimum operation of your HVAC system. As a result, you get cleaner
air without harming your HVAC system or driving up operating expense.
All of our Standard and Custom Size AC and Furnace Filters offer the following features:
* Pleated to DOUBLE THE FILTRATION of competitive filters!
* Superior Construction to insure long life, efficient operation and eliminate costly "filter collapse"
* Hypo-Allergenic and Bacterio-Static to eliminate mold, mildew and bacteria growth
* No Harmful Glues in the construction of your AC Furnace Filter eliminating a potential health risk
* Electrostatic Filter Media causes our filters to act like a magnet attracting dirt, dust and other
harmful pollutants
* Satisfaction Guaranteed! We guarantee you will be satisified or we will make it right!
* Free Delivery anywhere in the continental US (No PO Boxes, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii)
* Lowest Prices! We manufacture filters for many of the leading retailers and internet sellers
of air
filters. We overrun orders
we receive from these giant marketers and sell the remaining inventory to
you at the lowest prices possible!
Why not decide to improve your indoor air quality today and save $$$ by clicking
on the size for your system shown on your left? We look forward to your business!
*not affiliated with Honeywell Corporation or it's
subsidiaries
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