How to Find the Best Filter for Your Home’s HVAC System

The filter is a vital component of the HVAC system in your Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, home. Your filter is not only responsible for trapping dander, pollutants, and particles to prevent them from getting into your HVAC system but it also helps improve the indoor air quality in your home. Because your filter is so crucial, it’s important to know how to select the right one for your lifestyle and home.

Choose the Correct Type of Filter

You can choose from several types of filters for your HVAC system, including:

• Washable filters: Washable filters are designed with wire-like mesh. You can clean them repeatedly before you need to replace them. Many can last several years. Washable filters can create good airflow if kept clean, but they don’t trap particles as well as other options.
• Fiberglass filters: Fiberglass filters are cheap and easy to install. The tight fiberglass material traps small particles effectively, though you’ll need to change this type of filter every month.
• Pleated filters: A pleated filter is made with cotton-like material that’s pleated in a way that allows it to trap more pollutants and contaminants than other filters. These filters are moderately priced and typically require replacement every month.

Choose the Right MERV Rating

A filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV, rating will indicate the amount of dust, pollutants, and contaminants that can pass through it. The MERV rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, with the highest number trapping the smallest particles. Higher MERV ratings are not recommended for residential homes. Most filter ratings will be between 4 and 12, with 4 trapping dust and pollen, and higher ratings trapping dander and spores.

Choosing the right filter is important for maintaining good air quality and keeping your system running efficiently. Need help choosing the correct filter for your home? Contact Air Doctor Services, Inc. at 843-305-8824.

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