An HVAC system will benefit your house in a lot of ways, one of them is the improved indoor air quality. The air filter in your room is a contributing factor. Today we are going to take a look at how the air filter in your HVAC system will affect your indoor air quality.
The Basics
The HVAC air filter will remove particulates from the air that might cause problems for you or your pets. These filters come in different styles with different ratings. These filtration abilities can help to keep your home healthy and safe.
When air is pulled through the HVAC system and across the filter, the fineness and other filter qualities remove problem particulates from the air before the air is spread throughout the house. As long as the filter is clean and in good condition, this process will repeat.
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value
The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) is a number that is assigned to air filters to determine their ability to filter out particles. The higher the rating, the more that it can filter out. Let’s take a look at what the different ratings will filter out in general.
MERV 1-4Filters out your basic household particlesMERV 5-8 Filtrates mold, spores, and other harder to filter common household particlesMERV 9-12 Starts to filter out some of the less common air particles and will also filter out legionellaMERV 13-16 Gets rid of bacteria, smoke, and some bodily contaminants such as sneezingMERV 17-20Filters out almost anything that can be removed from the air
For the most part, your house does not need a MERV above 12. This level of filtration is mainly for clean facilities or people who have specific problems with air quality.
Air Filter Cleaning and Replacement
Air filters for HVAC systems are only as good as the quality of the filter. Depending on the MERV level and the number of particulates in your home, the HVAC filter will either need to be cleaned or replaced.
Filtering air in your home can change the overall feel of your home. This is especially true if your home has a pet or other source of particulates. Take a look at the various filters out there to decide which ones are right for your home.