5 Quick Facts About Your HVAC Air Filters | Kitchener ON

October 18, 2021

5 Quick Facts About Your HVAC Air Filters

Air filters are vital to keeping our homes clean, keeping our HVAC systems running smoothly, and ensuring proper indoor air quality and comfort. However, there may be a number of things about your air filters that you didn’t realize. Here are five surprising facts about your HVAC air filters that you might not know.

1. Standard Air Filters Were Only Designed to Protect Equipment

People tend to think that HVAC air filters clean the air you breathe in your home, but not all air filters are created equal. In fact, standard air filters were only designed to protect the HVAC system, filtering out large dust and debris particles, but not smaller particles like common allergens. Air filters come with a MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). Filters with a low MERV rating (4 or less) will help protect your air conditioner, but don’t actually do much in the way of cleaning the air. The EPA recommends air filters with a MERV between 7-13 for removing smaller particles that may trigger allergies.

If you really want cleaner air, consider the Air Scrubber by Aerus, a whole home air purifying system that installs directly into your existing HVAC system. It is proven highly effective at removing 99% of all surface and airborne contaminants including VOCs, odors, dust, pet dander, mold, fungi and other allergens or asthma triggers. It is also the only air purifier scientifically proven to reduce the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) novel coronavirus on surfaces. 

2. An Overused Filter Can Cost You

If your HVAC air filters are not regularly replaced, they can cost you in more ways than one. Your HVAC system will have to work harder to pull air through dirty and congested filters, which uses more energy (increasing your energy bill), and causes more wear and tear on your system (which could lead to costly repairs and a shorter lifespan). Talk to a professional HVAC technician to let you know what air filters are right for your system, and how often they should be replaced.

3. Don’t Try to Clean and Reuse Your Air Filter

Unless you purchase special air filters that are intended to be cleaned and reused, you should never try to clean a disposable air filter. Doing so can damage the filter, allowing particles to pass through into the air you breathe, and if it is put away wet or damp, it can grow mold, fungi and bacteria.

4. Don’t Always Buy the Filter with the Highest Rating

Especially if you have a family member with allergies, you may assume that you should just buy an air filter with the maximum MERV rating (16). MERV ratings 16 and above are typically used in environments where air filtration is critical such as hospitals. However, air filters with higher MERV ratings tend to be more expensive, and they can also force your system to work harder than necessary – again increasing your energy bills and decreasing your system’s lifespan. Many HVAC systems list a maximum MERV rating – be sure to not exceed it.

5. Turn Your System Off When Replacing Air Filters

Finally, make sure that when you are replacing your air filters that you turn off your HVAC system first. Otherwise, you could be blowing all kinds of dust and particles throughout your house unfiltered.

Having the right air filters and regularly replacing them is important for maintaining the air quality in your home. For an easy and convenient way to remember to change your air filters on time, order them through our online store and auto-schedule them to be delivered directly to you on a regular basis. At Advent Air, we’re committed to the quality of the air you and your family breathe every single day.

Need more help with your HVAC system? Call us at 460-240-5456 or contact us today!