The air filter in your home's heating and cooling system is a vital component for keeping the air you and your family breathe clean. These filters trap dust, pollen, pet dander, and other small particles from the air, preventing them from recirculating throughout the house. When air enters the air conditioning system, it is first heated or cooled and then passes through ducts that carry it to every room in the house. The HVAC filter cleans the air just before it enters through the fan and circulates through the ducts.
As air passes through the filter, the material, usually pleated fabric or paper, traps any contaminants found in the air. Air filters prevent dirt and air particles from entering sensitive components. Two places where dust and dirt could accumulate are the duct system and the air controller. Waste will accumulate over time and cause various problems, in addition to contaminating indoor air.
The filter is one of the most important, yet overlooked, components of your home comfort system. The filter cleans the air that circulates through the system. It protects your system by preventing dust and dirt from accumulating and clogging. Clogged air filters are one of the most common causes of system failure.
They play an important role in keeping the air in your home clean and your air conditioning system working at its best. Needless to say, a filter is an ideal preventive measure to help your HVAC unit operate properly and efficiently. The main purpose of an air filter in your HVAC unit is to keep the system clean, especially the evaporator, motor and fan coils. The filter captures dust and dirt before it can enter sensitive components of your HVAC system.
Air filters with a MERV rating of 14 or higher capture more particles, but they also restrict airflow more and become clogged faster. As a general rule, it is best to check your air filter yourself to determine when it needs to be changed. Air filters are an aftermarket product with a durability that usually ranges from 1 to 6 months in the case of disposable filters. Not to mention the hundreds of products that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.
The quality and quantity of filter media influence the size of the air particles that can be captured, how they are captured, and how much airflow passes through the system. The MERV rating of a filter is usually indicated with a number between 1 and 16, although there are some filters with a score higher than 16. In conclusion, an air filter in your HVAC unit is essential for keeping your home's air clean and healthy to breathe. It prevents dirt from accumulating in sensitive components of your HVAC system while also capturing dust particles that could otherwise contaminate indoor air.
