What To Consider When Choosing an Air Filter

What To Consider When Choosing an Air Filter

Changing an air filter in an HVAC system improves the quality of the system and the quality of the air homeowners breathe daily. Help your customers understand the importance of the air they’re breathing in their households. They will have an easier time remembering to schedule a filter change after learning the benefits it will provide their household.

How Often Should Air Filters Be Changed?

According to Home Depot (2024), there are two main filter types – fiberglass and pleated. Both the fiberglass air filters and the pleated air filters are disposable. Be sure to communicate to your customer the benefits of both types of air filters. The homeowner may prefer one option over the other.

• Fiberglass Air Filters: Although this is the least expensive of the two, this filter will need to be changed more often, approximately every 30 days. It is less efficient than pleated filters at capturing the dust particles in the air.
• Pleated Air Filters: These filters will be more expensive, but are more efficient at capturing dust and last longer. It will need to be changed about every 90 days.

Progressive Media from Ultravation® provides pleated, premium air filtration, capturing 99% of dust particles five microns or larger. Learn more about the features of Progressive Media from Ultravation®.

What to Consider When Choosing an Air Filter:

Although the type of air filter will affect how often it will need to be changed, there are other factors inside the household to take into consideration.

1. Size of the Home: In a larger home, the furnace or air conditioner moves larger amounts of air more frequently. More buildup of dust and dander are stirred up throughout the home. The air filter will need to be changed more often. Smaller homes’ units are moving air less frequently. Which means the dust and dander are not building up as quickly. The air filter would not need to be changed as often.
2. Outside Air Quality: Wildfires and pollution are rising more and affect the outside air quality around us. Poor outdoor air quality can affect the indoor air quality in a household. Progressive Media from Ultravation® can be a homes’ first line of defense when it comes to great indoor air quality. Their pleated, layered design has nine times more surface area than a traditional flat air filter. This gives them the ability to last long and run efficiently.
3. Pets: We all love our furry friends, but they do impact the air quality inside our homes. Pets can release pet hair and dander into the air. Even tracking dirt, mold, or pollen from the outside into the home. If a homeowner has pets, it is best to change the air filter each month and change it more frequently when it becomes dirty.
4. MERV Ratings: MERV means Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.  It is the industry standard filter performance rating system created by The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).  Simply put, the higher the rating, the more efficient the filter is at capturing smaller particles.

An HVAC system’s lifespan can be extended by changing the air filter properly and frequently. Talk with your customers about the benefits of breathing quality air inside their homes by changing their air filters and upgrading their media air cabinets to a high-performing product from Ultravation. 

References:

Home Depot. (2024). How Often You Should Change Your Air Filter. https://www.homedepot.com/c/ab/how-often-you-should-change-your-air-filter/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90cf4eb97a