Selecting Air Filters for Your HVAC Unit

By Noah Vertefeuille | March 18, 2021
Table of Contents:

There are some important parts of your air conditioners that need to be maintained properly. If you want to take good care of your AC, you should take a look at the filters inside this unit. This filter needs to be cleaned regularly, to function normally. These filters play an important role in most air conditioning units.

These filters are going to improve the overall air circulation or airflow in your home. They can trap unwanted particles from the air, for example, dust, pet dander, mold spores, viruses, bacteria, etc. It is recommended for you to check your air filters at least once every 3 – 6 months. Replace them when they are broken or damaged for any reasons. Here are several types of filters that may be available on your air conditioner.

The best way to identify the size of filters you will need is to take a look at the current filter in your unit. Along the edges you will see writing that says something along the lines of 16x20x2, 20x20x1, etc.

Types of Air Conditioner Filter

a. Fiberglass Filters

Many air conditioners are going to use fiberglass filters. They are chosen because they are very affordable for most users. They can be used to reduce the overall installation cost of any air conditioner units in your home. Most affordable AC units are going to use fiberglass as their filters. However, these filters are not effective in trapping very small particles. The minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) from these filters is about 1 – 4. They can trap 80 percent of any particles which are larger than 50 microns, but 25 percent of any particles with 3 – 10 microns in size.

b. Pleated Filters

This is another category of filters that you can find on the market today and are very popular for people who want high end filtering. The mid-range pleated filters are usually rated between MERV 5 – 8. They are going to trap the majority of small particles, such as airborne pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and any other particles with 5 microns in size. You can find these filters in many AC units across North America. These pleated filters are suitable for you who have mild pet or dust allergies. You can prevent further symptoms of the allergies when using these pleated filters in your home.

c. Electrostatic Filters

Many AC units are going to use electrostatic filters on their units. They are ranging from MERV 2 – 10. Most electrostatic filters usually have self-charging fibers. They will attract particles from the air without tightening the weave around the filters. This system will allow the air to pass through these filters efficiently while making these filters be able to trap any small particles with 1 – 3 microns. Electrostatic filters are suitable for you who want to have better filtration with a good airflow system around your AC units.

d. HEPA Filters

​HEPA filters are commonly found in many expensive AC units with a highly efficient system. These HEPA filters come with a MERV rating of 17 – 20. These impressive filters will be able to trap more than 95 percent of small particles, such as viruses, bacteria, asbestos, fine dust, molds, and any other small particles with about 0.3 microns in size. However, these HEPA filters will restrict the airflow drastically.

Many other filters are available on the market now. When you are planning to replace the filters on your AC units, you can find your specific filters from nearby home improvement stores, websites, marketplace sites, etc. You will be able to find many different filters from different brands that are popular among many homeowners. Make sure that read the whole reviews from other customers, so you can compare all available filters before choosing the best one for your AC units.

When you are planning to replace your filters from your AC units, you can always call us at Highwood Mechanical Contractor, Inc. Our experts can help you determine if you need to replace your air filters in your AC units or not. If you need to find the best filters for your HVAC unit, you can always ask us for our recommendation products. We can give you some recommendations, so you can choose the best air filters for your needs. All of our services are guaranteed to offer the best result for you.

Posted in Blog