The air filter in your HVAC unit might be an understated component, but it is a highly important part of your home. It affects the quality of the air your family breathes every day. According to the Environment Protection Agency, Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors, where the air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoors. Thus, it’s important to possess the necessary knowledge about home air filtration so you can get the cleanest air in your home. In this article, we will discuss home air filtration in Denver CO.
What Does Your Air Filter Do?
Air filters come in various types made of different materials. Their main objective is to purify the air circulating through your heating and cooling system. Filters hold and trap several types of contaminants and particulates that negatively impact the quality of air. These include:
- Dirt
Dust and dust mites
Lint and fibers
Mold and mold spores
Volatile organic compounds
Pollen
Metal, plaster, or wood particles
Hair
Pet dander
Bacteria, viruses, and other microbes - Types of Air Filters
Flat-Panel/Fiberglass: These are the most inexpensive type of air filters consisting of fibers stretched over a framework. These are disposable but they don’t provide a high level of filtration, leaving you prone to respiratory problems.
Pleated: These are made of thick screens of polyester fabrics or cotton folds with pleats. They are more effective at cleaning your air of contaminants and are slightly more expensive than their flat-panel counterparts.
Washable: These filters are reusable, as they can be removed and washed, thus eliminating the need to replace them. They cost more than disposable filters but are more environmentally friendly.
Electrostatic: These filters are made of cotton and paper fibers with electrostatic fields that act as a magnet to capture dust and microscopic particles. These are great for removing allergens from the air. Electrostatic filters come in disposable as well as reusable variants.
HEPA: High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters use a heavy-duty filter capable of removing at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles and pollutants of size 0.3 microns and bigger in the air. These are recommended by the US Department of Energy due to their highly efficient performance.
UV: UV filters use short-wave ultraviolet light to kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms in your home. However, they don’t filter out dust and other pollutants from the air.
How to Choose Your Air Filter?
Air filters have a standard rating system to denote their ability to clean the air. It is a scale from 1 to 16 known as Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). You should go for an air filter with a higher MERV rating. However, make sure that you don’t choose a filter with a MERV rating that is too high for your HVAC system. Your system might not be powerful enough to force air through a highly restrictive filter. This can lead to decreased airflow and insufficient cooling or heating of your home. It is advisable to check with your HVAC provider to find out which air filter would be the most suitable for your particular HVAC unit. We, at Sparks Heating & Air, specialize in-home air filtration in Denver CO. We can provide you with the right guidance for choosing the best air filter for your home. We can also install or replace your HVAC air filter with the highest standard in quality. To know more, contact us.