Getting the best products for our homes can often be time-consuming, especially if you don’t have enough information about what you need and why. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in our homes often get taken for granted, but when there is a problem or a part that needs replacing, we suddenly realize how important they are and how little we know about them.
Here is our quick guide to some of the best air filters on the market, and where you can buy them. Next time you need to replace a part on your HVAC system, you’ll know what to look for and why.
Image by F. Muhammad
Why Are Air Filters Important?
The air filters in your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system clean the air that the system draws in from the outside and circulates through your home. This air can contain allergens like pollen and dust, as well as more harmful contaminants like mold, bacteria, and smoke.
Your air filters remove these from the air and ensure that the air your HVAC system pumps through your home is clean. Wherever a filter is located in your system, whether at a furnace, a heat pump, or the intake, it is doing the same job.
Pleated Vs Fiberglass Filters
Pleated air filters are more effective than fiberglass filters. Whilst they cost more upfront, they capture more particles.
What Size?
The size of your air filter is going to be one of the most important pieces of information you need.
Air filters come in standard sizes, although some can be adapted to fit the opening. This can be easy to find out if you are replacing an existing air filter, as this should be written on the part, or there should be a part number that will help you find out the information. If you can’t find the correct size, you can still measure it for yourself with a tape measure.
Useful Terms
There are several AC filter ratings to look out for. Use the rating number to help you determine how effective an air filter is at filtering dust and other particulates.
- MPR stands for Microparticle Performance Rating. Look for a filter with MPR ratings 8-13 between 1,500 and 1,900.
- MERV is a rating seen in whole-house air filters. A higher number means a higher level of air filtration.
- HEPA filters use an electrical charge to trap particulates. HEPA filters can significantly reduce the level of pollen and dust blowing through a heating system, which is useful if family members suffer from allergies or have chronic lung diseases.
You can find a large range of these air filters on FilterBuy. Their filters carry MERV ratings, which trap between 85% and 98% of particles.
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in our homes are incredibly important. By buying the best products possible when replacing things like air filters, we can improve air quality Hopefully, this quick guide will lead you to the best air filter on the market for you and your home or business.
