Did you know that the air filter on your air conditioner has a very important role to play in maintaining your home’s indoor air quality? You have to consider the type of air filter that you use as well as how often you change or clean the air filter.
If you’re concerned about your indoor air quality in Crystal Lake, IL, you can always give our team a call. We can assess your air conditioner, including the filter, and talk to you about ways to improve your indoor air quality. You can also keep reading to learn more about the important role that your filter plays and how it extends beyond filtering out dust and dirt.
Air Filter Ratings
Air filters for your HVAC system are rated on a standard scale called the minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV for short. Most home air filters go up to about an eight on the MERV scale, although you can get a filter with a higher rating. A filter with a MERV-8 rating will capture about 85% of the particles that are in your air.
The higher the rating, the denser the air filter and the more particles that get captured. You don’t want to go too much higher than an eight because your HVAC system is not designed with the power to pull air to flow through such a dense filter. Instead, your stronger air filter will just block airflow coming into your air conditioner and put strain on the system.
If you are concerned about indoor air quality, investing in an air purifier is a good idea in place of purchasing a stronger filter. The air filter on your HVAC system is designed to capture some of the particles in the air to improve your indoor air quality, but inevitably some harmful particles will get through. The goal behind an HVAC air filter is to keep the inside of your HVAC system clean and free from a majority of the dust and dirt circulating in your home.
Changing Out the Air Filter
Whether you have an air filter with a lower rating or one with a higher rating, it is important to change out the filter on time each month. Most filters are rated to be changed monthly, although some can last for up to three months.
No matter how long your filter is rated for, it is important that you check it regularly to see how full it is. Allowing your air filter to get too full of dust and dirt can lead to blockages that prevent airflow from entering your air conditioner or heater. Plus, dirt can then begin to seep through the air filter and into your HVAC syste,, completely canceling out the reason for having one in the first place.
Contact Althoff Home Services today to schedule an appointment with our professionals. Chicago’s Choice Since 1961. Hand It Off to Althoff!