Upgrading Furnace Filters Or Air Conditioner Filters Is One Of The Least Expensive Things You Can Do To Improve Indoor Air Quality

Welcome to FurnaceFilterCare.com - Your Guide to Furnace Filters and Air Conditioner Filters

The average person breathes in about 32,000 pints (18,185 liters) of air per day. Those 32,000 pints contain about 1,120,000,000 particles of dust. Most of these particles are 3 microns or smaller in size. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air and this can be a big problem if you are an allergy sufferer. There are a number of things that effect indoor air quality and efficient furnace filters and air conditioner filters are your primary defense against indoor air quality problems.

Clean air is something we all need for a healthy home environment. The goal of this site is to provide you with information that will help you determine which type of furnace filter or air conditioner filter best meets the needs of you and your family. In order to reduce indoor air pollution and provide a healthier home environment for your family you need a quality air filter.

Weather you suffer from allergies or just want to provide a healthier environment for your loved ones, the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) industry is full of equipment that can help you maintain good air quality in your home. The key is to decide which equipment is best suited for your needs.

What are your furnace filter and air conditioner filter options?

There are many types of air conditioner filters and furnace filters to choose from and efficiencies, designs and quality vary greatly. Based on my twenty years experience in the (HVAC) heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry there are basically six types of filters you can choose from. Some are very efficient and reliable, while others provide less than desirable results. Also keep in mind that generic brands are often as good as some of the more popular brands such as Filtrete, Honeywell, Trion, 3M and Purolator.

There is really no best air filter but some are better than others and which one is best really depends on your individual needs. Each type of air filter has its positive and negative characteristics.

• Electrostatic Air Filters
• Pre Cut Media Air Filter Pads
• Pleated Air Filters
• HEPA Air Filters
• Activated Carbon Air Filters
• Fiberglass Panel Filters

Brand name is probably the least important thing to consider in your buying decision and most brands are interchangeable. If you are ordering replacement air filters you only need to know the dimensions of the filter you are replacing (Length, Width and Thickness).

Sizing furnace filters and air conditioner filters

If you are replacing a frame type furnace filter with a pleated filter or electrostatic filter you need to know the dimensions of the filter frame in order to select the proper size pleated or electrostatic replacement air filer. If you are looking for new media pads to install in an existing frame then the same rule applies. Length, Width and Thickness are the measurements that you need to know. With this information any online or retail store will be able to provide you with what you want.

Standard filter size measurements

Usually these dimensions are not exact. For example a 20x20x1 filter will actually measure 19.5x19.5x¾. When you order or pick up your new filter the dimensions you will ask for will be 20x20x1. This difference between standard size measurements and actual size measurements allows for variations in filter rack sizes and also ensures that the filter will fit into a standard size filter rack.

If you have a filter with unusual dimensions, most online suppliers offer custom made sizes to meet your needs. The new filter will slide into the furnace filter rack the same as the original one did.

Other considerations before you decide

Pleated air filters are probably the most popular. They provide the best value for your money and are available in a wide range of efficiencies and design characteristics. Some are made with charcoal or carbon fibers manufactured into the filter material to help with odor control and others have electrostatic characteristics to help increase performance. Electrostatic filters are the best value when it comes to reusable filters and the best of these will have a lifetime guaranty.

To keep your electronic or electrostatic air filters performing at maximum efficiency requires regular cleaning. Filter maintenance (changing or cleaning) also helps to keep your heating and cooling equipment operating at maximum efficiency which reduces operating costs.

A disposable or reusable filter that is left in an air conditioning or heating system for extended periods of time without proper maintenance can reduce airflow to the point of causing costly equipment breakdowns.

Some of these filters such as through away fiberglass filters are not very efficient and will only trap the largest of dust particles, while others such as the electrostatic furnace filter and HEPA air filter will remove over 97 percent of household allergens from the air that passes through them.

It is important to keep in mind that when shopping for a new air filter, discount furnace filters (fiberglass panel) are not a real bargain. You save on the cost of the filter but pay more for maintenance and operating costs in the end. It is best to shop for efficiency and quality.

Other Things That Will Help Improve Indoor Air Quality

There are some other things you may want to consider if you really want the best air quality you can possibly have in your home.

These other things to consider are:

• Duct Mounted UV Air Cleaners
• Home Ventilation

Ultra Violet Sterilizers, often referred to as air purifiers, are sometimes used with standard furnace filters to kill bacteria in the air. These units are mounted in your duct system and kill bacteria as they pass through the light emitted from them. It is important that this equipment be installed correctly for maximum safety and efficiency. This type of air purifier provides an additional level of air treatment to improve iaq.

To help reduce infiltration of airborne particles from outside, maintain the filters in your home ventilation equipment also. These residential heat recovery ventilator and air exchanger filters are usually washable foam media and should be replaced when they deteriorate. Some of these systems have HEPA filters and are extremely efficient. Stop airborne particles before they enter your home and reduce the workload on your furnace filters.