Not only do air filters remove dust allergens, mold spores, and other pollutants from the air your family breathes, but they also filter out fine dirt particles that can degrade the performance of the HVAC system itself. Outdoor air quality is affected by particles such as pollution, construction dust, ash, exhaust gases, and outdoor allergens, such as pollen from trees and grasses. Gases build up from things like burning coal or diesel, car exhaust, and industrial waste. Some useful measures of outdoor air quality include the air quality index and pollen count.
Once you know the filter size you need, comparing different filters in person or online will help you familiarize yourself with the available options and price ranges. Basically, any air filter will filter out particles from the air before it flows throughout the HVAC system. If it is, there are several examples of qualified filters we would recommend, including the Nordic Pure MERV 12, a perfectly good filter that we would look for first (because it often costs less), as well as two other filters that are also OK. More expensive air filters, such as pleated residential filters, will filter out dust mites, pollen, pet dander, mold, and even bacteria, which can be worth the extra money, especially for people with severe allergies. In addition, an oft-cited comprehensive independent test of the effects of MERV filters 8 to 13 on HVAC airflow and energy consumption (an indicator of how hard the equipment is working) concluded that even “if no adjustments are made for the increased pressure drop of high MERV filters, the airflow and Energy penalties aren't likely to be severe at least, not until the filter is loaded with dirt.
Both are evidence that the smoked air is finding a way around the clogged filter instead of going through it, and that it's time to install a new one. Call Super Heat & Air professionals for all your HVAC needs, including general maintenance, emergency repairs, installation, duct cleaning and air quality audits. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Report Value and is a measure of how well a filter removes particles from the air. If your home has ducted heating or air conditioning, it's possible to add filters to your air handling system. We measure how well an air filter removes dust, pollen and smoke from the air, and we see how freely air flows through the filter at any fan speed.
With the MERV classification system, generally the higher the numerical rating, the greater the amount of smaller particles you can filter out of the air. In actual use, with the air in your home constantly recirculating through the ducts and passing through the filters each time, the cumulative effect of the filters increases. And the best filters trap indoor contaminants such as dust, pet dander and pollen helping to cleanse the air in your home. If you're plagued by allergies and have done everything you can to reduce allergens in your home an air filter might help.
