Take a deep breath of fresh air: Why you need to clean that air filter!

Take a deep breath of fresh air: Why you need to clean that air filter!

If you’ve ever seen what comes out of ductwork after it’s been cleaned, then you know just how important having clean air in the home is. Whether you or someone in your family suffers from allergies caused by dust, mold, pet dander/hair, air that is too dry or too humid – your heating/cooling system filters are the first place to get started!

Replacing your air filters regularly is recommended. Before talking about air quality, however, simply changing your filters will help ensure that your entire heating/cooling system isn’t clogged or overly dirty which will help make your system live longer and save you maintenance and repair costs. Now for the obvious: Clean air equals better, healthy air.

Keeping your filters clean more regularly ensures that you’re not re-circulating contaminants throughout your home e.g., dust, dust mites, pollen and other fine particles that can irritate you, your children or any visitor in your home.

Of course there are as many types and sizes of filters as there are kinds and sizes of homes:

• Disposable fiberglass: Good for trapping large particles such as dust, debris and lint – but these low cost products don’t do the microscopic work.
• Permanent electrostatic:  Using charged fibers, these filters are washable and when purchased through MaxAir you will receive a lifetime warranty on your filter.  

Who is MERV and why should I care about his rating?

It’s important to know the MERV rating of any filter. MERV or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is a standard that rates the overall efficiency of air filters. A higher value MERV rating means that the filter has a finer filtration and allows for less particles passing through the filter. Typically you will see MERV ratings of 8 or 11 for residential filters – capturing on average 90% and 95% of particles between 3.0 and 10.0 microns and 1.0 and 3.0 microns, respectively.

Lastly, regularly changing your air filters also optimizes your heating/cooling system, making it work more efficiently and costing you less in the long run. A dirty filter makes your system work harder and increases your electricity bill. Along with a clean air filter, you can boost the overall quality of your indoor air by using a dehumidifier, water saver humidifier, steam humidifier, air purifier or energy recovery ventilators. Over time, taking these steps can help homeowners save up to 15% on utility costs just by keeping their filters clean – making homeowners breathe a little easier!