Would you like to know more about furnace filters? Here’s all you need to know about furnace filters.
Furnace filters are an important component of heating systems with the forced air feature, as they help filter the air and keep out particles like dust, pollen, hair, and other harmful material. They also protect the rest of the furnace from being destroyed by these particles. Therefore it is extremely important to regularly replace them. To help you learn how often to replace it and what features to look for we have shared our guide to all you need to know about furnace filters below…
WHY YOU NEED TO REPLACE YOUR FURNACE FILTER REGULARLY?
As we mentioned above the job of the furnace filter is to filter out particles that over time will get (the filter) covered and clogged with particles. This will result in your furnace having to work harder which means that there will be more stress upon it. This will cause it to consume more electricity and malfunction in the future. So it is important for you to replace the filter with a new one or clean it if you have the cleaning variety.
WHAT IS MERV RATING?
You might have noticed that furnace filters are labelled with a MERV rating. The full form of MERV is Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This rating shows you how efficient the filter is. The rating can be between the numbers 1 and 16. 1 indicates that is the least efficient. But as the number goes up the efficiency increases i.e. it filters better and keeps out more particles.
For most households a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 16 should be sufficient, but if you or anyone in your house suffers from allergies a filter with a higher rating will do you good. Make sure you check the MERV rating limit of your furnace before purchasing one.
OTHER FEATURES:
Filters have other features like depth (thickness), size, washable, electrostatic, etc. You need to consider these factors and pick one that suits your furnace best. If you need to you can consult your HVAC repairman for more information.
