Choosing the right furnace filter for your furnace can be confusing sometimes. So here are the different types of furnace filters, their description, and a few tips to help you decide which is best for you.
Pleated furnace filters. These are the types of filters commonly used at home. Pleated filters do a good job for basic filtration needs. The materials are folded, allowing good airflow for your system. This type of filter will suffice for people who are not suffering from asthma or allergies. There are also different kinds of pleated furnace filters. Refrain from buying fiberglass types. Although this type do a decent job filtering dirty air from entering and harming your furnace, fiberglass filters do a poor job of filtering the air in your home. Filters made from fiberglass are also mostly disposable so they are not cost efficient in the long run.
Another type of furnace filter is the Electrostatic filter. This kind of filter emits an electric charge that removes dust particles. Electrostatic filters are very efficient because they can remove up to 97% of allergens allowing clean air to circulate your home. For people who suffer from asthma and allergies, this is the better choice. This is also easy to clean. You just spray it with water using a garden hose. Air is not constricted from entering your furnace so it doesn’t force the system into working too hard.
There is also the Activated Carbon type. This is best for homes with odor like cigarette smoke, dead rats, chemicals, and others. Sometimes, odors are difficult to remove; they even stick to your clothes! The best way to eliminate odor is to directly go to the source but sometimes, there are some odor left. This is where Activated Carbon furnace filters come in.
A high-end furnace filter is the HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting). This type of filter can remove almost 100% of allergens from .3 microns and larger. Although this costs more than the others, it is the best choice for people with asthma and allergic conditions.
When buying your furnace filter, make sure you already know the size that you need. It may be wise to choose the reusable ones over the disposable filters. In the long run, this will cost you less as you will not need to replace them so often.
Keep in mind that you have to clean your filter every month. Filters that have accumulated dust and dirt may constrict air from flowing into the system. This will cause your furnace to work harder in order to circulate air. Replace you filter every six months to a year or when appropriate. Should you notice any wear and tear, immediately replace it. You don’t want to put your health at risk.