Blog Articles Tagged "furnacefilters"

It’s true that different types of filters all attempt to do the same thing, but different filters work with different degrees of effectiveness. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) only requires a filter to capture medium to large particles, which only makes up about 1% of the contaminants. But a Microparticle Performance Rating (MPR) on a filter is better, because it measures a filter’s ability to capture particles between .03 and 1.0 micron, which means it captures 99% of contaminants in the air.

The difference between an authentic HEPA filter and a normal home furnace filter is huge. There are many filter products being sold in stores and on the internet which claim to be "HEPA type" or "HEPA rated" filters. What these descriptions are attempting to get around is the fact that there are very specific qualifications for HEPA which may prevent these less-than-qualified filters from being represented truly as "HEPA."

With the chill of winter quickly approaching, many people are wondering how they're going to handle the increased energy prices. Luckily for you, there are many ways homeowners can make their homes energy efficient while purifying their indoor air from pollutants and allergens.

There are many effective methods for the modern homeowner to improve the air quality inside his or her home. From specially designed furnace filters to ultraviolet lamps, Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) - there are several options for those of us who are concerned about the quality of the air we are breathing in, and the resulting health of ourselves and our families. Below you will find several different tips for improving the air quality inside your home.

When you first turn on your furnace in the Fall, do you notice a dusty smell throughout the house? This should be a reminder to you that you should have changed the furnace filter. Changing the filter frequently is important for a couple of reasons: it reduces indoor air pollution, and it improves home efficiency. You should not wait for that dusty smell to remind you to replace your furnace filter.

HEPA furnace filters are high efficiency filters that screen airborne particles from the air. First created by the government in mid-1950, HEPA furnace filters work by providing several layers of fibers through which circulated air passes. As the air passes through the layers of a HEPA furnace filter, particles are caught, or filtered, in the sheets of fiber. A HEPA furnace filter removes 99.97% of the particles in the air.

Although many furnace manufacturers recommend changing the furnace filter only twice yearly, the demands of good indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and proper airflow call for more frequent changes.

In general, the type of filter may not be as important as its cleanliness. That is, unless there are allergies or COPD- related conditions suffered by any of the family members. In which case there would arise a need for more expensive HEPA-type filters (about $10-$12) apiece.

Asthma, allergies, and general breathing difficulties have led to an increased and more intensive movement to improve home air quality. Indoor air quality contamination is most often accidental and simply a result of home neglect – resulting in dust and mold inside the ventilation system.