Reusable air filters are a great choice for the environment, as they can last up to ten years or even longer. On the other hand, disposable air filters need to be replaced every one to three months in order to keep your air conditioning system running efficiently. The MERV rating table is used to measure the effectiveness of air filters, with the cheapest disposable air filters ranging from one to four on this scale. Microparticle air filters, however, can exceed 14 percent in their MERV ratings.
Unfortunately, reusable air filters don't perform better than low-quality products, as they measure less than four on the MERV scale. This has led some experts to believe that they are not suitable for homes where air quality is an issue. Both washable and disposable HVAC filters require regular maintenance. Replacing disposable filters is relatively easy, as all you have to do is remove the old filter and put a new one in its place. The Griffith Energy Services team recommends replacing disposable filters every 30 to 90 days.
If your family doesn't suffer from allergies or asthma, a 90-day schedule usually works well for your home. If you have allergies or if you use your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system constantly, a 30-day program will be better for your family. When it comes to choosing between washable oven filters and disposable filters, washable filters are less harmful to the environment and can help you save money in the long term due to their longer lifespan of five to six years. Washable filters typically have a relatively low stopping capacity and typically capture less than 75 percent of the largest indoor pollutants, such as dust mites, carpet fibers, and pollen particles. Fiberglass filters should be discarded after 30 days and replaced with a new one from your local hardware store. These filters can capture up to 95 percent of the largest particles circulating in your home, which can maintain a high quality of your home's indoor air and help your air conditioning system work as efficiently as possible.
Dust and other contaminants then adhere to the other layers as they pass through the filter and into the system. As long as a little dirt and dust doesn't scare you, it's as easy as rinsing the filter with water and spraying it with a specialized filter cleaner, which you can buy online. An air filter with a low MERV index cannot remove as many pollutants from indoor air. He brings his expert knowledge on a myriad of domestic air filtration topics, including HVAC filters, filtration efficiency, and indoor air quality. In general, the decision to switch to a reusable filter depends on what you need for air quality. Before investing in a type of air conditioning filter, make sure that the average costs fit your home budget.
Reusable filters cost between fifty and sixty dollars, which you could easily spend on traditional filters in just a few months. A filter with a very high MERV rating will be very dense, meaning that your HVAC equipment will work harder to extract air through the filter. While this type of filter can provide you with high-quality indoor air, you'll need to replace it every three months to avoid common airflow problems from air conditioners and boilers. Since this type of filter includes a maximum MERV rating of four, it cannot remove pet dander or smoke from the air.