Are All AC Air Filters the Same?

Did you know that the air filters inside of the air conditioner in your Aiken, South Carolina, home are vitally important in maintaining your home’s indoor air quality high? Because they are so important for keeping your family healthy and your home comfortable, you want to have the best filters available. Let’s learn about MERV ratings and look at a few common air filters that you can use in your home.

What Is a MERV Rating?

Air filters are marked for their ability to capture dirt, dust, and contaminants and use a numbered system called a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). When you are looking for the best filter for your home, look for MERV ratings that have high numbers, generally between eight to 15, depending on what the manufacturer for your system recommends.

Spun Fiberglass Filters

By far the most common air filter on the market, fiberglass filters have a MERV rating between one and four. The numbers are quite low and they are best used when you are only looking to capture large dirt and dust particles. While this type of filter can help to protect your HVAC system from getting too dirty, they are not very effective in capturing tiny particulates that can trigger allergy or asthma symptoms.

Pleated Paper and Polyester Filters

The MERV rating is higher on this common air filter, between five and eight. They are much more effective in capturing those nasty small particulates that can cause respiratory issues than filters with lower ratings.

Electrostatic Filters

With a MERV rating of 10 to 15, this is a great filter to use in keeping your home clean. The filters use static electricity to charge airborne particles which are then drawn to the metal within the filter. The charged particles remain in the filter until it is replaced. Check with our technicians to be sure that electrostatic filters are compatible with your particular HVAC system.

Give our team of experts a call at Doc at Savage Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. to discuss the best air filter options for your home. Call us today at 706-426-9262.

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