     |
All Rights Reserved 2010
Website Designed by AAA Web Designs
Air Filters
What a furnace filter can do for you?
Traditionally, furnace filters were designed to protect the furnace and fans. With increased air quality awareness, some filters are now being installed to reduce exposure to particles which can affect your health.
What airborne particles are found in your home?
The particles you breathe in your home come from a variety of sources including:
- dust on floors or other surfaces that is disturbed by activity in the house
- dust generated by smoking, burning candles, cooking, doing laundry, etc.
- hair and skin flakes from humans or pets
- and particles from the outside air which come into your home with infiltrating air
Some particles are so small that they are inhaled and then exhaled without being trapped in your lungs. Some larger particles are trapped in your nose and throat and never reach your lungs. Still other particles are too large to be inhaled. The particles most dangerous to you are those that enter your lungs and lodge there.
You can see the particles of dust which accumulate on your television screen, shelves, and furniture. But you can't see the respirable particles. Respirable particles can be easily inhaled into your lungs and provoke respiratory illness. Although you would probably like to keep visible dust out of your home, the main health risk comes from respirable particles, which include tobacco smoke, spores, bacteria, and viruses.
The activity levels of the people in your home can affect the air you breathe. Activity such as vacuuming and cooking can create or stir up particles. On the other hand, during periods of inactivity such as the middle of the night, particle concentrations tend to be much lower.
Choosing the right furnace filter
Listed below are some of the most common furnace filter types.
Disposable fiberglass filters are the least expensive - and also the least effective, designed to block only large dust and dirt particles to protect your furnace. Smaller particles, like pollen and mold, pass right through.
Washable "electrostatic" filters have a static charge that attracts dust, dirt and other matter. These filters are slightly more effective than disposable, but still block only 15 to 20 percent of airborne particles.
Pleated "allergy" filters use a much denser mesh material to trap particles. The pleats increase the surface area, eliminating large allergens like pollen and mold - most are 35 to 50 percent efficient.
Electronic air cleaners use electrodes to create an ionized electrical field that "magnetizes" pollutant particles and collects them on the filter material. An electronic unit can eliminate virtually all pollen and mold spores, up to 94 percent of smaller particles, and even up to 80 percent of airborne viruses.
HEPA furnace filters, which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air filters, are the "gold standard." These filters are used in commercial applications like hospitals, research facilities and electronics manufacturing where clean air is vital. HEPA filters not only block air particles, but also air flow, so they're not recommended for residential use.
Recommended Schedule
|
|||
1 Month
|
2 Months
|
3 Months
|
|
Furry Pets
|
Multiple
|
One
|
None
|
Dust
|
Heavy
|
Moderate
|
Light
|
Heat/AC Fan
|
Mostly On
|
Moderately On
|
Mostly Off
|
Smokers
|
Multiple
|
One
|
None
|
Windows/Doors
|
Often Open
|
Sometimes Open
|
Usually Closed
|
1 inch
10x20x1, 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 x 1, 12x12x1, 12x18x1, 12x20x1, 12x24x1, 14x20x1, 14x24x1, 14x25x1, 14x30x1, 15x20x1, 16x16x1, 16x20x1, 16x24x1, 16x25x1, 18x18x1, 18x20x1, 18x24x1, 18x25x1, 20x20x1, 20x24x1, 20x25x1, 20x30x1, 24x24x1, 24x30x1, 25x25x1
2 inch
10x20x2, 12x20x2, 12x24x2, 14x20x2, 14x24x2, 14x25x2, 15x20x2, 16x16x2, 16x20x2, 16x24x2, 16x25x2, 18x18x2, 18x20x2, 18x24x2, 18x25x2, 20x20x2, 20x24x2, 20x25x2, 20x30x2, 24x24x2, 24x30x2, 25x25x2
4 inch*
12x24x4, 16x20x4, 16x24x4, 18x24x4, 20x20x4, 20x24x4, 20x25x4, 24x24x4
5 inch Honeywell Replacement Media*
16x25x5, 20x20x5, 20x25x5
Generally change filters every 2 - 3 months. During periods where you are using your HVAC system continuously, we recommend you change filters monthly to maintain the best indoor air quality.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |