We researched the top furnace filters on the market, evaluating filter type, MERV rating, filter life, and overall value. Chronic health issues can also point to poor indoor air quality." "A few signs to look out for," Rubino says, "include discoloration of the filter, odd odors, higher electricity bills, a decrease in airflow, or dust around the vents or condenser coils. Michael Rubino, a mold and air quality expert and founder of the non-profit organization HomeCleanse, points out that factors such as the home’s location, the age of the HVAC system, and the state of the air quality can influence how often air filters need to be replaced. With the exception of permanent filter furnaces, you need to replace the filter regularly. The filter can capture dust, dirt, pollen, and dander particles that would otherwise flow through your HVAC system and circulate in the air inside your home. The Spruce Home Improvement Review Boardįor the sake of air quality and to keep your HVAC ductwork clean, you should install a home furnace filter.As a general rule to keep allergy suffers as comfortable as possible, change the furnace filter every 30 to 60 days. Consult the owner’s manual for your furnace to determine the correct MERV filter rating. Because filters with higher MERV ratings are denser, your furnace must work harder to draw air through them and not all furnaces are powerful enough to do so. Use a filter with a MERV rating of 12, such as the Nordic Pure Filter (available on Amazon), if your furnace can handle it. In homes where a family member has dust and/or pet allergies, change the furnace filter frequently to ensure good air quality. Allergy sufferers will benefit from frequent filter changes. Due to their pleats, filters such as the Honeywell Ultra Efficiency Filter (also available on Amazon), have more square inches of dust-trapping space, so they often require fewer changes-usually every 90 days. A flat filter, such as the Flanders Front Panel Filter (available on Amazon), is designed to be changed every 30 days. The deeper the pleats, the more surface area a filter has and the more room it has to collect airborne particles, so it may not clog as quickly as a flat filter. Flat filters may clog more quickly because they have less surface area than do pleated filters. Most furnace filters come in two types, flat and pleated. Photo: Flat filters clog more quickly than pleated ones. Unfortunately, those smaller holes tend to clog more quickly than lower-rated filters with larger holes.Ĭlogged filters not only negatively impact the air quality in a home, but they also force the furnace to work harder to draw air into the system so they can shorten the useful life of the furnace. Your furnace’s owner’s manual will specify the best MERV rating for your furnace, and in general, filters with a MERV rating of 6 through 9 should be changed every 90 days, while those with a MERV rating of 10 through 12 should be changed every 60 days. This is because higher-rated filters have smaller holes so fewer particulates can get through. In fact, filters with ratings of 11 or 12 will block not only dust and pet dander, but can also block some types of microscopic viruses and fumes. The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter is at blocking airborne pollutants. Filters rated below 6 may not adequately block airborne particles, and filters with ratings higher than 12 are designed for specialized use, such as in hospitals. The denser the filter, the more often it should be changed.įilters are given a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV), which ranges from 1 to 16, although ratings of 6 through 12 are best for residential furnaces.
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