Home air filters are one of the most important aspects of an HVAC system, requiring regular replacement or cleaning. Before choosing a MERV-rated air filter for you home’s heating and air conditioning system, make sure you understand how the rating system works.

MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value. Air filters are given a MERV rating to rate their effectiveness or ability to trap dust and small particles as they pass through the filter. The MERV scale ranges from 1 to 16, with 16 offering the highest filtration. That said, a higher MERV rating doesn’t necessarily offer the best indoor air quality for every home.

There are several factors to consider when it comes to selecting the right air filters for your home:

• Higher filter ratings significantly reduce the amount and speed of air as it passes through the filter. This means that over a given period of time, less air is cleaned and recirculation slows.
• A highly-rated filter could reduce the airflow to inadequate levels, which could affect the comfort level of your home.
• HVAC systems experiencing inadequate airflow have to work harder to overcome it. This puts added strain on the system, which can increase the amount of energy it uses while driving up your utility bill. It can also lead to condenser freezing and/or failure.

An ideal MERV filter rating will depend on each homeowner’s situation and equipment. A good idea is to start out with a lower-rated filter, observe how it affects the airflow to your HVAC system and the circulation in your home, and move up as needed. It may take several attempts over a period of time before you can find the MERV rating that works best for you and your equipment. Another option is to contact a trusted HVAC professional who can access your system and your home and determine what’s best for you.

For additional information on specific MERV ratings and home air filters in general, contact the experts at Conditioned Air. We’ve proudly served southwest Florida since 1962.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

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The outdoor air in Southwest Florida is typically clear and beautiful. However, our indoor air is filled with particulates too small to see, such as bacteria and viruses, mold spores, pollen, pet dander and other potential allergens. A properly sized and installed air filter in your air conditioner will trap many of these particulates, and pleated air filters are the recommended choice.

An air filter functions by trapping particulates on its surface and only allowing air to pass through the filter material. All filters are very thin but are available in different types and densities. These air filters are rated by a standardized system, MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value), which measures efficiency in trapping particulates. The MERV rankings go from 1, which will only trap large particulates, to 20, which will trap even the tiniest particulates.

Why choose pleated air filters?

• Over time, all filters will become clogged with trapped particles, restricting the amount of air that can flow through. By folding or pleating the air filter, more surface area is created. This increases both the area that traps particles and the area for cleaned air to pass through.
• Pleated air filters are not only more efficient than flat surface filters, but they also don’t require cleaning or replacing as often.
• The typical MERV ratings for pleated air filters range from 5 to 13. Higher MERV ratings are available.
• These filters are available in a range of sizes and thicknesses for most common air conditioning units or furnaces.
• Some pleated air filters have electrostatic synthetic fibers, which increase their ability to attract and trap unwanted particles.
• Also available are filters with charcoal or carbon fibers, which are excellent materials for absorbing and eliminating odors.

Selecting the best pleated air filter for your Southwest Florida home will help reduce unwanted air pollutants, will increase the efficiency of your air conditioning system, will protect your family’s health and will reduce your energy costs. Conditioned Air has been bringing expert service to this area since 1962. Contact us today for all your home comfort needs.

As a busy homeowner, your days are likely filled with things to do. One task that’s easy to overlook when you’re already busy is checking the filter in your air conditioner. But while checking the filter’s easy to overlook, it’s something that you need to do regularly.

A dirty filter can cost you — in terms of energy efficiency, home comfort and even cooling-system longevity. Here are three reasons you should be checking your air filter every month and replacing it as soon as it looks dirty.

• A dirty filter wastes energy. Air can’t flow as quickly through a clogged filter, and as a result, your cooling system is forced to work much harder than it should. This pushes up your electric bills.
• A clean filter prevents expensive maintenance. When your air conditioner is forced to work harder because the filter’s clogged, expensive breakdowns are more likely. If your filter’s habitually neglected, your system could die prematurely, and you could wind up facing an expensive replacement.
• A clean air filter is essential to indoor air quality.  A filter that’s clogged can’t catch any additional particulate matter. The particulates not only build up in your air conditioner, but also circulate through your air, potentially exacerbating respiratory problems. A clean air filter is an important way to control the allergens in your home.

As a matter of course, remove the filter from your air conditioner once a month and hold it up to the sunlight. If you can’t see light through it, it’s time to put in a new filter. If you don’t know what kind of filter to use, consult your owner’s manual or contact your HVAC contractor. Generally, a filter with a mid-range MERV rating is sufficient.

For more expert advice about air filter replacement, contact Conditioned Air. We’ve served Southwest Florida homeowners since 1962.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

 Image via Shutterstock.com

If you struggle with allergies or a respiratory condition, you already know the value of air purification. Optimal indoor air quality — which is relatively free of particulate matter and allergy triggers — helps to increase your quality of life.

The first step in selecting an air-purification system is understanding how one works. A system like Lennox’s PureAir is designed to address all three classes of contaminants — and that’s a huge benefit, because many other air purifiers and electronic air cleaners remove contaminants in only one or two classes. No matter what’s lurking in your home’s air, it’s likely to fall into one of these categories:

• Particles, such as dust, dander or pollen as small as 0.3 microns in size. (Consider that coffee grind specks are about 5 microns in size.)
• Bioaerosols and microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and dust mites as small as 0.01 microns
• Odors and chemical vapors (gas), including odors, solvents and cooking and pet odors that contain volatile organic compounds.

To accomplish the impressive task of removing three contaminant classes, a system like the PureAir must generally use more than one technology. The PureAir system, for example, uses the following three technologies, each of which is uniquely designed to defeat a certain contaminant:

• The Precision Pleat MERV 16 filter is the system’s first line of defense. Its dense fibers are specifically designed to catch particles and bioaerosols down to 0.01 microns and permanently remove them from your home’s airstream.
• The airstream moves through ultraviolet lights next, which target pollutants like bacteria, mold and viruses.
• Only odors and chemical vapors are left in the airstream, which is next targeted by a catalyst. Working with the UV light, it breaks them into a mixture of water and carbon dioxide, which is safe at this point in the air purification process.

To select the air purification system that best suits your needs, contact the indoor air quality experts at Conditioned Air. We have served homeowners in southwest Florida since 1962.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

The quality of your indoor air depends to a great extent on the type of filter you use in your HVAC system. Filters are designed to trap and hold various sizes of airborne particles as they travel along with the airflow. As filter quality increases, so does the ability to remove contaminants from your air. At the highest level, high-efficiency particulate air filtration provides the best air cleaning efficiency.

Air filter performance is measured by the filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV. MERV ratings indicate how well the filter traps particulates of 0.3 microns to 10 microns in size. MERV numbers range from 1 to 16; higher numbers mean better filtration.

In comparison, HEPA filters have MERV ratings of 17 to 20, which indicate extremely high levels of filtration. HEPA filters can keep your indoor air cleaned to a level similar to that in hospitals, laboratories, clean rooms and similar environments where airborne contaminants cannot be tolerated.

HEPA filters are extremely effective at removing the very smallest airborne particles and must trap and hold at least 99.97 percent of particulate matter that’s 0.3 microns or larger. They can remove pollen, pet dander, mold spores, bacteria, viruses, fungi and dust from your indoor air. HEPA filters can even remove odors and vapors that cause unpleasant smells in your home.

But even though you might be tempted to immediately replace your air filter with a HEPA filter, this is probably not a good idea. HEPA filters are too dense for most residential HVAC systems. Using one in your system could severely restrict airflow, causing your system to overwork and eventually break down.

If you must have HEPA filtration, consider purchasing an air purifier. Another possibility is installing a whole-house filter between the furnace and air return. The most advisable course is talking with your HVAC-system contractor. He can give you more information about air filters and discuss your options with you.

For 50 years, Conditioned Air has provided top-notch air conditioning sales, maintenance  and repair to residential and commercial customers in Naples and Southwest Florida. Contact us for more information about improving the quality of your indoor air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities of Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!   

Air quality image via Shutterstock

Mechanical air filters are found in the duct system of your central air conditioner. Replace or clean them often to properly maintain your A/C.

When purchasing an air filter for your southwest Florida home, you can compare its relative efficiency at removing airborne particles from your air supply using the MERV rating. This minimum efficiency reporting value rating ranges from 1 (low level of efficiency) up to a maximum of 20.

• Flat panel air filters (with MERV ratings 1-4) are often used in residential air conditioning and heating systems. Their purpose is mainly to protect the HVAC equipment from accumulating damaging materials on the internal surfaces. Low-MERV filters aren’t intended to improve indoor air quality and will miss microscopically small particles like viruses and bacteria. They’ll also miss some of the airborne pollen, dust, insect allergens, pet dander and mold spores that are a big concern here in Southwest Florida.
• Extended surface (pleated) filters are rated medium or high on the MERV scale. Medium-efficiency filters (MERV 5-13) are moderately effective at removing potential lung irritants and other airborne particles.
• MERV 7-13  filters are almost as effective as much-higher-rated HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters, but much less expensive. Medium-efficiency filters have other advantages; they allow better airflow rates and run more quietly than HEPAs (and other high-efficiency products) because they’re less air resistant.
• Higher-efficiency filters (MERV ratings 14-16), look like true HEPA filters and are sometimes mistakenly called by that name.
• True HEPA filters are rated MERV 17-20, however, and will often overpower home cooling equipment, blocking airflow. So they’re not used often in residential systems, but more often in hospitals and laboratories.

Before purchasing a MERV 14 or above filter, be certain it’s compatible with your cooling system’s fan and motor capacity. Professionally retrofitted residential home comfort systems may be able to accommodate true HEPAs, along with certain high performance houses that might come equipped with a HEPA-compatible system.

Questions about air filters or how to install one in your particular HVAC system? Contact Conditioned Air for expert advice for Southwest Florida homeowners. Please visit our website to learn more or just pick up the phone.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Air filter image via Shutterstock

Did you know that replacing your air filter monthly (or whenever it appears dirty) is one of the easiest and more cost-effective ways to keep your air conditioner in shape for the coming summer season? It’s true. 

Unfortunately, the job is also easy to forget and sometimes confusing to carry out. Your HVAC contractor will replace your filter for you during a semi-annual maintenance visit, but in between it’s up to you. Let’s look at the many benefits of a clean air filter:

• Your indoor air quality depends upon it. Here in Southwest Florida, you probably use your cooling system much of the year, and hopefully you also have humidity control incorporated into your central A/C system. But your home comfort system also has another job – circulating clean air through your home. Your filter is a key component in the system to improve your indoor air quality. Poor air quality can be harmful to your family’s health.
• Your air conditioner’s efficiency depends on it. A clean air filter saves you money on utility bills. When the filter’s clogged, your A/C works harder to push air through the dirty filter and uses excess energy.
• The life of your cooling system depends on it. A clogged filter won’t provide enough airflow through the system, allowing dirt to accumulate on internal parts. The result is stale air and a shorter life expectancy for central air conditioning equipment. System failures are also a concern. Restricted airflow puts extra stress on the fan motor, causing overheating and possible breakdown.
• Your ducts depend on it. Dirty filters cause your ductwork to accumulate dirt internally. This can reduce air flow, contaminate the air and lead to duct-cleaning expenses to rid the system of uncontrolled mold growth or insect infestations.
• The environment depends on it. Decreasing your carbon footprint helps reduce global warming.

Questions about air filters? Talk to the experts at Conditioned Air. We can help you choose the best filter for your A/C system and explain how to replace it. Visit our website to learn more about our services or just give us a call.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Air filter image via Shutterstock

Filter maintenance may not top your list of concerns. Your air conditioner and furnace continue to chug along, with or without your attention. But filter maintenance shouldn’t be ignored, even during milder seasons in Southwest Florida.

Here are three good reasons not to ignore filter maintenance:

• Clean filters preserve the life of your HVAC system. HVAC systems are designed to circulate healthy air through your home, and filters are an integral part of their design. Filters keep indoor pollutants from running through the system and becoming airborne. As the filter removes particles from the air, it becomes caked with allergens and dust. Your HVAC equipment has to work harder to blow air through a dirty filter, and that extra work can shorten the life of your system.
• Clean filters reduce allergens in your home. Modern HVAC systems recirculate air throughout the house, which helps maintain a comfortable temperature. But it also means allergens such as molds, pollen, pet dander and dust get recirculated. To reduce allergens in your home, choose efficient filters and check them monthly during Southwest Florida’s hot summers.
• Clean filters save money on your utility bill. HVAC systems are designed to run as often as is necessary to achieve and maintain the desired temperature in your home. If your filter is dirty or clogged and air can’t easily pass through, your system will nonetheless continue to work to reach your desired temperature. All that extra work shows up as large numbers on your utility bill. Give your HVAC system and your wallet a break and change those filters.

Filter maintenance is an easy but easily overlooked task. If you’re prone to forgetting to change the filter, set a certain day each month for checking it or install an air filter gauge to help you change it frequently enough to preserve your system, reduce allergens in your home and keep your utility bill under control.

For more ideas on how to improve or preserve your home’s HVAC system, contact the professionals at Conditioned Air. Serving Southwest Florida, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Air filter image via Shutterstock

Maintaining the air quality in your home includes understanding the air filters that your cooling and heating system uses.

Maintaining air filters for your cooling and heating system is important because they remove particles from the air, keeping your system running efficiently and improving the air quality in your home. Over time, air filters can get clogged and dirty, so they must be replaced or cleaned regularly.

It is important to be familiar with the style of air cleaner that you are using. A properly fitted filter is essential. So, first, check your system’s owner’s manual to determine the size you need.

Then consider MERV ratings. MERV, or minimum efficiency reporting value, is a rating of air filters’ effectiveness. It runs on a scale of 1 to 20, with MERV 20 filters being most effective at catching airborne particles.

A higher-rated filter isn’t necessarily best for your system, however. For example, filters rated on the MERV scale from 17 to 20 are known as HEPA filters, and they’re often so dense they’ll limit the airflow in your residential heating and cooling system — hurting more than helping. Instead, a filter rated from MERV 7 to 13 might be best. It’ll catch nearly all your household particles without impeding your system’s airflow.

A MERV rating of at least 8 is recommended for those who have pets, due to the hair and dander. For individuals who suffer with allergies or other respiratory issues, go for a filter rated at least 9 to 12.

Other factors to consider:

• Some air filters contain activated carbon, which is recommended for those who have pets in the home. This material is a natural solution that can absorb many fumes and noxious odors.
• In general, you should check you air filter monthly and change or wash them as needed. Some air filters, however, may need to be cleaned or replaced more than once a month. This is especially true during seasons of high pollen, in households with numerous pets, in households that use candles or incense and during colder months.

Questions? Contact us at Conditioned Air, serving Southwest Florida since 1962.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about selecting and maintaining air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Improving your indoor air quality helps protect you and your family from contaminants in your home. This can be particularly important for members of your household who suffer from allergies or asthma. Here are a few ways to improve your indoor air quality:

• Source control. The most cost-effective way to reduce indoor pollution is to eliminate its sources. Smoking, the use of unvented heaters, gas stoves and household cleaners are among common sources of indoor pollutants. You can have your stove adjusted, for example, to reduce emissions, and chose safer cleaners.
• Ventilation. A home should be tightly sealed to maintain its energy efficiency, but some fresh air needs to be able to get in. You can install or upgrade fans in your kitchen and bathrooms to expel dirty air outside instead of circulating it indoors. When doing indoor activities that require the use of hazardous chemicals, such as painting, be sure your work area is well-ventilated with fans and open windows. 
• Air filtration. The MERV (minimum efficiency rating value) is the measurement of how efficient your air filter is at capturing tiny particles. Use a filter with a MERV between 13 and 16 in your heating and cooling equipment — these filters will capture most pollutants without hindering your HVAC system’s airflow. Change your filters regularly. 
• UV lights. These remarkably effective germicidal tools kill microorganisms, such as mold, in the air. An HVAC professional can install them for you as part of your existing system. While UV lights don’t trap non-living particles in your air, such as dust, they can be used in tandem with high-efficiency air filters to achieve very high air quality. 

To learn about more strategies that can help you improve your indoor air quality, contact Conditioned Air.  We have served Southwest Florida since 1962.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about improving indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.