AC Filters: How to Decide Which is Best for My Home

The Ultimate Guide to Filters: Essential AC Maintenance in Richmond for Your Home

The South Texas climate makes us all appreciate air conditioning. While people survived here before AC, survival was tougher, and life was much different. Windows allowed ventilation, but they also opened the home to mosquitoes and other hazardous pests. Screens on windows limited the number of pests that got in, but it was still hot, humid, and muggy. People were always looking for ways to stay cool and dry in the summer heat.

When AC came along, people could close the windows and doors and keep the cool, dry air inside and the hot, humid air outside. However, air conditioning did not solve all the problems alone. Engineers quickly fit AC will air filters. Here is why:

  • Air must move or it becomes stale and unhealthy.
  • The closed windows and doors trap contaminants inside, contaminants like dust, pollen, mold spores, etc. Some contaminants enter the home each time a window or door is opened. Some contaminants are created by occupants (both humans and animals). Some contaminants will grow inside in the right environment.
  • The overall concentration of contaminants will grow without filtering them out of the air.

How Choosing the Right Filter Simplifies Your AC Maintenance in Richmond

Not all filters are the same.

  • Some filters are made of paper or cloth fibers. Some are made of synthetic fiber materials.
  • Some filters are made to be replaced, and some are made to be cleaned frequently.
  • Some filters carry an electrostatic charge and act like a magnet for the tiny particles in the air.

Filters are classified further by the size of the gaps between the fibers. Filters are rated by the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV), based on the percentage of particles of a certain size captured by the filter.

  • If the gaps are too large, the percentage of particles that pass through is greater and is inefficient at cleaning the air.
  • If the gaps are too small, the airflow is restricted and creates stress on the air conditioner.

Which size, rating, and type filter is right for your system?

  • The filter size is determined by the opening in the air handler cabinet. It is usually found at the base of the cabinet, at the juncture where the return air vent enters the cabinet. The size of the filter is stamped on the side: replace the filter with a filter of the same size.
  • Look for a MERV rating on the package of the new filter. Residential heating and air conditioning systems can use filters with a MERV rating of 8-13: the higher the number, the better the efficiency rating. Filters rated above this can restrict airflow in normal systems. MERV 17 to 20 ratings are called High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and are used in health care and laboratory settings. Systems that use HEPA filters have especially strong blower motors to overcome the small gaps in the filter.
  • The type of filter is usually determined by the equipment already installed. An electrostatic filter will have specialty equipment to power the filter.

Why Filter Checks are Vital for AC Maintenance in Richmond

How often do air filters need to be changed (or cleaned)?

Even normally efficient air filters are very effective at removing airborne particles. Therefore, air filters need to be cleaned or replaced quarterly. The collection of dust and dander will cover the surface, get thicker by the day, and prevent adequate airflow from passing the filter. This means:

  • Cooling efficiency will be severely reduced
  • The air conditioning components are forced to work much harder, which can cause damage.

If you have any questions about the right filter for your air conditioning, call All Cool today.

Stay Cool and Clean with All Cool AC and Heating: High-Efficiency AC Maintenance in Richmond for Texas Homes

Don’t let a clogged filter compromise your home’s comfort or lead to expensive repairs during the peak of the Texas heat. Regular filter changes are just the first step in a comprehensive plan for AC Maintenance in Richmond, ensuring your entire system runs at peak efficiency. Contact the experts at All Cool AC & Heating today to schedule your professional AC Maintenance appointment and keep your air clean and cool all year long.