Maintaining a comfortable living space without having to deal with ridiculous utility bills every month is the goal of every homeowner. One of the easiest ways of achieving this is by maintaining your HVAC unit properly. Here are seven tips for getting the most out of your air filter.
- Keep the Air Filter Clean
Keeping your air filter clean is important to extend the life of your HVAC unit and to keep energy costs down. It will also maintain healthy air quality and keep the unit clean, so you don’t have to worry about breathing in any dirt or debris each day.
- Learn about the Different Types of Filters
The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value or MERV rating that a filter has determines how efficient they are at filtering particles out of the air.
A filter with a MERV rating of between 1 and 4 provides minimal filtration and it is ideal if you want to buy a cheap filter that just keeps dust off of surfaces but doesn’t improve the air quality. Between 5 and 8 is the best range for most homes, capturing smaller particles that aggravate allergies. MERV ratings of between 9 and 12 are perfect for homes where people living in the property have severe allergies or if there are multiple pets in the home. It will provide a higher level of efficiency to help you breathe easier. Finally, MERV 13 to 16 are the highest quality filters and are usually reserved for hospitals or commercial areas.
- Set Reminders
It’s all too easy to forget to change the air filter on a regular basis, so setting a reminder will ensure that you don’t forget to replace it with a fresh filter after the allotted time has passed. You can write it on your calendar or set a notification on your phone or computer.
- Make Buying Replacements Easy
It can be a nuisance to have to head out to your local home improvement store to buy a new filter every month or two. So, order your filters online through a service that delivers them when you need them, like Filter King, so they will be mailed to you.
- Check the Size
Filters come in a range of sizes, such as a 16x25x1 furnace filter, and thicknesses, so it’s important that you check the size you need for maximum efficiency. Installing the wrong size can impede the HVAC unit, meaning the air isn’t as clean as it should be.
- Install the Filter the Correct Way Up
When you install a new air filter, you’ll notice that the existing filter has arrows pointing in a certain direction. Make sure that when you’re installing a new filter, you match up which way these arrows are pointing as these indicate the air flow direction.
- Select the Right Filter
Each home is different so make sure that the filter you’re using is right for your home. In order to get the most out of your air filter, consider whether there are people with allergies, if there are smokers in the property or if you have pets. These factors will impact the type of filter you need.
