Does Furnace Filters Matter? A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to furnaces, the type of filter you use can make a big difference. The most common type of filter is the MERV rating, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This rating is used to measure the effectiveness of a filter in trapping particles from the air. Generally, a MERV score between eight and 11 is suitable for most households.

However, it's important to check with the manufacturer of your oven to ensure that the filter you choose has a maximum MERV rating that your oven model can use. For households with many occupants, pets, smokers, and people with severe allergies, higher quality filters are recommended. These filters are more expensive than standard filters, but they are more effective in trapping pollen, dust mites, paint spray, lint, and textile fibers. Highly efficient pleated air filters are also a great option as they allow the boiler to pump cleaner air into your home without putting too much pressure on the boiler. The pleated design increases the surface area of the filter, capturing more lint, dust, pollen, mold and mildew. Pleated filters don't need to be replaced as often as standard filters, but they should still be replaced every three months.

Electronic media filters are also an option for property managers who don't want to replace the filter every month. These filters are more expensive than standard filters but they are more effective in removing dirt and debris that could damage the oven fan motor. When choosing an oven filter, it's important to consider how well it removes dust, pollen, and smoke from the air and how freely air flows through the filter at any fan speed. It's also important to remember that no filter manufacturer can predict how long their filters will last because none of them knows the dust conditions in your home. Therefore, it's important to check your filter frequently. Finally, keep in mind that many fan motors run faster in air conditioning mode than in heating mode.

This means that you need to change your filter more often in summer. A clogged filter can cause both the boiler and air conditioner to work longer and less efficiently.

Archie Walizer
Archie Walizer

Friendly zombie nerd. General tvaholic. Professional social media fan. Passionate zombie scholar. Total tv fan.