Everything You Need to Know About Air Filters from Your Heating and Air Conditioning Repair Provider | Katy, TX
Photo By Lost_in_the_Midwest at Shutterstock
Just like a car engine, your HVAC system has a lot of different parts that keep it working. When there’s something wrong with one of those parts, it can affect the rest of the system. One of the most important things you can do to avoid heating and air conditioning repair is by keeping a fresh air filter in your HVAC system. Having enough airflow allows your heating and air conditioning to do their job, but they tend to get dirty fairly quickly. Fortunately, we’ve got all the information you need to know about air filters and air filter maintenance.
Why Are Air Filters Important?
In order to deliver cool or warm air to every part of your Katy, TX, home, your heating and cooling systems use ducts and vents that are directed through your home. Over time, these ducts tend to get a lot of dust built up in them, so your HVAC system needs a way to filter it all out before it gets to you; this is what air filters are designed to do.
Since air filters are made of a material that’s designed to trap dust and dirty, they eventually get clogged up. While this might not seem like a huge deal, clogged air filters are a common cause for heating and air conditioning repair. When a filter gets clogged up, it restricts the airflow in your HVAC system which can cause serious problems with heaters and air conditioners.
Even if air filters didn’t get clogged and affect the performance of your HVAC system, it’s still smart to keep a somewhat fresh air filter installed so you don’t have to worry about indoor air quality.
Types of Filters
When you shop for air filters for your Katy, TX, home, you’ll notice that you have a decent amount of options. If you’re having trouble figuring out what type of air filter you need for your home, a heating and air conditioning repair expert can help.
Some of the different types of HVAC air filters include fiberglass filters, pleated filters, washable filters, electrostatic filters, HEPA filters and UV filters. The key to choosing the right filter is understanding the benefits that each type offers.
Fiberglass air filters are the most affordable option, but they also provide the worst filtration. Pleated filters are better than fiberglass filters, but they cost a little more and aren’t as good as the best filters on the market. Electrostatic filters attract dust and other airborne particles through magnetic force, allowing them to catch a little more than regular filters. However, they cost a little more so they may not be the best option for all homeowners.
If you want to avoid calling heating and air conditioning repair services and keep allergens out of your home, HEPA filters are a great option. HEPA filters remove up to 99.97% of contaminants, so they’re a solid option if you’re willing to spend a little more. UV filters are a good choice if you’re looking for something that filters out more viruses and bacteria.
Filter Ratings
Finding a good air filter for your Katy, TX, home means shopping for a filter with a good rating, but that can be a bit complicated when you don’t know how filter ratings work. There are two types of air filters: MERV and HEPA.
Most filters use the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV. When you shop for air filters for your HVAC system, you’ll see a wide range of MERV ratings available to you. A filter with a MERV rating of about 3 is fairly standard for low-end residential use. However, MERV ratings go from 1 all the way up to 20, so the higher rating you get, the better filtration you can expect. This not only helps you keep your indoor air quality good, it also means you don’t have to call heating and air conditioning repair services as often.
If you’re looking for the very best filtration, HEPA filters are the way to go. HEPA filters are great if you or someone in your home has allergies. Plus, you don’t have to worry about paying for heating and air conditioning repair as often.
Air Filter Maintenance
If you want to make sure the HVAC system in your Katy, TX, home stays in good shape, keeping up with air filter maintenance is one of the best things you can do. A lot of heating and air conditioning repair calls are due to clogged air filters, so you can save yourself a lot of trouble by keeping yours in good shape.
To avoid constant heating and air conditioning repair bills, you should replace your air filter at least once every 3 months. Of course, this depends on the type of air filter you have and its rating, so you might want to consult the manufacturer to get an exact schedule.
Another important thing to keep in mind when it comes to air filter replacement is that you might need to replace your air filter more often depending on your circumstances. If you live in a home with a lot of other people or you have pets that add to the dirt and dust in your home, you should change your air filter a little more often to avoid paying for heating and air conditioning repair.
Get Some Help
Keeping your HVAC system in good shape is a lot of work, but making sure you have a clean air filter at all times goes a long way. If you want to avoid paying for heating and air conditioning repair services frequently, there’s no better way to do that than to keep up with maintenance.
If you’re looking for a reliable heating and cooling company in the Katy, TX, area, you can count on Cypress Heating and Air Conditioning. Whether you need maintenance or repairs, we’ve got you covered. Call us at (972) 278-3506.
