What kind of filter do you have? Start by turning off the furnace. There are ways to botch the job, however-for example, by buying the wrong size filter or putting it in backward, which can block the flow of air instead of cleaning it. Replacing a furnace filter is pretty simple once you know what you’re doing. (An electrostatic filter, which uses an electrical charge to help trap particles, can do the same.) That might help people with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, but there’s little evidence that other people need such filtration. HEPA: Fitting a furnace with a HEPA filter can reduce the amount of dust blown through the heating system. The higher the number, the better it filters. The best filters have an MPR between 1,500 and 1,900.įPR: Home Depot uses its own rating system, on a scale of 1 to 10, called the Filter Performance Rating. It rates filters on their ability to capture airborne particles smaller than 1 micrometer. MPR: This is the Microparticle Performance Rating, developed by 3M. The top performers in our tests typically have a MERV higher than 10. The higher the number, the finer the filtration. MERV: Many whole-house filters list a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV), developed by ASHRAE (formerly the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers). Read on to learn more about our air filter tests and which type of filter is best for your forced-air heating and cooling system. For more information on the individual products that use filters, such as air purifiers, room air conditioners, and dehumidifiers, check out their dedicated buying guides. Here’s a rundown of the 12 filters you should be changing. Of course, air filters aren’t the only filters you should be monitoring and/or replacing to keep the air and water in your home clean. Any air filter that scores well in our tests is a good choice for clearing the air during smoke conditions. A good air filter can help with that, too. And by typically, we mean on days when no heavy smog or wildfire smoke has seeped into your home. That’s important because the concentration of air pollutants inside your home can be two to five times higher than concentrations typically found outdoors. The best air filters trap indoor pollutants such as dust, pet dander, and pollen, helping to clean the air in your home. If you’re getting low airflow, check the air filter-a clogged filter is one of the most common reasons. A dirty filter can restrict airflow, preventing the system from working like it’s supposed to, and that can eventually lead to an equipment breakdown. But it’s one small thing-the air filter-that keeps the entire central air system humming along. Heating and cooling probably constitutes a big part of your utility bill.
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