Fiberglass filters are the most commonly used filters in residential heating and air conditioning systems. Their purpose is to protect the system from dirt and debris that could potentially damage components such as fans, motors, cooling coils, and heat exchangers. If you're looking for long-term savings and high-quality filters that need to be changed frequently, then less pleated air filters are the best choice for you. For those with allergies or respiratory problems, fiberglass filters are an excellent option due to their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. HVAC systems are not designed to improve air quality in the home, but filters are essential in keeping the oven and air conditioner running properly.
Cheap fiberglass filters are designed to prevent dust, dirt, and hair from dirtying the system. While they do little to filter out allergens and other irritants, their use keeps your HVAC system clean and efficient. In our experience, concern about the detachment of filters, such as pieces of fiberglass, is usually not a major problem. Finding the right MERV rating means finding the right balance between a filter that can remove most allergens without sacrificing airflow. The actual filtering efficiency of an air filter should not be estimated solely based on the diameter of the fiber, as the filter design includes more than just this factor.
This includes the location of the fiber, randomness, average diameter of the remaining opening, total thickness of the filter, electrostatic properties of the filter, and other variables such as whether or not the filter has a gasket or if it avoids a large amount of air around the filter itself. Fiberglass filters are located at the farthest end of that spectrum and offer almost maximum airflow in a balance that offers almost zero filtering efficiency. Pleated air filters are now manufactured with synthetic materials that have smaller individual fibers which are wound in such a way that both air flow and filtering efficiency are maximized. MERV 11 air filters can remove even finer particles including particles as small as bacteria, mold spores, and automotive fumes. This means that an air filter with a MERV rating of 8 or higher can get dirty more quickly but it also means spending less money on cleaning your oven, less time cleaning furniture, and fewer doctor visits if someone in your household has allergies.
It's important to remember that fiberglass filters are really bad at keeping dust from getting through them; they actually become better air filters as they get loaded with debris. The filters themselves may be cheaper but using them isn't much cheaper either; an HVAC breakdown caused by a fiberglass filter letting huge particles pass through is definitely not cheaper. Fiberglass filters are often referred to as “disposable” or “throwaway” filters because they are only designed to last about 30 days before they need to be discarded and replaced. In fact, most of the fiberglass found in building air and dust seems to originate from building insulation; especially when there is traffic or air movement in and out of areas where fiberglass insulation is exposed; even more so if that insulation is mechanically damaged such as by walking on it. If you have any questions about fiberglass air filters or if you want to have a heating and cooling system repaired or installed in your home contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning; your St. Louis area HVAC experts.
If you buy the cheapest air filter for your budget it may seem like a good idea but it may not be the best long-term air filter option available for your family, home, or HVAC system. That's why it's important to regularly change your air filters so that your system continues to operate at maximum efficiency. Pleated air filters are made of cotton, paper or polyester sheets folded in folds which increases their surface area; this is where pleated air filters excel while fiberglass air filters fail miserably. So which of these varieties is best for your home? Well since we just said “you get what you pay for” you can probably guess that pleated air filters are better.
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