Most of us go through a lot throughout the year, from sneezing to coughing and respiratory problems, because of the increased level of pollutants in the air at home. Since indoor air doesn’t frequently circulate, those pollutants remain in the house and aggravate health issues.
The right air filter can be helpful when you are battling allergies and other respiratory issues. It is designed to pass air through its layers, capture pollutants, and recirculate fresh air in a room.
If you are planning to buy a new air filter, whether for the first or third time, the following are factors to look at to ensure you make the right buying decision:
1. Model and Size
Before choosing any air filter, you must determine its model and size. You must get the size right as you want it to fit well in your AC. Plus, you wouldn’t want to lose cash by buying the wrong air filter size.
Many filters have their size printed on the side. However, at times this is just a rounded measurement. In order to be sure of the exact measurement, get a measuring tape to measure the depth, width, and height of your custom filters.
It is also important to determine the model of the filter. Determining a filter’s model will enable you to find the right one quickly.
2. Aftermarket vs. Original
Whether you plan to buy your air filter online or at a nearby physical shop, you will surely come across either aftermarket or original filters.
Both of these are effective but have different features, which you might want to be familiar with. Original ones belong to the same brands the entire unit came from and are often manufactured by AC manufacturers.
But aftermarket air filters are usually manufactured by independent manufacturers to use with existing units. Usually, they have the same quality and design.
3. Material
Air filters come with different build materials and media forms. For instance, traditional pre-filtrations need a cardboard frame, which serves as a condensation-repellent. But this form of framing can decline because of the wet environment.
So experts recommend solid frame elements, such as plastic or metal, so as to maintain service term integrity. In addition, you should air filters where the filtration media pack is intact to framing elements.
4. Efficiency
With varieties of air filters in the market these days, the filtration efficiency of an air filter may differ greatly. Filtration efficiency means referring to how much particles or allergens are destroyed or removed by air filters.
Take the HEPA filter as an example. Air filters with a True HEPA filter can capture 99.9% of pollutants down to 0.3 microns. In order to get a better idea of how small this is, know that one micron is about 1/75 of the width of human air. But this efficiency varies.
The Takeaway!
In addition to choosing the right air filter, knowing how many contaminants it can hold gives another avenue for saving cash. Changing filters on a schedule is convenient but normally results in your maintenance team disposing of air filters, which have several months of life to spare. This is relevant during winter when rooftop systems don’t have to contend with pollen anymore.
