Your furnace system is the lungs of your home; the air that you breathe is first passed through the furnace system where it can be cleaned, humidified, heated or cooled.

Having a good furnace filter should be a high priority for your furnace system and your health. Furnace filters were originally designed to protect your furnace fans and other components. With increased knowledge of Indoor Air Quality filters were developed to both protect the furnace system and the residents of the home.

Your home is full of airborne contaminants such as:

· Dust on the floors and surfaces that are disturbed by activity in the home.

· Smoking, burning candles lint from laundry and cooking are just a few duct sources

· Hair and skin flakes from humans or pets. Did you know that humans shed an estimated 1.5 pounds per year.

· Pollens and dust that leak into the home through open windows or air intakes.

Dust particles can be so small that they are inhaled and exhaled from your lungs without getting trapped. Some particles are too large to get be inhaled but the dangerous particles are those that are breathed into your lungs and get trapped there. These particles are the ones that can cause respiratory illnesses.

I am sure that you would like to improve your filtration just to keep the visible dust from building up of the surfaces of your home but good filtration is much more important than that. The real risks are health related and come from respirable particles, which include tobacco smoke, spores, bacteria, and viruses.

So the question is what type of filter should you buy? How do you know what is a good filter and what is marketing? Well the answer is simple, ask for the MERV rating.

Most filters are labelled with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating value, that measure the filters ability to trap air borne particles from a micron size 3.0 – 10.0.

The MERV rating was created by the testing methods of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning (ASHRAE). Residential filters have a MERV rating that ranges between 1-11. The higher the number in the MERV rating the better and more efficient the filters is.

Here are the ratings:

* A MERV rating of 6 means the filter is 35% to 50% minimum efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-10.0 microns.

* A MERV rating of 8 means the filter is 70% to 85% minimum efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-10.0 microns.

* A MERV rating of 11 means the filter is 85% to 95% minimum efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-10.0 microns.

1.

The standard fibreglass furnace filter is very inefficient and only has a MERV rating of 1. This filter is not designed to remove much of the airborne particulates but only to protect the furnace fan and components. Smaller particles such as pollen and mold will pass right through.

This filter is very cheap, must be replaced every month during the heating season and every month if you have air conditioning. This filter is very inefficient and if not maintained can cause series damage to your furnace system.

2.

3M has developed a better throw away filter with their pleated disposable. The MERV rating is also much higher with the 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen filter is rated MERV 11, which is extremely good in any comparison. This high quality comes at a cost of about $25.00 to $30.00 per filter and still has to be replaced every other month.

This filter on a long term basis is very expensive due to the fact that it must be replaced at least every other month during the heating season and cooling season if you have air conditioning. On the plus side this filter is very efficient at removing airborne particles protecting your family from allergy attacks.

3.

Washable “Electrostatic” Filters produce a static charge and better filter media to attract more dust and other airborne particulates. The Electrostic filters are a larger investment initially than buying standard fibreglass filters or the 3M brand pleated media filter but they are washable so the investment will pay off in time. An electrostatic filter is a permanent, cost effective way to significantly improve the quality of your indoor air.

On a long term basis this is the best investment due to the onetime cost of purchasing this filter. No changes to the duct work need to be made for installing this filter type. This filter type like the others can cause damage to your furnace system if not maintained properly. The Electrostatic filter needs to be cleaned every other month in order to stay within proper air resistance ranges. Simply take your filter out and vacuum off the loose dust that is on the surface, next soak the filter in hot soapy water allowing time for the grease and other caked particles to be removed. Rinse the filter with hot clean water and leave out over night to dry.

4.

Next is the pleated thick media filter. This filter type is excellent and has a high MERV rating of 8 or more. This filter uses a much denser mesh media to trap the airborne particles. The pleats increase the filtering area so that the filter only needs to be replaced one per year. These filters cost anywhere from $300 – $600 installed and you still have to replace the media every year.

This filter type requires changes to the duct work to allow for a six inch spacer between the furnace and the cold air return. This filter type only needs to be replaced once per year and are very efficient. This filter type is not cheap with a large investment during the install and a smaller investment every year with the filter replacement.

As you can see there are many filter choices for the consumer when battling dust and other airborne contaminants. Choosing the right filter comes down to budget, needs and your ability to maintain the filter choice that you make.

A-1 ductworks is a furnace duct cleaning company that specializes in Indoor air Quality in the Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada. Call 780-598-5966 for a free estimate on improving your Indoor Air Quality.