Questions about My Filter and Air Quality
How often should I change my filter?
A standard filter should be changed monthly. You will find various different filters that say they will last 3 months, 6 months, or even one year. I still recommend checking your filter every month. Every home is different. A home located on a farm where it is dusty may need the filter changed more frequently than a home located in town. If you have pets in the house, you also may need to replace your filter more frequently than a home with no pets. Here is a simple test to tell when its time to replace your filter. Hold the filter up to a light and look at the light through the filter. A new filter is white and you can easily see the light. When the filter turnes grey and you start having a hard time making out the light through the filter, it is time to change it. When the filter is black and no light shows through, you've gone too long. You need to change your filter sooner. Not only does a dirty filter affect the quality of your air, but it also has a damanging affect on both the operation of your furnace as well as your air conditioner.
Dont let your filter get like this! This is going through your system and into the air you breathe!
What kind of filter should I use?
To be clear, here we are talking about standard 1" furnace filters. You've probably noticed that filters come in a range of efficiencies from MERV 1 (most washable and cheap fiberglass filters) to MERV 16 (expensive high allergen filters). The lower MERV fiberglass filters are designed to cause almost no restriction to air flow. While this is great for the equipment, they also do poor job filtering the air. They are able to catch larger particles from the air, but they will still allow dust through. These are especially bad filters if you have any issues with alergies. They must be changed every month. I typically do not recommend these.
On the other hand, there are the expensive High Allergen filters with the high MERV ratings. These are pleated filters that have a very dense filter material and closely packed pleats. Be ware of these filters! While these filters are excellent for filtering very small particles out of the air, they cause very high air flow restriction. If your system has not been specifically designed to have this filter, installing this filter can have a damaging effect on the operation of your furnace and air conditioning. In addition, because of the dense filter material, these filters tend to clog very quickly and need to be changed sometimes every 2-3 weeks, which will get expensive. I don't ever recommend these filters.
The filters I recommend are the standard pleat filters. These will be between a MERV 5 and MERV 8. An inexpensive option (typically $4-$6), these filters give a nice balance between air filtration and low air flow restriction. While you should always check your filter monthly, many times these filters can last 2-3 months.
MERV 1-4
Not Recommended
MERV 5-8
Recommended
MERV 9-16
Not Recommended
I have bad alergies and need more than a standard filter. What other options are there?
There are many Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) products that can greatly reduce allergens in your air. A very affordable options is to replace your standard 1" filter with a Media Housing and Filter. The media filter is 4"-5" high MERV filter. The wider filter allows for the high MERV rating while keeping an acceptable flow restriction. Installation will require minor duct alteration. Another option is to install a UV Air Purifier. This is a ultra vilot light that is installed in the ductwork, typically above the furnace. It will kill any molds or bacteria that is in the air. If you have a UV Air Purifier, remember the uv bulb will need to be replace every 1-2 years.
Do I need a humdifier?
There can be many great benefits to having a humidifier, however a humidifier is not for everyone. Because we do have a dry climate here in Colorado, if you have moved here from more humid climate, a humidifier can greatly increase the comfort of your home. Do you frequently have a bloody nose in the winter time, or extremely dry skin? Then a humidifier can help here as well. Ultimately the bottom line is maintaining your comfort level in your home.
Click below to discuss additional IAQ options.