What’s the Very Best Furnace Filter for Your Yuma Home?

One of the easiest and most effective ways to improve the air quality in your Yuma area home is to install the best A/C or furnace filter for your particulate HVAC system. Then inspect it on a monthly basis, replacing it when needed, typically about every month or two. A numerical system is in place for rating the effectiveness of HVAC filters, called MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value), which extends from 1-20.

Higher MERV ratings indicate greater effectiveness at filtering ever smaller airborne particles from air passing through the filter. The best A/C or furnace filter for your home, however, isn’t necessarily the one with the highest MERV rating, since the higher-rated filters are generally not compatible with residential furnace systems. Their denser filter media tend to restrict airflow to an insufficient volume.

Many experts agree that the best furnace filter for most homes is one with a MERV rating of between 8-12. A filter with a lower MERV rating may do a good job at protecting your HVAC equipment from dirt and dust that may cause undue wear and tear. However, a low-end MERV filter will do little or nothing to clean the air that you and your family breathe in your living environment.

Filters with ratings above MERV 12, while capable of filtering smaller particles and therefore are better at cleaning the air, restrict airflow to the point that it may be harmful to your HVAC system. The use of higher MERV-rated filters is generally reserved for industrial use or in medical facilities where the air-handling equipment is designed to work well with these types of filters. For individuals with health concerns such as asthma, severe allergies or respiratory difficulties, higher-rated filters may be used in conjunction with home forced-air cooling and heating systems but will typically require a professional upgrade to the equipment.

Please contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Co. with questions regarding the best A/C or furnace filter options for your Yuma area home or for information on any indoor air comfort topic.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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