Spring Time Calls For a Fresh Air Filter!

Spring Weather Calls For Changing that Air Filter (Here’s How to Do It)

Spring is a transitional season when you may be using both the heat and the air conditioning as the weather outside fluctuates. It’s also the season when pollen is in the air, and the sneezing and sniffling of allergies appear. The first step toward relief is replacing the air filter in your HVAC system. Here’s what you need to know about replacing filters.

Air Filter Rating

The quality of home air filters is typically rated on the MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) scale. This is based on the percentage of 0.3 to 10 micron particles that the filter will trap.

Why and how to replace your air filterTypes of Air Filters

Filters can also affect the airflow within your system, so it’s important to be sure that new filters perform efficient filtration without impeding air flow. There are a wide variety of air filters on the market:

  • Flat or panel filters are the most common, with MERV ratings from 1 to 4.
  • Pleated filters have a MERV rating of 5 to 13. Some are electrically charged to attract and trap common allergens like pollen and pet dander.
  • Extended media filters come in a box-style unit housing a filter designed like an accordion. Electronic filters are connected to the home’s wiring to conduct a steady current. A charged collector plate attracts and holds filtered particles.

How to Replace Air Filters:

  1. Consult your HVAC owner’s manual for the correct system filter. The number should also be printed on the old filter. Most hardware stores and some department stores carry standard filter types and sizes.
  2. Turn off the HVAC system for your own safety. If you don’t know how to turn it off, turn off the main circuit breaker in your home.
  3. Unscrew vents if necessary and lift or slide out the old filter. Reinstall the new one in exactly the same way. There are usually arrows or color codes on the new filter to show which way it needs to face.

Air filters should be replaced periodically to ensure that your system is operating at maximum efficiency. Dirty, clogged filters not only raise the cost of your energy bill, but they also restrict air flow and degrade the air quality in your home.

If you have any questions regarding the maintenance of your HVAC system, call and ask the experienced technicians from Air Tro Inc. at 626-357-3535, your local Monrovia, CA cooling experts.