Do pleated air filters restrict air flow?
Yes, pleated air filters do indeed restrict the airflow to your HVAC system. However, you need to keep in mind that all air filters will restrict air flow to some extent – it’s a given.
Why choose filtrete™ brand air filters?
Unlike fiberglass filters, Filtrete™ Brand filters help protect your heating and cooling system and improve your indoor air quality by cleaning the air as it passes through the filter. Designed with exclusive 3-in-1 technology from 3M, Filtrete™ air filters trap unwanted air particles while letting cleaner air flow through.
Do HVAC air filters affect airflow?
When it comes to air filters affecting airflow, there are three factors at play: The size of the air filter. The size of the air filter has a huge impact on how much airflow goes through your HVAC system. This is mainly because a filter with a large face area will minimize pressure drops. The efficiency of the air filter.
Do air filters restrict the movement of air in my house?
This is not at all the case – it’s common for filters to restrict the movement of your property’s air to some extent, and it’s completely fine as long as you’ve chosen a filter that’s going to accurately suit your needs. There are many types of filters – such as media filters and HEPA filters, and all are suited to different circumstances.
Can some air filters restrict airflow?
If you have an air filter that's dirty, it can cause low airflow. Not only does it restrict airflow, but it causes your entire HVAC system to work harder, not as efficiently as possible.
Does a higher MERV rating restrict airflow?
A higher MERV rating means a higher resistance, which means less airflow. When researching HVAC systems, airflow will come up a lot. That's because it's very important for the performance and longevity of your furnace or your air handler. Airflow is also the key to a comfortable home.
Do expensive air filters restrict airflow?
Why don't we like them? Because they restrict airflow to your HVAC system. Pleated, high-MERV filters definitely capture a lot of pollutants, but they also restrict the movement of air into your blower or furnace. As a result, the fan has to work harder to heat and cool your home, reducing efficiency.
Do furnace filters reduce air flow?
Furnace filters designed to act as whole-house air filters add stress to the blower in an HVAC system by impeding airflow.
What MERV is best for air flow?
Generally speaking, anything under a MERV 13 air filter should provide very efficient air purification in a home without impacting airflow. Meanwhile, air filters with a MERV 14 rating or higher are designed for commercial HVAC systems that can handle the thicker filter material.
Can a furnace filter be too restrictive?
The makeup of these high-efficiency filters can be too restrictive for the unit, creating a barrier to good airflow. The HVAC system may struggle to pass air through the air filter and expend more energy in its attempts. Ultimately, system damage can result from use of such filters at home.
Are Filtrete air filters worth it?
1-inch Air Filters CR's take: The Filtrete 1900 Maximum Allergen Reduction filter is impressive at removing dust, pollen, and smoke from the air when the HVAC system is running on its highest fan speed, earning an Excellent rating in that test.
Which is better Honeywell or Filtrete filters?
Honeywell filters are considered higher-efficiency and are thus more effective in cleaning the air. They also last longer too, averaging about four to six months of use for a typical MERV 11 rated product.
Do high MERV filters always reduce air flow?
Generally, a filter with a higher MERV rating will reduce airflow. However, there are many other factors at play such as the size of the filter and the type of blower motor in your HVAC system. Filters for central HVAC systems are usually the primary form of particle removal for residential and commercial buildings.
Are pleated air filters bad for furnace?
Pleated filters are bad for your system because they block too much air, forcing the HVAC motor to work harder to pull in the air it needs and burning it out faster.
Is no air filter better than a dirty one?
Running your air conditioner without a filter is worse than running it with a dirty one. Instead, get to the store as soon as possible for a replacement or call an HVAC professional for replacement. Without a filter, your air conditioner is at risk for severe and expensive problems.
Which Filtrete filter is best?
So, to recap: the best overall Filtrete air filter is Healthy Living MPR 2800. It has the highest MPR and MERV ratings and provides an unparalleled air-filtering capacity to capture larger and ultrafine particles.
Do high MERV filters always reduce air flow?
Generally, a filter with a higher MERV rating will reduce airflow. However, there are many other factors at play such as the size of the filter and the type of blower motor in your HVAC system. Filters for central HVAC systems are usually the primary form of particle removal for residential and commercial buildings.
Is MERV 12 too high for HVAC?
What is the best MERV filter for your furnace or air handler? The short answer is this: The best MERV rating for your heating and air conditioning equipment is the MERV recommended by the manufacturer. It's usually in the range of 8-12 MERV.
Is MERV 13 too high for HVAC?
MERV 13 air filters are the highest-rated air filters for home use. Any air filter with a rating higher than 13 will restrict air flow to the point of which could cause damage to your HVAC system, resulting in an added expense to fix it.
Is MERV 8 or 11 better?
MERV 11 filters are more efficient than MERV 8 filters as they can capture smaller particles. They offer additional protection from pet dander, dust mites, auto-emissions, and lung-damaging dust. This is a good option for households with pets or those looking for even better air quality than the MERV 8 can provide.
What is air filter media?
Filter media refers to the material that captures air particles in air filters. Some air filter media is fuzzy and thick, and some—like that in high efficiency Filtrete™ Filters —is stiff, strong and thin. Other attributes of air filter media may include electrostatic charging, carbon layers for added odor protection or True HEPA, which captures 99.97% of airborne particles.
How long do air purifier filters last?
For 4”, 5” and 6” deep pleat filters, that means 12 months. For Room Air Purifier filters, that means 6 to 12 months, depending on the type of filter.
What are the attributes of air filter media?
Other attributes of air filter media may include electrostatic charging, carbon layers for added odor protection or True HEPA, which captures 99.97% of airborne particles.
What is a 3M filter?
Filtrete™ Filters are designed with exclusive 3-in-1 technology from 3M that acts like a magnet to attract and capture microscopic particles that can easily pass through fiberglass or non-electrostatic filters. Your air is cleaned each time it passes through the filter.
Why is air cleaned?
As your air is cleaned, the process also helps keep your HVAC’s heat exchangers clean from dust and debris. It prevents plugging of the heat exchangers (reduced airflow), and it prevents contamination of the heat exchange surfaces.
Why are pleated filters important?
In short, pleated filters have innovated the way the fibers are woven, as well as what they are made of, to increase filtering ability while decreasing the density of the weave. Modern-day pleated air filters have relatively low pressure drops as a result, and are not going to cause significantly shortened lifespans unless you never remember to change it.
How long does a MERV 13 filter last?
We found that with a MERV 13 pleated filter, which has a pressure drop about 2.5x that of a fiberglass filter, the system would need to run about 3.5% longer to achieve the desired temperature. Assuming an eight-year lifespan for your HVAC system, with identical usage and no external factors (that part is important), you would need to replace the fan motor in your HVAC system about 3 months earlier with a pleated filter than with a fiberglass filter. Another way to look at that is that a system that lasts 96 months with a fiberglass filter would last about 93 months with a pleated filter, a difference that is virtually negligible, and again, does not account for other factors that contribute to wear.
Is a pleated air filter better than a fiberglass air filter?
Is this true? No, it isn’t. It is true that airflow is lessened, albeit marginally, with a pleated air filter versus a cheap fiberglass air filter, but the risks of lessened airflow, a direct result of what is known as pressure drop, are assumed, and they are assumed incorrectly.
Why does my fan need to run longer?
What will happen in situations where your pressure drop is too high is the fan will need to run longer in order to achieve the desired temperature in the home because it is cooling or heating less air at a time.
Does pleated air filter work?
The components of an HVAC system have improved in construction and durability over time, while the construction of pleated air filters has improved to maintain high levels of filtration while minimizing pressure drop.
Does a pleated filter damage your HVAC system?
Myth Busted! Pleated filters will not damage your HVAC system by decreasing airflow
Is there a mechanical connection between a fan motor and an air filter?
There is no mechanical connection between a fan motor and an air filter. The fan is going to do the same thing, regardless of how much airflow is being allowed by your filter. Unless you have what is known as an ECM motor, your fan is going to move at the same speed and consume the same amount of power regardless of how significant ...
Why is a dirty air filter bad?
According to ENERGY STAR: “A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool—wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.”.
What is the job of air filters?
Your air filter’s job is to prevent dust and other large particles from ruining your heating and cooling system. But 2 things can turn that safety net into your wallet’s worst nightmare by ruining what it was meant to protect. How?
What is an air cleaner?
Air cleaners, which have a thick media filter, can trap small particles, like pet dander and mold, without impeding air flow like a thin, pleated air filter would. To learn more about how to keep your air clean and about the different types of air cleaners, ask one of our experts for help.
Does leaving an air filter in the return duct hurt the system?
When you leave it in your return duct for too long and it gets caked in dirt, it’s no longer working efficiently. Not only that, it’ s actually hurting your heating and cooling system and raising your energy bills. According to ENERGY STAR:
Can a high MERV filter cause a high energy bill?
Here's the problem: Some filters with a high MERV rating can drop air pressure in your duct system, which can increase energy bills and damage your HVAC system. For example, let's say you have a pleated filter that's 1-inch thick and has a 13 MERV rating.
