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In the U.S. roughly 84% of homes have some sort of air conditioning or heating system. The vast majority use a central air and heat system known as an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system to regulate the temperature inside the home. An HVAC system is made up of large pieces of machinery as well as smaller components. They all work together to heat and cool the home by continuously circulating conditioned air throughout the house. Each part is important, including the air filter.
Home air filters not only protect the rest of the HVAC system, but they can also protect your family’s health by purifying the air of pathogens, allergens and a number of other contaminants.
Before we answer the question of “how air filters work,” it helps to go over the core components of an air filtration system, so you understand how the filters fit in. There are five core components to know:
“From our experience at [Insert website name here], the most effective air filters for reducing allergens are those with a MERV rating between 8 and 13. HEPA filters, in particular, consistently outperform others by capturing up to 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. We’ve tested numerous options, and the difference in air quality and allergy relief is both measurable and immediate.”
One of the most vital components of your air filtration system is the home air filter. Home air filters are amazingly simple for what they are able to do.
Home air filtration is needed because the air circulating in a home typically contains contaminants. If left unattended, these particles will continue to circulate unless they are physically removed from the air.
Air filters are the center of a home air filtration system. They are the sole component that ensures the air circulating in your house is clean and safe.
Below is a step-by-step rundown of what happens as the air filter works to purify the air inside your home.
This step isn’t something that your HVAC system does on its own, but without a clean air filter, you won’t be able to filter out the unwanted particles in the air. Make sure that you find an air filter that is the proper size for your AC system.
There are multiple ways to engage your HVAC system. For modern air systems, air begins circulating once you change the ambient temperature settings in your house. You can also simply turn on your HVAC fan to circulate air throughout the house without “conditioning” it.
While air is pushed through your room vents, air is also pulled in through your intake vents. In most cases, there are two large vents located near the HVAC system in the house that handle the intake. By now, you should be familiar with where those are in your house and what size filter goes in them.
Assuming you have a clean air filter in place, it creates a barrier between your circulated air and filtered air going into your HVAC system.
Depending on the filter rating, particles are trapped in your filter screen, or filter media. For certain types of filters—like carbon filters—the filter will also disinfect the air and neutralize unwanted bacteria.
The air, now cleaned, moves along to the main manifold to be circulated throughout the house. Then, the process starts all over again.
As long as the air filter isn’t fully saturated it will continuously trap air particles when the HVAC system is running.
For different air filtration systems, there are different air filters that have slightly different methods of how they clean the air. Below are the 4 primary types of whole house air filters:
These are the traditional type of filter for residential HVAC systems. If you have a furnace, then your system uses flat filters. Flat filters are usually fiberglass or pleated. The pleated type of air furnace is the superior option for air filtration. MERV rating is used to signify the efficiency of the air filter. No special installation is needed for flat filters, but it is important to make sure you use the proper size for the compartment.
Even air filters have gone digital. Electronic filters, also sometimes called electrostatic precipitators, are fitted within the ducts to electrically charged particles as they pass through the filter. The charged particles are then captured by an oppositely charged collection plate.
This type of filter is built within the HVAC system to kill bacteria, viruses and germs with UV light. Usually, the ultraviolet filter is an add-on that’s connected to an electrostatic precipitator.
Extended media filters basically stack on top of one another to create an extra thick filter. However, to use extended media filters a large filter compartment will need to be fitted into the ductwork.
A common misconception is that room air purifiers are the same as whole-house air filters or that they’re interchangeable. In actuality, they are distinctly different and ideally can be used together for optimal air purification.
Whole home air filters are designed to be used within the HVAC system to purify air throughout the entire house. They are able to do this because all of the air circulated through the HVAC passes through the air filter. Room air purifiers don’t work on as large a scale. They are limited to a certain amount of space directly around the air purifier.
However, the upside is that room air purifiers can be used with a HEPA filter (more on that below).
In terms of improving air quality, a high-quality whole home air filter is your best bet since it treats all the air in circulation. You can even incorporate filter add-ons like an electrostatic precipitator to increase the purification.
A room air purifier is a good addition in places where extra purification is needed. For instance, if someone in the home has allergies, it’s a good idea to use a purifier in their bedroom.
Generally, HEPA filters aren’t used for whole house filtration. It’s not a matter of how well they clean the air but what they can do to the HVAC system.
High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have a minimum efficiency of 99.97% at 0.3 microns. That means they are better at capturing a wider array of air particles than filters with a high MERV rating.
But here’s the downside. HEPA filters significantly restrict the air flow within the HVAC system. The strain on the system can reduce efficiency, increase energy use, and cause premature wear on the HVAC components. That’s why HEPA air filters are usually only used in commercial HVAC systems at hospitals and laboratories.
However, there is a place for HEPA air filters in a whole home air filtration system. If you choose to use a room air purifier, choose one with a true HEPA filter for extra purification.
How often do you really need to change an HVAC filter? And how will you know when it’s time to replace an air filter?
In general home air filters should be replaced at least once every three months. But if you are concerned about allergens and pathogens, you have indoor pets, or someone in the home smokes, you’ll want to change it more frequently. Using a low-quality air filter can also increase how often you need to replace your filters.
Beyond those guidelines, there are a few signs to watch out for that signal it’s time to change your home air filter. Common signs that it’s time to change your whole home air filter include:
When your air filter can no longer do its job, use this step-by-step guide for replacing your air filter if you’ve never done it before.
At Filterbuy.com, effective air filtration has consistently proven to reduce allergy symptoms. Below are real-world examples showcasing successful results using targeted filtration solutions.
Testing and real-world experiences at Filterbuy.com demonstrate that investing in quality air filters leads to measurable improvements in air quality and allergy relief.
Testing and research at Filterbuy.com confirm the significant impact of high-quality air filters on indoor air quality. Authoritative studies also support these findings:
Filterbuy.com’s research and practical testing prove that using the right air filters significantly improves air quality and reduces allergy symptoms.
Filterbuy.com's extensive testing and practical experience prove that high-quality air filters are essential for reducing indoor allergens. Reliable research from the EPA and ACAAI supports these findings.
Key Takeaways:
Filterbuy.com's Perspective:
Follow these steps to improve air quality and reduce allergens:
Effective for allergies, home air filters gather common allergens, including dust, pollen, pet hair, and mold. Trapping these particles helps to lower allergens in your house, providing possible relief for people with allergies or asthma.
Because they catch 99.97% of particles as fine as 0.3 microns, High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are highly advised for allergy patients as they greatly help to trap common allergens and improve indoor air quality.
By removing pollutants, including dust, pollen, smoke, and pet dander, home air purifiers can significantly raise indoor air quality. They operate by passing air through several filters, including HEPA filters, which trap and absorb particles, therefore lowering airborne allergies and pollutants.
For allergy issues, for example, in the bedroom or the living room, putting an air purifier in the most utilised room is a sensible approach. Following manufacturer recommendations for replacement or cleaning will help one keep the efficiency of air filters in removing allergens.
Trapping airborne particles and pollutants, home air filters can clearly improve indoor air quality. This can result in cleaner, healthier surroundings and help to lower allergens causing allergies or respiratory problems.
Indeed, by letting dust, pollen, and other allergens flow through your house, a dirty home air filter could aggravate allergies. A blocked filter can eventually lower the effectiveness of your HVAC system, which would result in worse air quality and maybe health problems.
Since it filters airborne allergens from your interior environment, an air purifier is usually more successful for allergies. Conversely, a humidifier does not eliminate allergens but rather provides moisture to the air and can assist in respiratory comfort.
If you have allergies, you should usually replace your house air filter more often—usually every one to three months. This guarantees good indoor air quality and the best performance in allergens trapping.
Indeed, certain air cleaners are made especially to fight allergies by means of HEPA filters and other technologies to gather and eliminate allergens from the air. These devices can greatly lower the airborne particle count that sets off allergic responses.
After some time, air purifiers help improve indoor air quality; however, their filters must be changed—a costly process. They can also create some noise and, if unsanitized, bring allergens back into the indoor surroundings of the house.
It depends on the size of the room, the air purifier's capabilities, and the quantity of air pollution. Usually, it takes thirty minutes to many hours to substantially improve the air quality
With HEPA filters catching up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, air purifiers can be really highly effective. Regular maintenance and appropriate use help to improve air quality and, hence, determine the success rate.
Below, you can select form our most popular sizes of home air filters.
