The quality of the air you breathe in is especially important for your overall health and mood. This is mostly true when you spend time indoors. Your home is your safe space, but in order to be fully clean and allergen-free, you should pay attention to your air conditioner as well. Cool air from air-con is a lifesaver during the hot summer months, but it is the HVAC air filters inside the air conditioner that make the real difference. Therefore, you should also know what types of air filters you can choose from.
Different Types of Air Filters
1. Fiberglass Air Filters
Fiberglass air filters are the ideal solution for everyone looking to get the most affordable option on the market. They are disposable and simple to use. However, these filters also have the lowest straining properties on this list. In that respect, they are great for keeping your air conditioning system functional and operating on a budget, but they do not provide much protection from the dust and pollutants in the air. In that respect, fiberglass air filters may not be for you and your household if you tend to suffer from respiratory issues.
2. Pleated Air Filters
As opposed to fiberglass air filters, pleated ones are highly effective when it comes to reducing the amount of dust and pollutants in the air. These are usually made from polyester or cotton, which have a good filtering ability. As a rule, always go for filters that have more pleats to up their air purifying performance.
3. Washable Air Filters
AC Filters
Washable air filters may be more costly, but they are still some of the more popular types of filters due to their durability and efficiency. Thanks to the ability to clean and wash these filters occasionally, and then use them all over again as if they were brand new ones, washable air filters can save you money in the long run. You can clean them on your own if you make sure to follow the instructions from the manual to a tee. It is crucial that they are completely dry before you use them again to prevent mold and bacteria from forming. Of course, you can always call a reputable service such as Chills Air Conditioning to schedule professional cleaning of these filters.
4. Electrostatic Air Filters
Electrostatic air filters, as the name suggests, utilize the electrostatic charge to collect dust, allergens, and other pollutants, thus preventing them from being dispersed into the air in your space. Electrostatic air filters that can be washed and reused are available as well.
5. HEPA Filters
People who tend to suffer from allergies and respiratory issues will benefit the most from HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters. Among the many different HVAC air filters, these are the ones that the US Department of Energy recommends the most due to their incredible efficiency to screen up to 99.97% of air contaminants.
6. UV Filters
UV air filters use UV (ultraviolet) light to effectively remove bacteria and viruses from your personal environment. They might not be the best of the best when it comes to dust and pollutant screening, but they are definitely a great choice for combatting dangerous microorganisms. If you want to get UV filters for your air conditioning system (or any other filter type for that matter), make sure to measure the size you need properly as common air filter sizes may not apply to your particular HVAC system.
Essentially, the range of different air filters available can help you choose the most efficient protection for your home or office in terms of cost, maintenance, and health. In case you are unsure what air filters to choose, feel free to reach out to us at Chills Air Conditioning in Miami for advice. We can also provide you with professional HVAC services such as AC repair and maintenance, duct cleaning, and other forms of ductwork all over South Florida.
