Your home’s HVAC system relies on an air filter to ensure it doesn’t get clogged and damaged by dust and other airborne debris. That said, it helps to know about the different types of filters, how each of them work and which one will work best for your home. As one of the leading HVAC contractors in the area, we’re here to give you the rundown on the most popular types of air filters used today.
Flat-panel fiberglass filters. This type of disposable filter has layered fiberglass set into a metal grate and cardboard frame. While it doesn’t filter air as well as most other filter alternatives, this option is very affordable. If you don’t care much about air purification and are mostly concerned about protecting the system, flat-panel filters are a good enough choice.
Pleated filters. As the name implies, a pleated filter has folds in its filtering material. This is because the pleats increase the surface area of the filter. According to heating repair experts, a pleated filter is balanced when it comes to filtering ability and airflow resistance.
HEPA filters. High Efficiency Particulate Air filters are the most expensive type of filter used in HVAC systems, and with good reason. This type of filter is the best when it comes to ensuring the air is as particle-free as possible. Because they can hamper airflow, HEPA filters tend to be used in industrial settings or heavily-modified residential systems where the HVAC systems are strong enough to maintain good airflow even with HEPA filters installed.
Reusable filters. These filters are similar to regular flat-panel fiberglass filters, but with layers of washable fabric instead of fiberglass. They’re barely an improvement on flat panels in terms of filtering capability, and air conditioning experts say that these reusable filters are mainly used due to their cost efficiency.
If you want to find out which filters will work best for you, we can help. Perfect Degree HVAC is one of the leading air conditioning contractors in the area. You can call us at (610) 510-4489 or fill out this contact form to request a quote.