Not ready to invest in a whole-house filtration or purification system in Antioch? Still looking for a way to make the home in your air cleaner? Then, it might be time to upgrade your furnace filter. Often forgotten about until it turns black, this pleated piece of fabric more than pulls its weight. Without it, you’d be dooming your home’s HVAC filter to an early end. But what should you look for in a higher-efficiency filter? What’s the deal with these permanent ones you’ve heard about? We’ll explore that and more below.
As mentioned above, your filter is essential to your heating and cooling equipment. It protects it. Therefore, it needs to be changed relatively frequently. For 1-inch filters, once a month or every two months is recommended. Thicker filters might get by with half the number of changes.
You’d be surprised how often we’re called out for Antioch or Libertyville for a furnace repair only to find out the issue is a clogged filter. Changing yours regularly helps avoid awkward situations like this, saving you service fees. We know it can be hard to justify buying something you throw in the trash. And the idea of paying more for a higher-end, thicker one can feel foolish.
But rest assured, you’ll more than get your money out of the investment. The benefits of installing a high-end filter include:
Always forget this vital part of Antioch AC or furnace maintenance? Then, you might want to consider signing up for our tune-up program. That way, you’re sure your system is clean at least once or twice a year.
Though we might recommend installing an electric static or a 6-inch filter, that’s not feasible for every homeowner in Libertyville or Grayslake.
Still, there are some items to look out for when shopping for a filter. First, don’t grab one you can see through. While those $0.99 blue ones might be tempting, they don’t provide much protection. When it comes to this purchase, you truly get what you pay for. Though, for most households, a middling option is often adequate.
You should also check the filter's MERV rating. Anything below 13 is subpar and not recommended.
You’ll also want to buy something the same size as yours. Get out a ruler and measure. Lastly, read the information on the back of the packaging. Some brands are designed to catch pet dander, while others are engineered to help those with seasonal allergies.
When most people think of HVAC filters, they think of pleated fibrous paper held snug by a cardboard frame. Others might conjure images of simple fiberglass ones. Though the most common, this isn’t the only option. Below are a few other ways you can filter your air:
Of course, if you’re after germ protection, you might want to consider installing a full-on air filtration system in Antioch.
We might love our customers, but don’t want to waste your time on unnecessary visits. We also want your heating and cooling system to last as long as possible. For that reason, we stock several high-efficiency filters in our shop. These are tested by Antioch air quality experts and are from our recommended brands. Are you looking to retrofit an electrostatic or HEPA filter? Our staff are helping to assist you with that. We invite you to call (847) 215-9880 to schedule a time to discuss ways we can improve your air quality most effectively and efficiently.