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Ever find yourself totally confused when purchasing one
inch thick filters for your air conditioning and heating system? There are so
many different types ranging from coarse mesh, pleated to super pleated. Who’s
to know which one is best for your needs? In order to determine which is best we
must first address what purpose filters serve.
Filters should first and foremost protect the air conditioning and
heating system from dirt and debris. Manufactures of the equipment specifically
state in their warranty clauses that proper filtration is a must. Most people
believe that filters are only designed to keep the air healthy. However, in
order to have healthy air one must first have clean equipment. Clean equipment
also operates more efficiently and has less chance of breakage. Herein lays the
answer to the question. Which is the best filter?
The better, more restrictive, higher dollar one inch filters can
cause more harm than good in a large percentage homes in the Houston area. This
is because in most peoples cases there are leakage points (holes) between the
filter location and the furnace in the attic. This means that the better the
filter, the more air is pulled in through leakage points. This can cause dirt
and debris to be pulled into the duct system past the filter and collect on the
furnace fan and cooling coil. The collection of this debris causes decreased
efficiency and air flow and increases the likelihood of costly repairs to the
system. Not to mention that during the summer time the air being pulled into the
system from the attic can be hotter then 125+ degrees. This hot air overloads
the home with moisture and causes the A/C to run considerably more than actually
needed.
After performing many tests on proper filtration I have come to the
conclusion that the best filters for protecting the air conditioning and heating
system and providing clean air are mounted on the end of the furnace in the
attic. By installing the filters on the end of the furnace we are assured that
all of the air that passes through the equipment gets filtered. These filters
are normally 5 inch pleated and generally need to be changed 1-2 times per year.
This also means that homeowners can do away with the whole process of running to
the store to buy expensive 1 inch filters once every month or two.
Over the years we have been inspecting homes with and without these
5 inch media filters and can say with out a doubt they are a far superior way to
keep the air in the home clean and protect your air conditioning and heating
equipment. They also cost less annually than purchasing high dollar pleated
filters from the store.
Kyle Jeane
Labrador Mechanical, Inc.
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