There are times when something cleaner isn’t better. If you live in an American home or apartment with central air (also called a combined heating and cooling system), you may already know what an air filter is.
These important parts are meant to improve the quality of the air inside by removing dust, pollen, mold, pet dander, and germs. While these screens are good for everyone, they are especially important for people with breathing problems like asthma and allergies.
How they help you
Aside from that, air filters help keep your HVAC system running easily and efficiently, which can lower your electric bill.
Every one to three months, experts say, you should clean or change your filters. The frequency is based on the filter you use and the conditions in your home.
One member of the home expert duo @twinhomeexperts, who specializes in bug control, is in a video that has gone viral and has over 1.3 million views. They talk about why buying more expensive, better filters might not always be the best idea in the video.
- Consider the specific needs of your household
- Evaluate the efficiency and cost of different filter types
- Balance between performance and budget
To choose the best filter for your home, you need to carefully consider all of your choices, keeping both performance and price in mind.
An expert who has given help on fridge water filters and toilet purchases before saw a customer buying several packs of fairly good filters while walking through Home Depot. Since a pair of filters cost almost $25 each, the customer spent over $70 just on filters. Doesn’t it cost too much?
Understanding Filter Ratings
It’s very important to know the filter performance grade. At first glance, the customer’s filters getting a 7 might seem like a good number.
The Hidden Cost of High-Performance Filters
“Here’s the problem, and it’s a big, expensive problem,” the expert said, which was very important. “This is something that most people don’t know,” he said. “Don’t use these so-called high-performance filters.”
There is a helpful chart in Home Depot’s filter area that sorts items into four groups: Good, Better, Best, and Premium.
What Does a Higher Rating Mean?
The rating tells you how fine the particles it can screen out are. Some expensive filters are made from better, thicker materials that allow them to catch smoke, bacteria, and even some viruses that “good” filters might miss.
- Good – Basic filtration, suitable for larger particles.
- Better – Improved filtration for a wider range of particles.
- Best – Advanced filtration, effective for smaller particles.
- Premium – Superior filtration, capable of capturing the smallest particles like smoke and bacteria.
Understanding Air Filter Longevity and Efficiency
Since air filters last between three and six months instead of just one to three months, you’ll be glad to know that they usually don’t need to be changed as often. Even though these tools have this benefit, they might not work for everyone.
Potential Drawbacks of Dense Air Filters
According to experts, these filters can sometimes stop airflow from your HVAC system because they are so thick. This limit could cause your energy price to go up and, more importantly, it could hurt your unit. A lot of HVAC experts worry about the same thing.
Expert Recommendations on Air Filters
Since these problems exist, experts advise choosing cheaper filters unless you have a specific health need that calls for a more advanced system.
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