Everything You Need to Know About Air Filters
While your furnace can do a good job at filtering airborne particles, adding air filters to your vents enhances this process by acting as the last line of defence. In doing so, an air filter can reduce the amount of dust and allergens that enter your ducts. Having air filters not only in your furnace, but also in your vents will ensure your HVAC system is clean and efficient. Therefore, it is important to invest in high quality air filters.
This is even more important in homes with older ductwork. Older ductwork can have holes, cracks and even broken seals. Such issues manifest themselves in rooms that accumulate dust quickly, while the air filter in your furnace stays clean. It is very important to get your ductwork checked if you have suspicions there is underlying issues with the air quality in your home. Repairing old ductwork is a positive course of action in the long run for your home.
Supply Vent Filters vs. Return Vent Filters
Supply vent filters have the job of straining out any left over pollutants from your AC/furnace. Whereas a return vent's filter stops outdoor particles from ever entering your HVAC system.
MERV Rating System
When looking for the right air filter it is important to use a MERV Rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting). This is an industry standard rating scale that ranges from 1-16. The lower the number is on the scale the less air is restricted, which means more dust and particles pass through too. This scale is great at balancing filtration with airflow restriction. A rating of 4-12 will suffice for a residential household. MERV ratings of 14 and above are not recommended for residential households.
How do I filter my return and supply vents?
You can apply filters to your vents by cutting the filter to the size of your vent. Then simply install the filter underneath your vent's opening/grates. Filters are often soft pieces of foam, fiber, or fabric. They can either be stretched to fit an opening or cut to fit.
Where do I filter my air?
In colder climate regions, the air is typically filtered at the furnace. This is because in colder climate regions furnaces are more accessible. Contrarily, in warmer climate regions the air is normally filtered at the vents. This is because furnaces/heat pump systems are less accessible, as they can be located in attics or even in crawl spaces.
Can you put a filter on an Aria Vent?
Currently, an Aria Vent does not have the ability to have an air filter inserted. Our R&D team is currently working on a solution for this by developing our own air filter.
How often do I need to change my filter?
It is best to change your filters once every 6 months. It is recommended to align the changing of your air filters with daylight savings time. Subscribe to our newsletter below to get updates on when to change your air filters next.