Photo: Virtual Studio Innovations

And when the seasons change is the perfect time to change your home’s air filters. But, we recommend not just choosing the first discount filter you see at Walmart.

There are some considerations that need to be put into replacing furnace filters. Sure there are plenty of options, but the decision is not as simple as spending your cash on the first one you see. A lot of furnace filters are available on the market, and each type serves a specific purpose. They also have different levels of efficiency when it comes to filtering out pollutants, dust, and dirt from your heat, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Quality does not come cheap, so you want to make sure that you get the right furnace filter for your humble abode. Read on to know more about the different types of furnace filters:

Pleated Disposable Filter

Pleated disposable filters are the most common type of furnace filters. These have natural or man-made fibers with mesh exteriors that are in charge of trapping large particles. Pleated disposable filters are ideal for people with allergies because they can trap dust, allergens, and other dangerous air particulates. These are also very affordable, only need to be replaced every 90 days or so and some shops have hundreds of different HVAC filter sizes.

Pleated disposable furnace filters also have various efficiency ratings so check what your HVAC system needs before you buy because too low an efficiency could negatively impact your health and too high an efficiency may not be right for your furnace and could result in damage to the motor.

Electrostatic Filter

An Electrostatic filter has electrically charged fine strands of polyester. This attracts fine air particulates by using static electricity. The downside to having this kind of filter is that the electrostatic filters are not able to pick up larger air particulates – an issue that mechanical filters don’t have. There’s no need to replace Electrostatic filters, provided that they are manually cleaned at least once every three months.

To clean this type of furnace filter, you just have to remove it, spray it with water, and leave it in a shaded place to air-dry. You may use detergents and other cleaning solutions if there are exceptional amounts of debris and dirt.

Electronic Furnace Filter

Unlike the Electrostatic filter and the Pleated filter, the Electronic filter does not use fibers to capture air particulates. Instead, it attracts these air particulates by using an electronic grid of wires located all throughout the filter. These are the most efficient out of all the furnace filters and they need to be cleaned often. The key to cleaning this type of filter is using a strong cleaning solution that will not damage the metal component. Spray or scrub down the dishwasher to remove all the air and dust particles that are stuck inside.

HEPA Filter

The High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter can catch approximately 99% of potential pollutants that are present in the air. Unfortunately most HVAC systems are not compatible with HEPA filters. The blower motor lacks the force required to let the air pass through the dense filters. This can result to an air blockage, which will lead to damage and pricey repairs. Given this, it is best to check the manufacturer of your HVAC system before buying a HEPA filter.

The standard when it comes to cleaning out air quality particulates at home is the dleated disposable filter. These are affordable, convenient, and very easy to clean. Other types of furnace filters also do an excellent job at cleaning out air particulates, but you need to check with your HVAC system manufacturer first to check compatibility.

Photo: Chic Home Interiors

Ventilation helps to remove stale air from the inside of your home and replenish it with fresh air from the outside. This is done through both uncontrolled ventilation, and controlled ventilation – such as with an MVHR system. We are going to look at these two methods in this article, and explain why an MVHR system is a good choice.

Uncontrolled Ventilation

Uncontrolled ventilation is something that is installed when a property is first built. The most common forms of uncontrolled ventilation are trickle vents and airbricks, as both comply with building regulations and are cheap to install. However, while they are useful in some situations, they do have some negative points, including:

* Trickle vents need to be permanently left in an ‘open’ position to provide adequate ventilation.

* Internal doors need to be kept open to allow air to move through the home.

* Airbricks can, over time, get blocked by debris, dirt and vegetation located outside the home. Inside the home, furniture and curtains can block them.

* Ventilation depends on the wind. When it’s blowing hard, the home can become ‘over-ventilated’, and when it’s not blowing at all, there won’t be any ventilation.

* Uncontrolled ventilation can lead to odours and moist air spreading around the home. This can lead to mould and dust mites being spread, and can even impact the integrity of building materials.

Controlled Ventilation

Controlled ventilation is when an activated ventilation system is installed in the property in order to automatically move air around. These tend to be the better option as they don’t rely on outside influences, and don’t have the same requirements as uncontrolled systems in order to work as intended.

BPC Ventilation units are one of the best examples of this, and they’ve become incredibly popular with those self-building their homes over the past decade. MVHR systems ensure your home maintains a healthy air environment while also ensuring no heat is lost from the property. It is because of this that they are both environmentally friendly, and more useful for homeowners who live in moderate and cold climates. Homes do, however, need to be suitably airtight in order for an MVHR system to work as intended.

In addition to the benefits described above, MVHR systems are also more useful than uncontrolled ventilation systems for those with allergies, as they can help to remove airborne allergens such as mould spores and pollen. This makes them a top choice for allergy sufferers. That said, it must be pointed out that it can be hard to install an MVHR system into an existing property. It’s best to speak to a professional to see if it can be done.

Ventilation is something that many homeowners these days are concerned about, and MVHR systems could be the ideal solution.