A Homeowner’s Complete Guide to HVAC Filters

Unlike those in warmer or cooler climates, homeowners in Baltimore, MD need both heating and air conditioning to stay comfortable year-round. During extreme summertime highs and bitter wintertime lows, your HVAC system works extra hard to bring the air in your house up to the temperature you desire. A key component of this central climate control system is the HVAC filter. The filter keeps dirt and debris from clogging your blower and air ducts. In order to make sure that your system functions at peak efficiency, you need to change your filter at least once every three weeks during heating and cooling season. Below you will find a guide to the most common types available.

Standard Fiberglass Filters

This is both the most common type of HVAC filter and also the least expensive.
Often costing less than three dollars, these filters are made from loose nets of spun glass fibers. However, the gaps in these filters are large, and smaller particles such as pollen, dust, and microbes may pass right through. If you have a sensitive respiratory system, these filters may not purify the air enough to make you comfortable.

Pleated Fabric Filters

This type of disposable filter is much more efficient than a fiberglass filter, and usually it doesn’t cost much more. The pleats increase the surface area so the filter both allows more air to flow through and traps more particles than a fiberglass filter. Also, electrostatic models that capture certain charged dust particles do exist, and they can greatly help allergy sufferers by removing certain microscopic irritants from the air.

Washable Cotton Filters

The two types of filters described above are both disposable, but if you would like to create less waste, you can use a washable cotton filter. In summer and winter when you may have to replace your HVAC filter once every two weeks or more frequently, you may use several disposable filters a month. A washable filter can be cleaned in the laundry and reused for several years, although if it is electrostatic it will gradually lose its charge.

Hospital-Grade Filters

For families with members who suffer from extreme allergies, high-efficiency pleated filters may be a necessary luxury. These filters are used in operating rooms and hospitals to trap small microscopic particles. Those who have asthma, autoimmune diseases, and respirator difficulties can purchase hospital-grade filters to fit in their current HVAC unit, though they can be extremely expensive, costing upwards of $100.

Learn more about heating, air conditioning, and air filters in the Baltimore area by visiting our homepage or follow more of the HVAC tips on our website.