Do air filters restrict air flow?
All filters will restrict the air flow to some extent because, in every case, the air has to move through the filter for the unit to be able to remove the particles in the atmosphere. The higher the MERV rating, the denser the filter is going to be, and so the more restricted air flow will become.
How do filtrete filters improve indoor air quality?
Our filters improve your indoor air quality by attracting and capturing allergy-aggravating microparticles. Your air is cleaned each time it re-circulates through the filter. How do washable/reusable filters compare to Filtrete filters?
Do pleated air filters restrict the air flow to my furnace?
However, in this case, we’re going to focus on the one type of filter that is continuously brought up and questioned – the pleated fiberglass filter. At the end of the day, the short answer is: yes, pleated air filters do restrict the air flow to your furnace.
How do washable/reusable filters compare to filtrete filters?
Your air is cleaned each time it re-circulates through the filter. How do washable/reusable filters compare to Filtrete filters? Surprisingly, even expensive washable/reusable filters can’t capture microparticles as well as electrostatic Filtrete Filters can. The real difference is the electrostatic charge found in most Filtrete Filters.
Can some air filters restrict airflow?
If you have an air filter that's dirty, it can cause low airflow. Not only does it restrict airflow, but it causes your entire HVAC system to work harder, not as efficiently as possible.
Does a higher MERV rating restrict airflow?
While the highest MERV ratings are the most effective for air quality, they can harm your HVAC system. A higher MERV rating means a higher resistance, which means less airflow. When researching HVAC systems, airflow will come up a lot.
Do pleated filters restrict air flow?
Because they restrict airflow to your HVAC system. Pleated, high-MERV filters definitely capture a lot of pollutants, but they also restrict the movement of air into your blower or furnace. As a result, the fan has to work harder to heat and cool your home, reducing efficiency.
Do expensive air filters restrict airflow?
A higher MERV rated air filter can pick up finer bits of dirt from the air than lower rated ones so these high rated filters must be denser and thicker and thus harder to push air through. Blower motors will have to run longer to circulate the same volume of air as they would with a lower MERV rated filter.
Will MERV 13 damage my HVAC?
What Are MERV 13 Air Filters? MERV 13 air filters are the highest-rated air filters for home use. Any air filter with a rating higher than 13 will restrict air flow to the point of which could cause damage to your HVAC system, resulting in an added expense to fix it.
Is MERV 13 too restrictive?
Is MERV 11 too restrictive? Though MERV 13 is suggested by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), it might not be the most efficient choice for some residential HVAC systems.
Are pleated filters bad for HVAC?
Pleated filters are bad for your system because they block too much air, forcing the HVAC motor to work harder to pull in the air it needs and burning it out faster.
Which is better pleated or non pleated air filters?
A pleated filter is made up of different sizes, and readily captures pathogens as small as 0.3 microns, filtering out even the tiniest of bacteria. They are overall more effective in capturing very tiny particles than non-pleated air filters; 99.97% of airborne particles are trapped with a pleated air filter.
Do MERV 11 filters restrict airflow?
Be aware, too, that some retailers also use their own rating system instead of MERV. A decade ago, it used to be that if you had an HVAC system that used panel filters rated 6 through 9 MERV, putting in a MERV 11 or higher filter would restrict airflow (known as filter pressure drop).
Are Filtrete air filters worth it?
CR's take: The Filtrete 1900 Maximum Allergen Reduction filter is impressive at removing dust, pollen, and smoke from the air when the HVAC system is running on its highest fan speed, earning an Excellent rating in that test. But at the lowest speed, the filter is only average at removing those same airborne particles.
Does a MERV 8 filter restrict airflow?
Fine air particles are 2.5 microns and smaller. At that size, the air particles can get into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream. MERV 11 air filters can filter out a large percentage of fine particles, but a MERV 8 air filter can't.
What filters do HVAC techs recommend?
HEPA Filter — HVAC replacement companies typically recommend HEPA filters because they can provide the highest protection level when it comes to airborne particles. This filter is capable of capturing small microns, and has a MERV rating between 17 and 20, meaning it can trap tobacco smoke and bacteria.
Why do air filters restrict air flow?
All filters will restrict the air flow to some extent because, in every case, the air has to move through the filter for the unit to be able to remove the particles in the atmosphere.
What is pleated air filter?
As was mentioned earlier, there are different types of pleated air filters that are designed to remove various types of chemicals, toxins, pollutants, and debris from the atmosphere, and so some are a lot stronger than others .
Is a pleated air filter good?
Or, alternatively, you could ask; is this the right type of pleated air filter for your unit? Pleated air filters are incredibly common and they’re a great choice, but you need to choose the right one if you want to maximize the efficiency of your system. As was mentioned earlier, there are different types of pleated air filters that are designed to remove various types of chemicals, toxins, pollutants, and debris from the atmosphere, and so some are a lot stronger than others.
Do pleated air filters work on furnaces?
At the end of the day, the short answer is: yes, pleated air filters do restrict the air flow to your furnace. Though, this is the case with any furnace filter that removes pollutants and dust from the atmosphere within your property as it’s continuously going to be filtering the air. In turn, this means that any filter is somewhat going to be preventing the free movement of that air.
Can fiberglass filters cause damage?
Even though pleated fiberglass filters are very common and are continuously highly recommended, there’s still a misconception around the filters being able to cause damage to your unit because they supposedly restrict air flow.
Can a HEPA filter be used in a hospital?
Putting a HEPA filter designed for a hospital into a residential home unit isn’t going to be at all efficient in cleaning the atmosphere. Therefore, doing your research, knowing your filters, and knowing what you’re looking for in a filter is always vitally important.
What happens when airflow restriction is introduced?
The result is that when airflow restriction is introduced, the ECM will speed up to maintain the same amount of airflow. Doing so increases the energy use of an ECM.
What happens when your air filter gets dirty?
When your air filter gets dirty, the pressure drop across the filter will increase. This will cause a reduction in airflow in your system.
How does an air filter affect TESP?
Air filters contribute to TESP by reducing the total external static pressure in the system. This means that using an air filter will reduce the amount of airflow in your HVAC system. Most residential homes are designed to have no less than 0.5 in. w.c. of TESP.
What is the concern when upgrading to a higher MERV filter?
The primary concern when upgrading to a higher MERV rated filter is the reduction in airflow in the system. The reduction in airflow can have far-reaching implications in terms of performance and efficiency on your entire HVAC system.
Why is a filter with a large face area important?
This is mainly because a filter with a large face area will minimize pressure drops. The efficiency of the air filter. The MERV rating has an indirect impact on airflow. Generally, filters with higher MERV values will have less airflow. Blower motor type.
How much pressure drop is needed for air conditioning?
w.c. However, one study found that actual pressure drops in home installations were on average 0.28 in. w.c.
What is the surface area of a filter?
The surface area of the filter that is used for filtering air is called the face area . A filter with more face area is effectively a larger filter size. So this means that the filter will produce less pressure drop.
What is air filter media?
Filter media refers to the material that captures air particles in air filters. Some air filter media is fuzzy and thick, and some—like that in high efficiency Filtrete™ Filters —is stiff, strong and thin. Other attributes of air filter media may include electrostatic charging, carbon layers for added odor protection or True HEPA, which captures 99.97% of airborne particles.
How long do air purifier filters last?
For 4”, 5” and 6” deep pleat filters, that means 12 months. For Room Air Purifier filters, that means 6 to 12 months, depending on the type of filter.
What are the attributes of air filter media?
Other attributes of air filter media may include electrostatic charging, carbon layers for added odor protection or True HEPA, which captures 99.97% of airborne particles.
What is a 3M filter?
Filtrete™ Filters are designed with exclusive 3-in-1 technology from 3M that acts like a magnet to attract and capture microscopic particles that can easily pass through fiberglass or non-electrostatic filters. Your air is cleaned each time it passes through the filter.
Why is air cleaned?
As your air is cleaned, the process also helps keep your HVAC’s heat exchangers clean from dust and debris. It prevents plugging of the heat exchangers (reduced airflow), and it prevents contamination of the heat exchange surfaces.
Where are the filters on a Filtrete air purifier?
The pre-filters are located at the back of your Filtrete™ Smart Air Purifier – Tower model, underneath the primary filter door. There are two filters, one on each side. Please note, the smaller, console-style Filtrete™ Smart Air Purifier does not have pre-filters.
Why use a fiberglass filter?
Fiberglass filters were originally developed to protect your furnace and/or air conditioning system. They were not intended to improve your indoor air quality. Filtrete filters were created to both help protect your furnace equipment AND clean the air passing through your filter.
How to contact Filtrete for a defective sensor?
If none of the above helps, you might have a defective sensor on your Smart Air Filter. Please contact our support team at 1-800-388-3458 for additional assistance. Follow the instructions provided in the packaging. Download and open Filtrete Smart App, available for free on the App Store and Google Play.
How to get Filtrete Smart on Alexa?
Open the Alexa app on your mobile device. Press the menu bar on the top left of the home screen, and then select “Skills & Games.”. Type “Filtrete Smart” in the search bar at the top of the screen and enable the skill. The Alexa app will prompt you to take steps to verify your Filtrete Smart account.
What does it mean when your air quality is poor?
Air quality plays a role if the air quality level reaches Poor or higher (an air quality score of 150 or higher) when the filter is being exposed to more airborne particles. This ensures that you’re getting a more personalized filter life for your usage and air quality circumstances.
How to change location on Filtrete Smart?
For iOS, click on your device “Setting s” (outside of the Filtrete Smart App), scroll down and choose “Filtrete Smart” within your app menu, and click on “Location” to adjust your settings.
Can Filtrete work on a tablet?
Filtrete™ Smart can work on your preferred tablet device, but please note that screen design is not fully optimized for every screen size. This does not negatively affect basic app functionality.
How many feet per minute does an air filter flow?
With that face velocity and those dimensions, the air flow rate is 1,367 cubic feet per minute (cfm). (Flow rate equals area times velocity; see my article on the continuity equation for more on this.)
How much pressure drop across HVAC filter?
Result: In the California study, Proctor et al. found that the pressure drop across the filter in 34 HVAC systems was 0.28 i.w.c. That’s nearly three times what ACCA protocols assume. It’s also more than half of the rated external static pressure for the whole system.
What is the difference between a low MERV and a high MERV filter?
So the low-MERV filter is hitting the ACCA design pressure drop. The mid-MERV is twice as much and the high-MERV is three times as much.
How much water drop is needed for an HVAC system?
The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) protocols for HVAC design assume a pressure drop of 0.10 inches of water column (i.w.c.) across the filter. (Keep that number, 0.1 i.w.c., in mind as a reference point. I’ll be coming back to it.) If a system is designed with a standard filter for that pressure drop, the pressure drop with a pleated filter of the same size will most likely be higher.
Does a high MERV filter cause a higher pressure drop?
As you can see above, the research shows that in general, HVAC systems with high-MERV filters * have a higher pressure drop across the filter. This part is common to all three studies above.
Why is a dirty air filter bad?
According to ENERGY STAR: “A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool—wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.”.
What is the job of air filters?
Your air filter’s job is to prevent dust and other large particles from ruining your heating and cooling system. But 2 things can turn that safety net into your wallet’s worst nightmare by ruining what it was meant to protect. How?
What is an air cleaner?
Air cleaners, which have a thick media filter, can trap small particles, like pet dander and mold, without impeding air flow like a thin, pleated air filter would. To learn more about how to keep your air clean and about the different types of air cleaners, ask one of our experts for help.
Does leaving an air filter in the return duct hurt the system?
When you leave it in your return duct for too long and it gets caked in dirt, it’s no longer working efficiently. Not only that, it’ s actually hurting your heating and cooling system and raising your energy bills. According to ENERGY STAR:
Can a high MERV filter cause a high energy bill?
Here's the problem: Some filters with a high MERV rating can drop air pressure in your duct system, which can increase energy bills and damage your HVAC system. For example, let's say you have a pleated filter that's 1-inch thick and has a 13 MERV rating.
Why are pleated filters important?
In short, pleated filters have innovated the way the fibers are woven, as well as what they are made of, to increase filtering ability while decreasing the density of the weave. Modern-day pleated air filters have relatively low pressure drops as a result, and are not going to cause significantly shortened lifespans unless you never remember to change it.
How long does a MERV 13 filter last?
We found that with a MERV 13 pleated filter, which has a pressure drop about 2.5x that of a fiberglass filter, the system would need to run about 3.5% longer to achieve the desired temperature. Assuming an eight-year lifespan for your HVAC system, with identical usage and no external factors (that part is important), you would need to replace the fan motor in your HVAC system about 3 months earlier with a pleated filter than with a fiberglass filter. Another way to look at that is that a system that lasts 96 months with a fiberglass filter would last about 93 months with a pleated filter, a difference that is virtually negligible, and again, does not account for other factors that contribute to wear.
Is a pleated air filter better than a fiberglass air filter?
Is this true? No, it isn’t. It is true that airflow is lessened, albeit marginally, with a pleated air filter versus a cheap fiberglass air filter, but the risks of lessened airflow, a direct result of what is known as pressure drop, are assumed, and they are assumed incorrectly.
Why does my fan need to run longer?
What will happen in situations where your pressure drop is too high is the fan will need to run longer in order to achieve the desired temperature in the home because it is cooling or heating less air at a time.
Does pleated air filter work?
The components of an HVAC system have improved in construction and durability over time, while the construction of pleated air filters has improved to maintain high levels of filtration while minimizing pressure drop.
Does a pleated filter damage your HVAC system?
Myth Busted! Pleated filters will not damage your HVAC system by decreasing airflow
Is there a mechanical connection between a fan motor and an air filter?
There is no mechanical connection between a fan motor and an air filter. The fan is going to do the same thing, regardless of how much airflow is being allowed by your filter. Unless you have what is known as an ECM motor, your fan is going to move at the same speed and consume the same amount of power regardless of how significant ...