Furnace Filters

Did you know that dirt and dust account for most of the calls to furnace repair men? These costly repair calls can be avoided if people would use the proper furnace filters. Furnace filters are designed to protect the furnace from airborn dust and debris, but they can also improve the indoor air quality if the right furnace filter is selected.

Choosing Furnace Filters

The following are the different types of furnace filters ordered from least effective to most effective. You will have to decide how much you want to spend to get the level of filtration you desire.

• Disposable fiberglass filters are the least expensive and also the least effective, designed to block only large dust and dirt particles to protect your furnace. These furnace filters provide no filtration benefits for your home.
• Washable "electrostatic" filters have a static charge that attracts dust, dirt and other matter. These filters are a litte bit more effective than disposable, but still block only 15 to 20 percent of airborne particles.
• Pleated "allergy" filters use a much denser mesh material to trap particles. The pleats increase the surface area, eliminating large allergens like pollen and mold most are 35 to 50 percent efficient. These provide the best filtration value for your money.
• Electronic air cleaners use electrodes to create an ionized electrical field that "magnetizes" pollutant particles and collects them on the filter material. An electronic unit can eliminate virtually all pollen and mold spores, up to 94 percent of smaller particles, and even up to 80 percent of airborne viruses. These are the more expensive and will require professional installation.
• HEPA furnace filters, which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air filters, are the "gold standard." These filters are used in commercial applications like hospitals, research facilities and electronics manufacturing where clean air is vital. HEPA filters not only block air particles, but also air flow, so theyre not recommended for residential use.

For more information take a look at the Furnace Filter Guide.