AIR FILTERS
The effectiveness of an air filter is based on three foundations:
1.The placement of the air filter.
2. The capture ability.
3. The life span of the air filter.

  1. The placement of the air filter equates to how the filter frame holds the filter in place.  A filter that is hard to put in
    the furnace, which has to be folded or is only held in by a steel rod, will allow a majority of dust, dirt, animal hair,
    and debris to float by.  The best choice is a separate box specifically designed for the air filter.  If the air filter
    frame has all four sides of contact, it will force all air to pass through the air filter and not around it.
  2. The capture ability is the air filter's rating as to how many airborne particles it can capture as air flows through it.  
    It is called a, “MERV” rating.  The higher the MERV rating, the higher the capture rate.
  3. The life span of the air filter is determined by either the width of the filter or unique electronic air filtration system
    design.  For example, a one inch filter will need to be replaced with a new filter every month.  A five inch filter
    will need to be replaced every six to twelve months, and an electronic air cleaner will need to be cleaned
    periodically for optimal performance.

  Well, that was informative, but what is it that we recommend?  We recommend the five-inch
filter with a one-time installation of a filter box.  The five-inch filter captures well over 75% more
than a standard one-inch filter, and will last at a minimum of 6 to 12 months.  It is more convenient,
less hassle, and just worth every Dollar.  



  Now if you want better, then we recommend the electronic air cleaner.  
It captures well over 90% more than the standard one-inch filter.  
It is more pricey, but worth the cleaner air.  There are no filters to replace
with that, just periodic cleanings of the electronic cells to achieve maximum
particle capture.  


Here is a short list of operations that a good, properly installed air filter will protect:
  • It will keep your blower wheel clean.
  • It will keep unwanted dust from building up on your blower motor.  If this happens it will create an extra thermal
    layer around the windings that will trap unwanted, harmful heat onto your motor.
  • It keeps the secondary heat exchanger (if applicable) from matting over with dirt, debris, etc.
  • It keeps the evaporator coil from matting over with dirt, debris, etc.
  • It keeps the ductwork free of build-up that is resistive to air flow.
  • It cleans the air that you breathe.
  • Air flow is critical in the operation of cooling equipment.  Any slow down or blockage of air flow will affect the
    operation.  There are several physical characteristics of cooling equipment that have to be met within
    predetermined ranges.  If one of those physical characteristics is out of range, it affects all the other
    characteristics.  
  • A clogged filter will overheat your gas furnace repeatedly thus wearing safety devices and motors out
    prematurely.  Overly dirty or blocked paths of air flow will either cause your gas furnace to work harder, over-
    heat, in-efficiently heat or break down.

       If you don’t know the current condition of your air filtration system, click-on,
                               “Dutch Quality Assurance Program”
                         To learn more about how we can evaluate your system.