Choosing the best 20x20x1 Air Filter For Your Allergies
by Kevin KingFebruary 05, 2016
How to Pick the Right 20x20x1 Air Filter for You Using the MERV Rating System
Home Air Filters: What You Need to Know Simplified
We are going give you a simple way to pick the right air filter for your home because choosing the best air conditioner filter for your allergies can sometime be a confusing task. The simple reason is that most people are not experts on their heating and air conditioning systems and generally rely on the recommendation of the company that services their HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) equipment.
What Type of Air Filter do I have In My Home?
The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating system was designed to help tell how well an air filter removes particles from the air. What is MERV rating of the filter in your home? You may not even know because, more often than not, the company that services your HVAC system replaces the air filters during the service call. Each air return has a grill that open so that you can replace your air filter. Depending on the size of your home you may have one air return to several. When replacing filters I see a lot of contractors use a cheap flat panel air filters with no MERV rating or a very low MERV rating. I have asked contractor many times when they put that filter in over the years and the answer is always the same. "This is the kind of air filter and I use is my self, those expensive air filters are a waste of money". Most people do not know much about how their HVAC system works so they just rely on what their contractor says. Basically all these cheap air filters do is protect your HVAC equipment from large dust and lint. Essentially the cheap air filters with no MERV ratings can be so porous that particles that can damage your HVAC equipment, can pass right through the filter. Good air filters can protect the air quality in your home and do not have to be expensive.
What Kind Of Air Filter Do I Need to Protect the Air in My Home?
The EPA says indoor air quality(IAQ) can be 200% to 500% more polluted than the air outside. In Order to protect the air in your home, the EPA says air filter rating of MERV 7 to 13 is needed. Air filter rating of 1 to 6 are basically to protect the HVAC equipment.
Air Filter MERV Ratings Simplified
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A good pleated 20x20x1 MERV 8 filter is going to allow a good air flow for your HVAC equipment and help protect the air quality in your home. It will filter out a high percentage of pet dander, pollen, mold and bacteria.
A pleated MERV 11 20x20x1 air filter is going achieve superior performance using electrostatic properties to filter out both a greater quantity and smaller particles from the air your family is breathing is your home.
MERV 13 20x20x1 air filters also use electrostatic properties to achieve the maximum protection for the air in your home and filters out the greatest percent of particles including allergens, and the smallest particles. Because many very fine allergens like pollen and pet dander can set off allergies this filter is the best choice for the allergy suffer, It is also the best choice for removing other pollutant from the air that can effect the health of all family members. Check out these simple steps you can use to help protect you family's air quality and detoxify your home.
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What Is LEED Certification and How Can I Become LEED Certified?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) is a rating system created to evaluate how “green,” or sustainable and environmentally friendly a building is. Used throughout the world, and available for pretty much any type of residential or commercial building, LEED was designed to improve the efficiency of our buildings and construction projects.
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Nominal Vs. Actual Sizes: Finding the Right Air Filter Size
Buying the Correct Size Air Filter- The Most Important Thing to Know
When you are buying your air filter online most important thing to know is Air Filters have two sizes that you need to understand the Nominal size and the Actual Size. Not understanding these numbers often leads to consumers purchasing a filter that does not fit their Furnace or HVAC system.
Understanding Nominal Filters Size Could Save You Time and Money
Not understanding the Nominal Filter Size is the primary culprit for incorrectly purchased filters.The Nominal Size are the usually the dimensions used to Label the filter. For instance 16x20x1. These dimensions are a rounded value on the filters actual measurements. The actual measurements on this filter may be 15.5x19.5x.75, but that could vary by brand and manufacturer. So in order to make sure you have the correct size filter, especially if you are replacing with a different brand it is important to confirm the actual size on the filter. When purchasing filters on the internet the Nominal size is usually found the in the product title.
Actual Filter Size- The Key to Making the Right Replacement Filter Purchase
The actual size as you might have guessed are the actual dimensions of the filter by length, width and thickness. This size is often on the filter right below the Nominal size and is usually labeled as the actual size. When you are buying a filter online the actual size is sometime in the product bullet point or the product description. If your filter does not have actual dimensions on the outside of the filter, you can measure you filter to get the correct dimensions. Some brands have a foam gasket on the outside of the filter, in this case you will want to make sure you have a compatible actual size size and that it also has the foam to insure a snag fit.
Examples of Nominal and Actual Sizes
Size
Example 1
Example 2
Nominal Size
20x20x1
16x20x1
Actual Size
19.5x19.5x.75
15.75x19.75x.75
Furnace filters should fit securely but should not have to be forced into position. If you have to force the filter into its slot, then it is probably too big. Forcing an improper filter size in a filter can cause it to buckle, damaging the filter or reducing its ability to function properly. Filters are a smaller than their slot to allow for easy replacement. Some HVAC units may need a filter with dimensions that are unique or uncommon. In these cases, a custom filter needs to be ordered.
Kevin King
Author