With all of the pollution that surrounds us in our environment today, it’s important to have the HVAC air filters in your home functioning properly. At ADA Heating and Air, we genuinely care about your health, safety and the air quality of your home. That’s why we take great pride in making sure that your air filters are doing their job. There are a couple of ways that you can make sure your air filters are functioning properly.

Rating Your Air Filter

You may not know this, but air filters have a rating system of their own. It’s called the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV for short. This rating system gives you a number from 1-20 that tells you how well your air filter is preforming. A high functioning air filter will have a rating of 20, and a low functioning air filter will have a rating of one. The higher the rating, the better your air filter is at blocking particles and debris from entering your HVAC system. The highest MERV rating usually isn’t found in residential homes. This is mostly needed for hospitals and medical settings when air needs to be completely clean. The highest rating for a residential home will be around a 13. This is the highest rating your air filter can function at without compromising your HVAC system.

How to Properly Install Your Filter

In order to properly install your air filter, you must know where your return vent is located. If you don’t know, the next time your air conditioner is on, pay attention to the part of the vent that is sucking in air instead of pushing it out. This is where your return vent is located. Most homes usually have one to three return vents, but depending upon how big your home is you could have more. To install your air filter in the return vent, simply remove the metal grate and fit your air filter inside. Air filters come in many sizes, so make sure you measure how big your return filter is before purchasing the air filter.

Choosing the Right Filter for Your Home

Some people opt for washable air filters for their home. But you need to know all the pros and cons to these filters to determine if they’re right for you. People choose to purchase washable air filters because they’re environmentally friendly, easy to clean and last several years before you need to replace them. However, they use static electricity to trap particles and debris on the filter, which isn’t enough to trap particles that cause asthma and allergy symptoms. So, if you want a filter with a higher MERV rating that will prevent issues with asthma and allergies, washable filters probably aren’t for you. Or if you don’t want to go through the hassle of washing the filter, then disposable filters are your best bet. But it’s up to you! Choose the right filter that will fit your lifestyle. According to LUQUIRE, for your air filter to function at its highest efficiency, change or wash your filter at least once every three months.

For all of your heating and cooling needs, choose ADA Heating and Air in Lexington, Kentucky. We serve all of Central Kentucky including Danville, Nicholasville, Versailles, Lancaster, Winchester, Harrodsburg, Stanford and the surrounding areas. At ADA Heating and Air, we hope that we can be your breath of fresh air!