Air filters are a tricky thing. Most people who don’t have allergy issues or a specific need for cleaner air will go with their cheapest option. That’s totally fine, but what if you are someone who does need those accommodations? What filter would be best for you?

Fiberglass Air Filters

They cost about $1 a piece.
They remove anywhere between 10-20% of the particles in your air.
Their purpose is more to protect your heating and cooling system and keep it running efficiently. They won’t do much for indoor air quality.

Pleated Air Filters

These tend to cost about $10 a piece.
They remove between 40-50% of air pollutants in your home.
The overall number of pleats per foot (PPF) is important to look at. More pleats leads to cleaner air, but it can also cause blockages and hurt the efficiency of your unit.
Somewhere in the middle is best.

High-Efficiency Air Filters

These are the most practical air filters for residential HVAC systems.
They cost anywhere from $15-$30 a piece.
They remove 85% or more of the pollutants from the air in your home.
You’ll need to change these filters more often because they have more pleats to catch dust and allergens.
Instead of every 90 days you should knock it down to 60 to be safe.

HEPA Air Filters

These filters range in price depending on the size.
They are more practical for commercial use because they restrict too much air for a normal size furnace or HVAC system.
They remove 98% of pollutants in the air.
Getting a filter like this would actually have a reverse effect on efficiency. Your air would be cleaner, but your HVAC system would have to work harder to force air through.

If you have any questions about your air filters on our next visit, feel free to try and stump your Levine & Sons technicians. They are HVAC pros and they have all gone through intensive training to answer all of your questions.

To schedule an appointment, call 1-888-LEVINE1 or fill out a form on our website!