Furnace Filters

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0408dfc3.jpg"> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="176a4a30.png" border=0 width="164" height="163" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Good Filters</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="178a7940.png" border=0 width="167" height="148" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Bad Filters</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0418dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <I><B>Indoor Air LLC</B></I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Indoor Air LLC"><U><B>Back Home</B></U></A><B>         </B><A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Educational Articles"><U><B>Back to the IAQ Articles</B></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0418dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>ions</I></div> <div> <I><B>Understanding Furnace Filters</B></I></div> <div> <I>by Building Inspector and Indoor Air Specialist, Dan Schilling</I></div> <div> <B>©  Copyright 2002   Residential Inspections LLC,  All Rights Reserved</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Do furnace filters really matter that much?</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Absolutely!  The filters you use in your furnace can make a huge difference in your indoor air quality and the way your furnace works.  When you understand what dust is, you begin to understand what a huge difference it can make to the health of building occupants if you use good quality air filters in your furnace and air </B><B>conditioning system.  As a side benefit, your furnace will love you more.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There are actually seven different types of filters used in furnaces.  Let's talk about each of them:</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>1” Low Efficiency Disposable   </B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#990033" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>These filters are inexpensive but also very inefficient.  They allow large amounts of dust particles to pass through them.  This can reduce the life of mechanical equipment, allow debris collection on air conditioner evaporator coils which can lead to the growth of mold and bacteria within the system, as well as, allow more dust to be re-circulated into the indoor environment.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336699" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>1” Low Efficiency Washable    </B></I></FONT><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>These filters are washable and reusable, but are also very inefficient.  They allow large amounts of dust particles to pass through them.  This can reduce the life of mechanical equipment, allow debris collection on air conditioner evaporator coils which can lead to the growth of mold and bacteria within the system, as well as, allow more dust to be re-circulated into the indoor environment.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>1” Mid Efficiency Pleated Disposable    </B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>These filters are more efficient than traditional 1” filters, but are between 3 to 8 times more expensive to use depending on the brand being purchased.  However, these are the best option when the use of 1” disposable filters is desired.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>2”- 5” High Efficiency Pleated Disposable Cartridge     </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>These filters are very efficient in comparison to traditional disposables, but are more expensive to use than traditional 1” filters and depending upon the model and a person's ability, may require a service technician to replace them.  They have a noteworthy advantage in that they require no monthly maintenance, typically needing replacement only once a year.  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>4” Washable High Voltage Electronic    </B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>These filters are only efficient upon startup.  After they collect some dust on the electrically charged panels, they become very inefficient and allow large amounts of dust particles to pass through the system.  This can reduce the life of mechanical equipment, allow debris collection on air conditioner evaporator coils which can lead to the growth of mold and bacteria within the system, as well as, allow more dust to be re-circulated into the indoor environment.  These filters also require high voltage electrical usage, are subject to zapping noises, and need professional repairs.  It is recommended to replace these or disconnect their power supply and retrofit the housing with 1” filters.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>1” Washable High Efficiency Limited Life     </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>The filter media becomes electrostatically charged as air passes through it, thereby increasing the particle trapping efficiency over traditional 1” filters.  Due to their limited reusable life, these are about equal in cost to use as traditional 1” filters. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>1” Washable High Efficiency Life Time Warranted     </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>The filter media becomes electrostatically charged as air passes through it, thereby increasing the particle trapping efficiency about ten fold over traditional 1” filters.  Lifetime warranted media makes these the least expensive to use.  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Notes about filters in general:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Furnace filters should be judged primarily by their efficiency and convenience of use, and not their price.  Inefficient filters can cause increased particle passage which can reduce equipment life and efficiency, as well as, causing biological pollution inside the system and a dustier indoor environment.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>All furnace filters should be kept clean or replaced for proper operation of ventilating systems. Some require monthly replacement or cleaning and some require annual replacement; follow filter instructions.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Disposable filters should be removed carefully, then immediately and carefully carried outdoors </B><B>to prevent the dislodging of dust particles indoors</B><B>.  Then placed into a plastic trash bag.  Stay upwind of the filter when placing it in a bag.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If you have a filter slot opening for the 1” filters on the outside of a natural draft furnace, it should be modified to be no larger than the edge of the filter to prevent negative air pressure near the combustion chamber or an adjacent water heater. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Be sure to install filters according to proper air flow direction.  Many people install filters  backwards.  With some filters, reverse operation diminishes the efficiency and with others it could damage your furnace.  Draw an arrow on the air return duct next to the furnace to help you remember the importance of proper placement.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Lastly, if you are using the disposable filters, be sure to take the plastic wrapper off before you install it.  I actually found one like this in a home.  Can you believe it?</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Share</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>indoorair.com</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="173d38d0.jpg" border=0 width="211" height="141" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>with those you care about.</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>