Furnace Filters

What is a furnace Filter?

A furnace filter is a removable filter that is located between the air intake and the furnace motor, the purpose of this filter is to stop airborne particles and duct from entering and doing damage to the furnace. Typically manufactures use the standard fiberglass filter but others use the washable furnace filters which are recyclable.

After the primary job of protecting the motors of the furnace form dust, it also will help improve the efficiency by increasing the airflow. As without the filter the furnace would get clogged up from the dust which in turn will make the furnace work harder and probably break down. This is the general and basic reasons for using furnace filters and the standard fiber glass filters will only cost approximately US$5 and will require to be replaced every 3 months or so.

Although originally used to protect the motor of the furnace, furnace filters have come a long way since and have been redesigned to take into consideration more environmental issues. In today’s market furnace filters are able to improve the quality of the indoor air. The new furnace filters have improved their indoor air borne quality that they can trap pollen, dust, smoke and mechanically charged particulars. The simplest way to explain the process is to say air passes though the filter into the machine and blown out the vents to improve the quality of air.

As the quality of the filters have improved, more and more filters now are mostly washable furnace filters. They are slightly more expensive but as they can be washed they have much more longer shelf life.

When you begin to start to look for furnace filter it is recommended that you know the existing filter size.

To select quality of filters there was established a MERV rating, which is a minimum efficiency reporting value. The rating is read from the number on the front of the filter, the higher the number the better chance of a high performing filter.