Filters, like HVAC units, are not all created equal and the highest price does not always guarantee the highest quality. In order for your filter to work efficiently and save you money, it needs to be sized to fit your HVAC system and its airflow requirements. Let’s start by figuring out what the filter box means when it says that you’ll have “increased efficiency.”
Are All Filters Created Equal?
Filters, like HVAC units, are not all created equal and the highest price does not always guarantee the highest quality. In order for your filter to work efficiently and save you money, it needs to be sized to fit your HVAC system and its airflow requirements. Let’s start by figuring out what the filter box means when it says that you’ll have “increased efficiency.”
Increased Efficiency
What does the manufacturer mean when they advertise that their filter will give your HVAC unit “increased efficiency”. Often times, it means that their filter will remove smaller particles in larger quantities; i.e. the filter has smaller holes through which particles can pass. However, simply removing smaller particles in larger quantities does not mean your HVAC unit will work more efficiently. For that, you need to look at the optimum amount of airflow that your HVAC unit needs. “Efficient” filters require more force to get the air through them. This in turn means that your blower’s speed is increasing in order to accommodate the restricted airflow. With more power being used by your unit, it may be a more “efficient” filter but it may not be the most energy-efficient option for your HVAC unit.
In order for your HVAC system to work properly, it needs proper airflow. As HVAC systems are carefully designed and balanced machines, improper airflow could cause your furnace to short cycle which in turn could trip the high temperature safety switch. Alternatively, improper airflow through your cooling coil could cause it to ice up.
What is the Best Option?
If you do it yourself, make sure the filter you select is compatible with the design specifications of your HVAC system. If you rely on an expert, like Corcoran and Harnist, to help manage your HVAC system through regular preventative maintenance, then we are equipped to not only make sure you are getting maximum efficiency from your unit but we can also test the airflow so that damage to your HVAC unit can be avoided.
Source: ACCA