At first blush, air filters may not seem very important to your forced-air system.

But we are here to tell you they need maintenance and attention like any other components (maybe even more than others.)

Our Rod Miller technicians have seen a broad spectrum of air filter issues.

We are happy to assist you with your specialized filter needs by making maintenance visits. However, it’s never a bad idea to improve your basic air filter maintenance knowledge. With that in mind, here’s a list of the 5 most common question we are asked about air filters, along with our expert answers. 

1. Why are air filters so important?

The first answer to this question may seem be obvious: air quality. Yes, you need a fully-functioning air filter to achieve improved air quality.

However, their importance also lies in how many parts of your system they can affect.

From your system motor to cooling coils, air filters can affect nearly every part of your HVAC system. Leaving a damaged or dirty filter can cause your heating or cooling system to cycle on and off too frequently or stop running altogether.

Keeping on top of filter maintenance is crucial to your system’s health and your comfort.

2. What’s MERV?

MERV or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is a 1 to 16 rating system that tells you how effectively your filter traps microscopic particles.

Why should you care about these particles? Most of them are dust, pollen, mold, and other irritants—particles you probably don’t want circulating in your home.

We recommend you use a filter with the MERV rating of 8 to 11 for most residential HVAC systems.

Any lower rating allows for too many harmful particles through. Filters with MERV ratings of thirteen or higher can restrict airflow. Restricted airflow can significantly reduce your heating and cooling efficiency and may even cause your system to shut off automatically.

Your local hardware or maintenance supply store carries filters that fall within our recommended range for a reasonable price.

Many online options exist as well, and some will even send you filters on a subscription basis. Our Rod Miller experts recommend this option because it can help you easily stay on track with your air filter changing schedule.

3. How much do environmental factors affect my filter?

This section offers arbitrary but still valuable answers to the question because it truly depends on your system, home occupants, and size.

• Lion, tigers, and bears, oh my! In all seriousness, pets can be responsible for some pretty severe debris build-up in your filters. Those with furry friends should check their air filters every 30 to 60 days for any build up.
• If you are looking for more effective air filtering, consider adding air purifiers to your setup. These can be effective for those who need more clean air protection or want better air quality. They can be added to your systems by a Rod Miller technician.
• Be advised that small children can also enjoy putting objects into air vents. Some of those things can damage or clog your filters. Regular filter checks can prevent this from happening too often.

4. How often should I change my air filters?

The answer depends on the filters your HVAC system uses.

If your MERV rating is higher, you will need to change your filters every 30 to 60 days. However, 60 to 90-day changes should be sufficient for those in the lower MERV range.

For those with washable or reusable filters, we highly recommend you clean them every few weeks. This changing process should include a thorough washing and drying of the filters. If they are not cleaned and dried correctly, moisture or dirt build-up can negatively affect your system’s functions.

Finally, follow this rule of thumb as you check your filters: if you can see light through them, they can still function efficiently and most likely do not need to be changed. Also, if your filter has changed to a color different from when you installed it most likely should be changed.

5. How can I be proactive about air filter effectiveness?

Short answer: take advantage of an expert maintenance option.   

Rod Miller offers air filter maintenance that ensures you use the best filter for your systems. Inefficient systems can waste time and money. Preventative maintenance is a simple way to avoid that.

Our residential service technicians can provide you with the advice and maintenance you need.

If you want to make sure that your air filters are up to par and aren’t taxing your systems, get in touch with us today to schedule a maintenance appointment.