With coronavirus cases spiking across the country, many commercial businesses are looking for ways to keep their indoor air clean and safe for their customers and employees. While masks and other safety methods have been proven to help stop the spread of covid, having the correct air filter can also help. An HVAC air filter’s main purpose is to capture airborne particles and prevent them from entering and spreading throughout your building. When choosing the correct air filter it is important to be aware of the MERV & HEPA rating as well as what your HVAC system recommends. Here are some things to consider when choosing air filters for your HVAC system.
MERV & HEPA Rating
The MERV rating on an air filter stands for “Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values”. This rating reports a filter’s ability to capture airborne particles between 0.3 and 10 microns. These ratings range from a 1 rating, which only captures larger microns, to a 16 rating which captures even the smallest microns. Our typical installation includes a MERV 8 filter but this can be adjusted per the customer’s request. For customers looking to remove coronavirus particles, we recommend a MERV 13 filter. We also highly encourage the deep cleaning of the system with the installation of these to ensure the filter is doing all it can to prevent the spread of contaminants. Another recommendation is the use of HEPA (High Energy Particulate Air) filters to help eliminate coronavirus particles and are pleated mechanical air filters. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that these filters “can remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns.” These air filters will ensure the safe removal of harmful air contaminants within your building.
Your Systems Recommendations
To get the most functionality from your air filter it is important to follow the recommendations of your system. Choosing a filter that is not recommended for your system can cause your HVAC system to work too hard, or not be as effective in removing particles compared to if it were using the correct filter. An HVAC system that is working too hard can lead to wear of parts, and costly breakdowns if not addressed. It can also lead to higher energy costs due to more energy required to run. That is why our technicians always install the proper air filter for your system to get the most effectiveness from your air filter.
When To Replace Your Air Filter
We recommend having your air filter changed every three months to prevent a dirty or contaminated air filter. Air filters that are not changed regularly are ineffective at capturing air particles and can even blow contaminated air back into your building. One of the easiest ways to tell if your filter needs to be changed is if your filter has visible dirt and residue buildup, or has not been changed within the three-month timespan. With our preventative maintenance services, we check and replace the air filter so you can be assured that your system always has a clean and fully operational filter.
Clean indoor air has never been more important. Using the correct air filter will not only lead to healthier indoor air but will also increase energy savings and keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
