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Why Sizing Air Filtration Systems Is So Important


Mechanical air filters are one of the simplest yet most effective ways to remove contamination from the air that circulates through residential ventilation systems. The air in a house that enters the return vents and then moves through the heater and air conditioner before going through the supply ducts to the room vents often contains dust and other particles. These pollutants will accumulate inside ductwork and eventually blow back into a home and lower its air quality. Placing filters into an HVAC system will trap the majority of these particles (more than 90% down to 0.3 microns in size) and prevent them from damaging a home’s air.

Before you run out to purchase air filters for your house, you need to know that although filters are simple in concept, selecting and installing them is not simple. The job requires indoor air quality professionals, such as those at Raleigh Heating & Air. Contact us today for professional air filtration service in Cary, NC and throughout Wake County and the surrounding areas.

Air Filtration Sizing

There is no “one size fits all” option for air filters. They have different ratings depending on how well they trap particles. MERV, which stands for “minimum efficiency reporting value,” is the measurement scale that ranks how effective an air filter is. The rating is from 1 to 16, with a higher number meaning a higher percentage of particles trapped within the size range.

What is important to remember here is that higher MERV rating does not necessarily mean better performance in a home HVAC system. The more effective the filter is at trapping particles, the denser the filter and the more it will obstruct airflow, leading to inefficient performance from the heating and cooling system. High MERV ratings are best for filters used in hospitals, and would almost bring a home HVAC system to a standby. You need to have experts determine the right size of filter to stop the movement of contamination through your home without adversely affecting airflow.

Residential filters commonly fall in either the 5–8 MERV or 9–12 MERV range. Which rating fits your home will depend on the amount and type of pollutants moving through it, as well as the kind of heating and cooling system you have.

Indoor air quality professionals will help you find the right air filtration system to best serve your home, and then install the filters so they do their job to the fullest of their abilities. Contact Raleigh Heating & Air for the air filtration in Cary, NC you need. We also install electronic air cleaners to affect even smaller particles.

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