Your home’s heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system does more than just create a comfortable temperature; it cleans the air.
There are airborne pollutants in all homes, some of which include dust mites, bacteria, mold, and pollen. Fortunately, all HVAC systems are equipped with a filter to remove airborne pollutants such as these.
There are different materials from which HVAC filters are made, however.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is the most common material from which HVAC filters are made.
As the name suggests, it consists of thin strands of glass. The glass fibers are spun together to form a square- or rectangular-shaped HVAC filter.
Fiberglass offers excellent filtration properties. HVAC filters made of fiberglass are able to remove most particulate pollutants from the air. Air can easily pass through a fiberglass HVAC filter.
When there’s particulate matter in the air, though, it will stop at the fiberglass HVAC filter.
Pleated Cotton
Along with fiberglass, some HVAC filters are made of pleated cotton.
They consist of the same cotton used in countless other everyday products. The cotton is pleated and formed into an HVAC filter for the purpose of air filtration.
You might be surprised to learn that pleated cotton HVAC filters are even more effective at removing particulate matter from the air than fiberglass HVAC filters. On the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) scale, they have a rating of six to 13, compared to just three to four for that of fiberglass HVAC filters.
Another advantage of pleated cotton HVAC filters is their ability to produce static electricity.
Why is this important? When a pleated cotton HVAC filter produces static electricity, particulate matter will cling to it.
With that said, pleated cotton HVAC filters are more expensive than fiberglass HVAC filters, and they usually have a shorter lifespan.
HEPA
When shopping for an HVAC filter, you may discover some of them labeled as High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA).
HEPA isn’t a specific material. Rather, it simply means that the HVAC filter has been rated to remove at least 99.97% of particulate matter with a diameter of 0.3 micrometers.
HEPA filters are made of a variety of materials. Some of them are made of fiberglass, whereas others are made of plastic fibers. Regardless, the individual strands or fibers of the material are woven closely together to provide a superior level of air filtration. On the MERV scale, HEPA filters have a rating of about 13 to 16.
If you are experiencing a problem with your air conditioning or heating call us at 512-336-1431 to schedule an appointment. We’ll be glad to come out and take a look at the issue.
1431-183 A/C & Heating proudly serves Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Liberty Hill, and North Austin.
