Air duct cleaning, performed correctly, is a very important to the process of obtaining high quality, indoor air. But air duct cleaning is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to solving the indoor air quality equation. One of the other major components in providing cleaner air within your home or business is using high quality filters and then replacing them on a routine basis.
There are a few things to consider when deciding on the filter that is right for you and your heating and cooling system. The HVAC industry has set MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) ratings as the standard for rating air filters. A MERV rating is given based on the size of particulate a filter can efficiently remove from the air stream.
MERV 1-4 is given to the flat panel filters made of fiberglass or synthetic poly material. They can filter particles between 3.0-10.0 microns, about the size of a mist. We do not recommend this filter for anyone!
MERV 5-8 is given to most of the pleated filters you see on the market today. They will filter particles between 1.0-3.0 microns. (For example, mold is 3.0-12.0 microns.) At VacMan we stock our trucks with MERV 8 filters in the most popular sizes. In most cases, MERV 8 provides the best balance between filtering unwanted dust while not restricting air flow to the air handling unit.
MERV 9-12 is given to high efficiency filters. They will trap particles from .30-1.0 microns. We feel that if you desire to use this filter type, the filter thickness should be between 4”-6”. The thicker filter allows for more surface area so the airflow will not be restricted to the point of causing heating and cooling problems. These filters are excellent at filtering almost all irritants from your home or office.
MERV 13-20 is given to specialized filters that remove particles less than .30 microns and are mainly used in surgical room and hospital applications.
VacMan cares about the quality of air you breathe! Let us help you by cleaning the duct work in your home or business, then allow us to keep your system as clean as possible by providing you with the right filter on a timely replacement schedule.