Patricia
Think, for a moment, about the last time you walked into a friend’s home and noticed a smell right away. Your nose crinkled up. You tried not to show it, but you were disgusted. You wanted to ask them if something was wrong in their house, but you didn’t want to be rude.
Now imagine that someone feels this way when they walk into your home. You’d be mortified. You do everything you can to make sure your home smells clean and has great air quality.
Maintaining great air quality starts with having a great air filter. You want to avoid certain air filter purchasing mistakes because keeping the air in our homes clean and healthy is important for our well-being.
In this article, you’ll find information on five common air filter purchasing mistakes and give you tips on how to avoid them.
1. Not Paying Attention to the Filter’s Rating
Air filters have something called a MERV rating. It shows how well the filter can catch different sizes of particles. One mistake people make is not considering this rating and going for the cheapest or most easily available filter.
To avoid this, find out what MERV rating is right for your needs. For regular homes, a filter with a MERV rating of 8 to 12 is usually good enough. If you have allergies or asthma, ask an HVAC professional for advice.
2. Forgetting to Check the Filter Size
Another mistake is not measuring the air filter slot correctly. Using the wrong size filter can let air leak through and make the filter less effective. Before buying a new filter, measure the length, width, and depth of the existing filter or the filter slot.
If you’re buying air filters online, double-check the measurements to make sure you get the right air filter size. Remember, using a filter that’s too small or too big can make the air quality worse and use more energy.
3. Choosing the Cheapest Option
It might seem like a good idea to pick the cheapest air filter, but it can cause problems in the long run. When comparing air filter prices, consider the fact that cheap filters are often not as good at catching particles and don’t last as long. If you do want to save money, you can buy air filters in bulk.
4. Ignoring the Type of Filter
Different air filters are made to capture different things like dust, pollen, pet dander, or mold spores. Forgetting to think about the filter type is a common mistake. HEPA filters are great for catching tiny particles, and activated carbon filters can get rid of bad smells.
5. Forgetting to Change the Filter Regularly
Not replacing air filters regularly can harm the air quality in your home. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for when to change the filter.
Usually, it’s every one to three months. Set reminders or use smart home systems to remember when it’s time for a new filter.
Avoid These Air Filter Purchasing Mistakes
Picking the right air filter is important for keeping the air in our homes clean and healthy. Avoiding these air filter purchasing mistakes will help ensure your air filter works well.
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