When it comes to furnace filters, the quality of the filter is essential for ensuring that your home is properly ventilated and that the air you breathe is clean and free of pollutants. The most common way to measure the quality of a furnace filter is by its MERV rating, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. A MERV score between eight and 11 is generally considered adequate for most households, although it's important to check if your oven manufacturer has a maximum MERV rating that your oven model can use. Additionally, some air conditioning specialists have found that thicker filters are better at providing a perfect fit that prevents unfiltered air from passing through. For those who need superior filtration, a 4 to 5 filter is usually best.
However, if the filter is too dirty or too sturdy, it can cause airflow problems that impair efficiency and performance. To determine resistance, the filters use the MERV classification system. In short, the higher the MERV rating, the stronger the filter will be. The MERV classification is essential to finding the right oven filter for your home. An HVAC professional would install a small cabinet next to the boiler or air controller (on the air intake side) to hold the thicker filter.
Compared to the cheapest basic filters available, medium-efficiency MERV filters, such as the Nordic Pure MERV 12, can significantly reduce airborne dust, mold spores, pollen, and even smoke, and doing so can help alleviate respiratory conditions, according to an NIH study. In a conversation about the most common filter levels in retail, MERVs from 1 to 16, Owen said that this range “includes everything from filters that can catch a golf ball - I'm exaggerating a little - to filters that catch just about everything.” You should also remember to replace the filter every month, three months, six months, or every year depending on the filter. If you don't change the filter according to the recommendations, it will accumulate dirt and dust making it more restrictive and less effective when filtering. If so, there are several examples of suitable filters that we recommend such as the Nordic Pure MERV 12 - a filter in perfect condition that we would look for first (because it usually costs less) - as well as two other filters that also work well. A deeper depth can also improve filter life and efficiency; it also makes it easier for filter air to enter and exit. Some washable filters aren't much better but high-end permanent filters can compete with the very common disposable pleated filters which are available in a range that even reaches MERV 12 or higher. The secret is that they can capture tons of waste while using a relatively porous filter material thanks to the enormous surface area through which dirty air passes - about four times more filter material than a 1-inch filter. Oven filters trap dust, hair and other debris from the air before air enters the oven fan.
But what if the air filter compartment in your oven is only 3 mm thick? In that case, the 1-inch oven filter is the better choice compared to the 4-inch filter; however, a 3-inch thick air filter is the better option. When used in real world scenarios since the air in your home is constantly recirculating through ducts and passing through filters each time - the cumulative effect of these filters increases. A 1-inch filter with less surface space will clog up fairly quickly and will need to be replaced much sooner than a coarser filter. You should expect to replace your furnace filter every three to 12 months of use depending on its size.
