At one time, an air filter had a simple purpose: to keep dust and dirt out of your HVAC system. But as time goes on, we’ve learned more about airborne contaminants and their effects on our health. Dust, allergens, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can all build up in the air inside your Katy, TX, home, causing discomfort or even negative health effects. Your indoor air quality solution could be a media filter.
Read on to learn about the importance of media filters for HVAC systems, including why they’re different from standard filters, how they benefit your indoor air quality, and their maintenance needs.
How Do Media Filters Improve Indoor Air Quality?
A media filter is essentially a type of air filter that’s far more effective at trapping particles than standard filters. The media filter is placed in the return duct line of your HVAC system before your furnace and forced air system. This stops dust and other airborne particulates from entering your home through the HVAC system, decreasing the amount of particles dust, pollen, and mold spores in your indoor air.
Benefits of Using Media Filters in Your Home
HVAC media filters have several benefits.
Improved Filtration
Of course, the main benefit of a media filter is stopping harmful particles from entering the air inside your home. According to data from the US Government, Katy air quality tends to be in the ‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’ range on the Air Quality Index (AQI), but harmful chemical vapors, dander, and other contaminants can still cause discomfort and health issues for some people. Media filters have a large surface area and a high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV (the measurement of filter effectiveness). This makes them great for keeping harmful particles out of your home.
Easy to Upgrade
You might find that your media filter isn’t quite trapping all contaminants, especially if the air quality is worse than usual. Fortunately, it’s quick and easy to upgrade your filter to one with a higher MERV rating without replacing the filter’s housing, saving you time and money.
Simple Maintenance
You’ll need to change your air filters as they get worn out for the best possible indoor air quality. Fortunately, media filters typically only need replacement once a year or perhaps twice a year if you run your HVAC system a lot. It’s a simple job that you can do yourself in a few minutes — just open the filter housing, pull out the old filter, and put in the new one.
Carbon Filter Coatings
We know how media filters improve air quality, but did you know they can cut down on unpleasant smells, too? Many media filters have activated carbon-coated fibers that absorb odors from the air as it enters your home. Plus, these carbon coatings can even capture viruses, bacteria, or mold, protecting you from illness.
Media Filters vs. Standard HVAC Filters
You may be wavering between media filters vs. standard filters, wondering which is right for you. The answer can depend on your system and unique needs.
Standard HVAC filters are designed to keep dust and other particles out of your HVAC system. These are typically 1” in diameter and come in a variety of MERV ratings. The trouble is that a 1” filter with a MERV rating above 12 increases static pressure on your HVAC system, reducing airflow, making your home less comfortable, and even damaging the equipment. For this reason, HVAC filters usually have a lower MERV rating, which keeps your HVAC system running smoothly but does little to improve your indoor air quality.
There are a few other things to note about standard HVAC filters:
- 1” filter rack assemblies are often poorly designed, allowing contaminated air to bypass the filter entirely and enter your HVAC system.
- Standard filters need to be cleaned or replaced often — anywhere from every 60 to 90 days, depending on how often you run your HVAC system.
- Most 1” HVAC filters do not reduce odors from volatile organic compounds, causing your indoor air to smell.
Media filters, on the other hand, have better filter housings to make an air seal, only need to be replaced once or twice a year, and are far better at removing unpleasant odors from the air.
How to Choose the Right Media Filter for Your System
Choosing the right media filter comes down to a few key considerations, including:
- Filtration Needs: What are you trying to filter out of your home’s air? Understanding the size of different particulates (and knowing the possible consequences of not filtering certain contaminants) will help you choose the media filter that best suits your needs.
- Temperature: Different media filters have different operating temperature ranges. You’ll want to choose a filter that can withstand the hot Katy summers without degrading or failing.
- Flow Rate and MERV Balance: The more contaminants your filter can trap, the more it inhibits airflow. Make sure your chosen MERV rating will be compatible with your HVAC system to prevent pressure drops.
- Cost: When choosing a media filter, think about both the initial costs and the maintenance requirements and lifespan. Often, a more expensive filter will pay for itself thanks to increased throughput, which reduces operating costs.
Tips for Replacing and Maintaining Media Filters
Media filters are lower-maintenance than standard HVAC filters, but they still require some upkeep and attention to stay in good working order. As we mentioned, you’ll need to replace the filter at least once a year. Some filters can be cleaned without replacement, either with warm water flushing, hot water sanitization, or chemical cleaning.
Your media filter should also be monitored to make sure it’s working effectively. We suggest scheduling an HVAC service appointment with Trilogy AC for testing and analysis. This lets you know if the filter needs maintenance and repairs. An HVAC pro can also suggest adding prefiltration stages to extend the lifespan of your media filter, saving you money in the long run.
Your HVAC technician can also offer media filter replacement tips if your system isn’t working as intended. They’ll check the different pressures across the filter vessel to determine if the filters need replacement, and they can suggest specific filters to fit the needs of your HVAC system.
Are Media Filters Worth It?
Are media filters worth it? If you value indoor air quality, then yes, they are! Not only do these filters dramatically reduce the levels of VOCs, pollen, dander, dust, and illness-causing organisms in your home, but they also help eliminate odors and reduce the strain on your HVAC equipment. While media filters cost more upfront than a standard HVAC filter, they cost less in the long run, making them well worth the investment.
Schedule Your HVAC Maintenance with Trilogy AC
Looking for the best HVAC media filters near Katy? Trilogy AC has you covered. Our team has the skills and experience needed to find the right filter for your specific needs and will always take the time to answer your questions and give you the information you need to keep your indoor air safe and clean. For more information about media filters and to book a service appointment, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
