![]() We test HVAC filters in an isolated room with its own air circulation duct, cut off from the rest of our building’s heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. Many filters that we review are available in multiple width and height configurations, so our recommendations should cover almost any kind of forced-air system. We have ratings for almost 70 models across a range of thicknesses, prices, and performance ratings. In this guide, we’ll help you figure out which filter size your HVAC system needs, how to pick the right amount of filtration, and how to swap in a filter on your own-usually with no tools required.ĬR members can also see our comprehensive air filter ratings for HVAC filters, based on extensive lab testing. ![]() The good news is that fresh HVAC filters can be budget-friendly and are usually simple to replace. When HVAC filters get dirty and clogged with debris, air can’t flow freely through your ducts, which makes your home less comfortable and can eventually break your HVAC equipment. You might need to replace the filter more frequently if you have a few very furry pets, for example, or you live in an area with a lot of air pollution, such as from wildfires. For 4-inch and thicker filters, 12 months is common. For 1-inch-thick filters, three months is the usual recommendation. You should expect to replace your filter every three to 12 months of use, depending on the size of the filter. Higher-end filters are made from material more like a surgical mask’s, arranged into pleats, and at their best, they can capture particles as tiny as bacteria, and sometimes even viruses before they can recirculate. There are a range of HVAC filter designs: The basic models are made from strands of fiberglass (for disposable filters) or metal mesh (for reusable filters), and can stop big debris. (Here are the best filters for dealing with smoke-filled air, according to CR’s ratings.) In fact, manufacturers claim many of today’s filters can capture allergens, microbes, and other particles while they’re doing their primary job of keeping your system gunk-free. And with the prevalence of wildfire smoke, air filters are even more important. As a bonus, it can improve your indoor air quality. In doing so, it first and foremost protects your heating and cooling equipment from damage. It’s an HVAC air filter’s job to catch that debris. ![]() Inevitably, some of the hair, dust, and other debris in your home gets sucked into that loop as air circulates around your house. Then they “exhale” through supply ducts and vents, delivering warm or cool air to your living space. They “inhale” through return vents in your living space, pulling air through ductwork and across your heating or cooling source (either a furnace’s burners, or an AC or heat pump’s coil). Some background: Forced-air heating, ventilating, and cooling (HVAC) systems work on a loop. And it also plays a role in maintaining good air quality inside your home.įor these reasons-and because every forced-air heating and cooling system uses at least one filter-it’s important to know how and when to replace it. But it’s a small, often inexpensive part-the air filter-that keeps these heating and cooling systems humming along. Running your furnace, central air, or heat pump probably constitutes a big part of your utility bill.
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