Furnace Filter Differences
Knowing the difference between the different types of furnace filters that are available on the market will help you make an educated choice when replacing your furnace filters.
The two main types of filters available are disposable furnace filters as well as reusable furnace filters. Disposable furnace filters cost less initially but reusable filters will last longer which saves you money. There are two purposes to the filters that are in your furnace. The first purpose is that it protects your furnace from harmful dust that can cause your furnace to break down. The second purpose is that it filters that same dust as well as other pollutants from the air in your home. It is well known that reusable furnace filters tend to be better quality than their disposable counterparts. They are far superior in the job that they do filtering the air that you breathe and protecting your furnace. The problem with disposable furnace filters is that they are meant to protect your home furnace and not the air that you breathe. However, that doesn’t mean that all reusable furnace filters are made the same. Some are superior quality and some are lesser quality.
Cheaper versions of reusable air filters have a metal frame and do not do such a great job at filtering. One thing to look for when choosing a furnace filter is that it is treated to prevent mold and mildew. The reason that this is vital is that moisture can seep into your furnace due to the fact it is usually in the basement which can be damp. In addition, a superior furnace filter will have a frame made out of aluminum.
Top-of-the-line filters use Monofilament polypropylene for the remainder of the filter. The thing that makes reusable furnace filters cheaper then disposable is that you do not need to replace them regularly which saves the cost of purchasing filters frequently. This does not mean however that they require less maintenance. Reusable filters need to be checked just as often as disposable. A good schedule to keep is to check the furnace filter at least once a month.
One of the consequences of not maintaining a clean filter is that your furnace will have to over exert itself for the air be pushed through and this can cause costly repairs and higher energy bills. The problem is that people put off the task of cleaning their filters since they perceive it as a difficult job. However, all you really need to do is rinse off the filter and dry it carefully before returning it to its place. If the process really puts you off, one good tip is keeping two furnace filters on hand so that you can just remove the dirty filter and replace it with a clean one and clean the dirty filter at a later time.