Choose the Best Furnace Filter for Your Des Moines Home

March 3, 2015

When was the last time you changed your air filter? Air filters help keep debris out of your HVAC system and can also be used toimprove the air inside your home. If you haven't changed yours lately, now is the time to do so. Selecting the best furnace filter for your home is not as easy as you may think. You need to consider the amount of filtering your home requires, the blower capacity of your HVAC equipment and the expense you want to incur. You can tell how well a filter will clean the air by its MERV rating. This scale goes from 1 to 20, with higher numbers indicating better cleaning capacity.

Filter Types

On the market today, you can find several kinds of air filters that work and some that don't.

  • Disposable fiberglass: Consisting of spun fiberglass strands inside of a cardboard frame, this is the least expensive option. However, it only removes the largest particulates with a MERV rating between 2 and 3.
  • Disposable pleated: Constructed of pleated paper inside a cardboard frame, this filter is a bit more expensive than fiberglass, but can capture spores and mites. With a MERV rating between 6 and 8, this kind of filter causes air resistance, which can make your HVAC system use more energy.
  • High-efficiency pleated: Are the best filter we offer. These filters offer 4 to 5 inches of pleated material and are great for people with respiratory issues, autoimmune problems or for the person that wants the best filtration possible.
  • Permanent electrostatic: These filters are restrictive and we do not recommend them.
There are many factors that go into selecting the right furnace filter for your Des Moines or West Des Moines home. Before changing your air filters, call Lozier Heating & Cooling. We can help you find a filter that will give you better indoor air without breaking the bank. Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Des Moines, Iowa area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: "CoraMax/Shutterstock"