Everything You Need to Know About Furnace Filters

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Everything You Need to Know About Furnace Filters

Posted On: April 7, 2018

Everything You Need to Know About Furnace Filters

Furnace filters are an integral component of an HVAC system. There are a variety of sizes and options available when talking about filters, and it is no wonder that most homeowners have so many questions about furnace filters! In this article, we will help you understand furnace filters more – how they function and how you can choose the best one for your HVAC system and your home! 

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FURNACE FILTERS? 


Furnace filters can either be disposable or reusable. Disposable models are the one that is simply pulled off from the unit and just replace them with new, clean ones as needed. Reusable or washable filters, on the other hand, can be removed from the filter cabinet, cleaned accordingly, thoroughly dried, and reinserted in the filter cabinet for continuous provision of quality air to your home. Disposable furnace filter options are as follows: 

*Fiberglass filters 
*Polyester filters 
*Synthetic media filters 
*Electrostatic filters 
*High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) filters 
*Pleated media filters 

MERV - What does this mean? 
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) is the rating system used to express the efficiency of furnace filters. MERV ratings range from 1 to 16, and when reading it, you have to remember: the higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the filter is at capturing contaminants of different sizes. 

Filters that are rated MERV 8 through MERV 12 are known for offering excellent air filtration for residential properties. While you might think that it is best to purchase the highest MERV-rated filter, using such filters can actually restrict airflow through your HVAC system. This can cause comfort issues, system breakdowns, and increased energy consumption. 

HOW LONG DO FURNACE FILTERS LAST? 
The service life of furnace filters can vary depending on different factors. The efficiency rating of a filter greatly affects its lifespan. For instance, filters with higher MERV ratings can typically last longer than lower-rated, low-efficiency furnace filters. 

There are also factors concerning your household that can impact a furnace filter’s service life. For instances, homes that have pets or smokers have more airborne contaminants. The filters in such homes need to be changed more frequently as their filters can also become clogged faster because of the presence of more contaminants. If there are people who are suffering from asthma or allergies in your home, then you should also frequently change the filters to help reduce airborne triggers inside the home and thus, lessen the symptoms they are suffering from. 

If you have more questions about furnace filters, the experts here at Twintech Heating and Cooling are ready to answer your questions! Reach out to us today or simply visit our website for more information. 
 



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by Private User from Kitchener on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Twintech were fast and efficient contractors. It only took 48 hours between an initial home visit and complete installation. The workmen were polite and hardworking. The site was left clean with the old furnace etc. removed. They helped arrange an environmental assessment in order that I could receive the maximum rebate. They even called me within a week to determine if I was satisfied with their work and to reassure me that I could call them anytime I experienced heating difficulties or had any questions. I recommend Twintech for your heating problems.

by dlcarroll in Vaughan on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Courteous and professional service from initial consultation through to the installation. We highly recommend Twintech for outstanding service in the industry. Competitive pricing, professional and accurate advice, attention to detail, respect for their client's home and cleaning up at the completion of installation.

by TraceyG from Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Last night was the coldest day of the year so far and I woke up to my house being 54 degrees... I called Twintech at 2:45am and Greg was on site by 3:30am. The furnace required a part and he returned to his shop and came back to my home around 4:15am, furnace up and running by 4:30am. THANK YOU TWINTECH! Your service is second to none.

by Cristelle from Ajax on Twintech Heating and Cooling

After much research & getting 4 quotes, we hired Twintech team for our new furnace installation, prices were fair, they carried great product brands & more importantly installation was expertly done by one of the owners (Greg & his assistant Peter) which gave me an added piece of mind. Dave was very organized & answered all my questions in great detail, especially re: the Enbridge & Govt. rebate program.

by David from Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

My old air conditioner was 20 years old and developed a Freon leak and it was more cost effective to replace rather than repair. There are a large number of heating and air conditioning companies available in my area so I contacted several for quotes. Twintech heating and cooling responded quickly to the inquiry I left on their website and their sales person Dave came by the following day. He was knowledgeable about the field and was able to show copies of the various refrigeration and gas fitting licenses along with workmens compensation, TSSA and other certifications. He also suggested a particular manufacturer and model of AC unit appropriate to my house and gave me a quote. Since the price was reasonable, service had been good and the reviews on the internet were also good, I decided to purchase an AC unit from them. Installation was quickly scheduled. They showed up on time, did a good job installing the new unit including some sheet metal work to get the new heat exchanger to fit in the furnace duct, and cleaned up afterward. In addition, they noticed that my existing AC was installed too close to the furnace exhaust (based on building code) and were able to mount the new AC the appropriate distance from the exhaust. Overall, they did an excellent job and were a pleasure to work with.

by LP from Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

All interactions from sales to installation were Courteous and professional. The installation was seamless and the attention to detail including clean up was outstanding. I highly recommend TwinTech Heating and Cooling.

by David in Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Twintech's Salesman Dave arrived promptly was friendly and courteous, listened and assured us the installation would be completed according to our requests. The crew arrived early morning on May 11th, 2018 and worked through till late afternoon non-stop. They were very friendly, very professional, their expertise was excellent, their workmanship outstanding and the installation was completed in a timely and efficient manner. We were completely satisfied and happy with the quality of the work.

by Jennifer in Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

I had cold and hot spots all over my 70 yr old home. My furnace is quite new and Greg optimized the fan and furnace. The original installer just took it out of the box with factory settings and installed it- basically running at 50% of capacity. Greg also routed heat into my laundry room, yeah - so now I can renovate laundry room - thanks Greg. He is honest, professional and knowledgeable. I will be calling him back in the spring to optimize my AC as well.

by Happy Homeowner in Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Wonderful from beginning to end. I tend to fret and worry about home improvements but the excellent team at TwinTech put my mind as ease. They listen, they are patient and best of all ... the work they did is amazing! I chose the Goodman 80K BTU 2 stage furnace and the matching Goodman air conditioner. Greg, Grant and Poitr "Peter" arrived on time, took great care, explained everything to me and they answered all of my questions. They carefully adjusted the factory settings to optimize the furnace for my house and they also checked the duct work in the basement. Dave, the Sales Manager, came by to say "hello" and to see if I was happy. YES, I am happy with the work! The furnace is very quiet. I have it running on low just to circulate the air in the house and it's so much quieter than my old furnace. When I need new duct work for an upcoming basement renovation TwinTech will be my first choice. I highly recommend TwinTech. PS. They were even nice to my dogs.

by Les G. from Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Greg was prompt on the scheduled day of installation and the work was done well within the time estimated beforehand. Installation was neat and the equipment and scope of work was as specified in the quote. One item I must point out is that we were faced with a "No Heat" situation the day before the scheduled installation and Greg came out to address it free of charge. Not only that, but he also corrected an installation fault with our smart thermostat that was not part of the original job, again free of charge.

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