Air Solutions Air Conditioning & Heating is excited to announce a new product that we are offering to our customers, the activTek INDUCT 2000 “Air Scrubber”. The “Air Scrubber” is designed to eliminate Indoor Air Quality risks by reducing pet and cooking odors, air pollutants, VOCs (chemical odors), smoke, mold, bacteria, and viruses. The “Air Scrubber” uses specialized UV germicidal light waves (the same technology used by the medical industry) along with a proprietary catalytic process that creates enviro-scrubbing molecules of Oxygen and Hydrogen (just like nature’s outdoor “enviro-scrubbers”) to reduce and kill airborne germs, dust and odors 24/7. A University of Cincinnati study states the the activTek Air Scrubber can reduce approximately 90% of airborne micro organisms. It even cleans surfaces, including carpets and bedding. Call us today at 713-367-2038 to find out more!
I need to replace my AC filter and I’m wondering which kind of filter you recommend. I assume that the higher the MERV rating the better?
Not necessarily. In fact, we recommend the very inexpensive fiberglass filters. Here’s why; Your AC system cools by passing air over the Evaporator Coil. If the evaporator coil gets clogged with dust the air can’t pass over it and your AC will stop cooling. Your AC’s air filters are designed to capture any dust that could clog the coils before it enters the system. The problem with filters that have a very high MERV rating is that they do too good of a job. A filter with a high MERV rating captures more (and smaller) particles than one with a low rating which means that, as it works, the air flow through your system will rapidly diminish. Insufficient air flow will not only negatively impact the system’s ability to cool but it can also cause your outside system to “freeze up” which can ultimately lead to a compressor failure and a costly repair. Another down side of the high MERV rating filters is that, as they become clogged, your system may draw air in through loose seams and cracks in the duct work introducing damaging dust particles to the Evaporator Coil. The fiberglass filters will effectively remove the larger dust particles and prevent them from clogging the Evaporator Coil while allowing for sufficient air flow for your system to work at peak efficiency. Using low MERV rated filters, if you change your filters regularly and have your system inspected a least once a year (we recommend twice yearly) your AC system will give you years of uninterrupted service. Air Solutions Air Conditioning and Heating offers an affordable “AC Tune-up” which includes an Evaporator Coil check. Make sure to check our “Specials” page for current discounts.
How often should I change my AC filter?
There are many factors that contribute to how often you’ll need to change your filters. Geographic location, how many people live in the home, pets, lifestyle and numerous other factors will have an impact on the amount of dust and indoor air pollution in your home and, consequently, the lifespan of your AC filters. Another factor that will impact your filter’s useful life it the type of filter you use. A filter with a higher MERV rating will capture more dust particles and as a result will need to be changed more often. A good rule of thumb is to visually inspect your filters a least once every 30 days. If the filters appear to be clogged or the airflow appears to be restricted it’s time to change them.