What You Need To Know About Washable Air Filters

Posted on: Aug 18, 2016

Air filters are generally inexpensive and easy to install. You just remove the old one and toss in the new. It doesn’t get much easier than that. However, remembering to pick up the air filters is a bit of a pain, and while each filter is only a few dollars, if you are on a tight budget or if your’e looking to save money, this might just be too much. So, naturally, you look towards washable air filters for your home’s cooling and heating system. Instead of paying for a new filters every two to three months, you can use one for an extended period of time. Is it worth it though? After all, some reusable devices offer an inferior quality product for a higher price point. This is what you need to know about washable air filters.

What is a Washable Air Filter?

With a removable, disposable air filter, you toss it in the trash every two to three months. However, a washable air filter is permanent. It is constructed out of a polypropylene weave, although some are designed out of a wire mesh. Due to the material the filter is made from, you can clean it with the combination of a vacuum and hose. This removes most, if not all of the particles the filter collected.

The MERV Rating

The MERV rating is a scale designed to show you the quality of the air filter and how much debris, dust and dander it can remove. This is a scale from 1 to 20, with the higher the number, the better the quality. Washable air filters have a MERV rating of 1 to 4. This means it is unable to remove cigarette smoke, pet dander or dust from the air flow.

Attract Mold

Due to the construction of the filter, it can collect mold if it does not dry out properly. This will actually push mold into the home’s air supply.

Whatever your questions or concerns are about your cooling and heating system are, Airco Service Inc. is just a short email or phone call away. From questions about your current system to help involving a new AC unit, a skilled, certified professional is ready to assist.

There are plenty of air filter options available for your home cooling and heating system. Should you consider a washable air filter? There are always pros and cons of using such a device.