Everything You Need to Know About AC Air Filters

When it comes to air conditioning, not all filters are created equal. Carbon filters, for example, are highly porous and can effectively eliminate odors, keeping indoor air fresh. However, they rank low on the rating scale. On the other hand, a dirty filter in your HVAC system will cause your energy bills to skyrocket.

A clogged filter restricts airflow to your HVAC system's air handler, making it work harder to cool or heat your home. This can cause problems with the system and stop it from filtering allergens and other particles from the air. Filterbuy offers a wide range of MERV air filter sizes, thicknesses and ratings so you can find reliable aftermarket air filters for residential, commercial, or industrial use. If you have a lot of people in the house, pets, or have particularly dusty or dirty air (smoking or under construction), it is recommended that you replace the air filters in a shorter interval, between 30 and 60 days.

Air filters can be changed from behind the intake grilles (often called air filters or AC filters) or in the oven box of the central air unit (often referred to as “oven filters”). In addition to providing fresh, clean air for your home, they can also filter harmful particles to keep you safe from allergens and bacteria. To find the perfect filter for your needs, you'll need to measure the actual size of your air filter in the intake vent. Most air filters have a MERV rating between 1 and 20, with MERV 1 filters only capable of removing larger debris and MERV 20 capable of filtering microscopic particles such as viruses and bacteria from the air.

MERV stands for Minimum Value of Efficiency Reports, and is a rating of the amount of filtration your air filter is capable of doing. We measure how well an air filter removes dust, pollen and smoke from the air, and we see how freely air flows through the filter at any fan speed. Explore a wide variety of sizes, ratings, and replacement air filter features to fit your home's air filtration needs.