A blocked or dirty air filter can spread pollutants such as dust, dirt, pollen and pet dander instead of trapping them. It can also restrict system airflow, forcing you to work harder and consume more energy. Clogged air filters can make ducts dirty and leave a lot of extra dust throughout the house. Over time, the ducts will become dirty and filled with dust. No air filter is perfect, so dust will eventually accumulate in the duct system.
Another cause of dirt on ducts, and even on blowers and coils, is the suction of air through return air ducts that are not filtered. This dirt and dust ends up on air conditioning and heating equipment and, of course, in the duct system and in the family's living spaces. All the dust you see on the used filter is dust that is removed from the circulation in your home. However, when the filter becomes clogged, the system cannot efficiently clean dust from the air, so much of it remains in the living space. To keep your house free from dust, it is important to clean your air filters regularly and make sure you have the correct ones installed.
It is useful to change the air filter often, clean the ducts, ensure that the duct system is sealed, add air purification and operate the fan more frequently. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) is an industry standard classification for consumers to know how well an air filter cleans the air that passes through it. MERVs range from 1 to 16, and a higher number indicates greater cleaning efficiency because they can filter smaller particles from the air. In recent years, this air-cleaning function has become more important for homeowners, and manufacturers have designed filters that use their heating and air system to remove microscopic particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, plant spores, and mold and mildew. Even smoke in the air in your home can be filtered out. If the air filter is the main source of the air quality problem in the house, changing air filters may be the best solution. However, when ducts are not properly sealed, contaminated air can easily enter the air ducts and then be expelled through the vents when the heating and cooling systems are operating.
Something as simple as replacing air filters or adjusting the thermostat could eliminate the dust situation and leave your home dust-free. However, in many cases, the air filter is just one piece of the puzzle that contributes to poor air quality. Particle capture efficiency actually increases as the filter becomes dirty; build-up in fibers reduces openings through which air passes and allows filter to capture more particles. Air filters help trap dirt, dust, pollen and other contaminants so they don't continue to circulate throughout house. If your home is well sealed, you don't have pets or dust-prone furniture such as carpets or cloth-covered furniture and you clean and vacuum regularly then your air filters will need to accumulate fewer airborne particles.
The filter's particulate removal efficiency is inversely related to energy efficiency of your heating and air system.Nice Heating & Air covers all HVAC needs in Alexandria VA from heating insulation gas chimneys repair to air conditioning systems.
