Clean or replace your AC air filter periodically and breathe easy.

Let's clear the air about air filters.

It's essential to regularly clean or replace you’re air
conditioning and heating air filters. A clean air filter helps keep you healthier by improving you home's indoor air quality (IAQ). It also helps your AC and heating equipment to run more efficiently. That will save you money on your electric bills and help you avoid costly heating and cooling repairs or replacement.

Because every home is different, there are many factors that affect how long you should wait between filter changes.

Wait too long, and the efficiency of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system will deteriorate. Plus your cooling and heating costs will go up. Change you filter too often, and you're throwing money away.

Keep in mind the more efficient your air conditioner filter is, the more often it will have to be cleaned or replaced. On the average, we recommend you change or clean your air conditioning filter every 3-6 months.

There are several types of cooling and heating air filters to choose from. Below you will find how efficient each one is.

• Disposable Air Filters: These are the least expensive and the least effective, designed to block only large dust and dirt particles to protect your HVAC system. Smaller particles like pollen and mold pass right through them. When it comes to filter ratings, these are at the bottom of the list. You are not doing yourself, your family or your HVAC equipment any favors by using these filters. They do such a poor job of filtering contaminants out of the air, you could leave one in your air conditioning and heating system for a year and it would not collect enough dust to require changing. However, the evaporator coil in the air handler of your HVAC system would need to be cleaned every year to remove the dirt that should have been stopped by your air filter.

• Washable “Electrostatic” Air Filters: These air filters have a static charge that attracts dust, dirt and other airborne matter. These are more effective then disposable air filters, but still only block about 15 to 20 percent of airborne particles. With these filters you just pull them out when they are dirty and wash them with soap and water.

• Pleated Allergy Filters: These filters are made of a much denser mesh material to trap particles. The pleats increase the surface area and are able to catch large allergens like mold and pollen. Pleated allergy filters offer a form of protection if you have breathing sensitivities like asthma or allergies. They come in a variety of compact sizes so they can provide air filtration in just about any location.

How to purchase the right pleated filter:

Count the number of pleats. Pleats add to the filter surface area. The greater the surface area, the better the air filter is able to pluck pollutants from the air.

Know the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). MERV ratings indicate how efficient a filter is on a scale of 100%. Manufacturer’s rate pleated filters with a MERV between 20% to 35% efficiency and rate a 5 to 8 on the MERV scale. Some, however, provide 75% efficiency and come with a 12 MERV rating.

Compare filter thickness. Filter thicknesses ranges from 1” to 6”. Thinner air filters filter less dust and require changing more frequently. Conversely, thicker filters collect more dust and can go longer without being changed.

Compare costs. Name brands cost more, but generic brands often offer the same MERV rating at a lower price. Shop around to get the best rating for your money.