Pleated Filters Help Keep Your Air Conditioning System Clean
The main purposes of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system are to help maintain good indoor air quality through adequate ventilation with filtration and provide thermal comfort. Proper air filtration and care for your HVAC system will result in better conditions and air quality as well as increase the efficiency and longevity of the HVAC system.
Central air conditioning systems and heat pumps both have an air filter (sometimes called a furnace filter) installed in the ductwork near the blower. Most homeowners probably assume that the purpose of this air filter is to improve indoor air quality and to some extent that’s true, but the real purpose of the air filter is to reduce the amount of dust, dirt, and debris that accumulates on the evaporator coil.
The evaporator coil is an important part of the air conditioning system. Cold refrigerant flows through the evaporator coil while the blower moves household air across the coil and throughout the home via the duct system.It is important to keep the evaporator coil free of dust, dirt, and debris because these materials act as a layer of insulation and reduce the system’s ability to cool the air that flows across the evaporator coil. In turn, this means that your air conditioner has to work harder to keep your home cool. You can lower your energy costs and reduce the need for air conditioning service by keeping the evaporator coil clean and free of debris.
High efficiency pleated filters do a terrific job of trapping foreign material from the air. Replacing an old fiberglass filter with a new pleated filter will help your system operate more efficiently by trapping much more debris and preventing that debris from accumulating on the evaporator. You can save yourself the hassle of cleaning the evaporator by installing a pleated filter in your air conditioning system or heat pump.
Pleated filters are some of the most popular filters on the market today. They are made from media that is folded into pleats which increases the entire surface area of the filter making it more efficient. This style of filter can help to eliminate large allergens like pollen and mold, animal dander, bacteria and viruses. Pleated filters are recommended due to their affordable pricing and wide array of options. A pleated filter has more surface area and can collect smaller microns than fiberglass. Most residential homes now use pleated filters.