Do Vent Filters Work? (2024)

All HVAC programs embody a furnace filter, however many householders are additionally buying air filters for his or her vents. These optionally available filters are purchased in sheets which can be then minimize to suit each register and air return vents all through the home. Whereas useful, vent filters are usually not very best for all properties and will or might not be definitely worth the funding.

Weighing the Professionals and Cons

As with every optionally available element of an HVAC system, vent filters have each optimistic and destructive qualities, which can have an effect on whether or not they’ll profit your own home. Realizing these qualities will provide help to make a extra knowledgeable resolution earlier than making a purchase order.

Advantages of Vent Filters

Including vent filters to your own home serves as an additional line of protection towards mud and allergens. These particles can enter the ducts by cracks and bypass the primary furnace filter. Mud may accumulate within the vents during times of inactivity, additional polluting your own home.

Drawbacks of Vent Filters

The largest downside of vent filters is restricted airflow. Filters sluggish the passage of air. As particles construct up on them, the quantity of obstruction will increase. This may trigger your system to work tougher, utilizing up extra energy and probably overheating elements.

As well as, these filters would require common altering, simply as your principal filter does. This, in flip, requires you to entry every vent that incorporates a filter a number of occasions per yr. Whereas which may not be troublesome in some instances, it could pose issues when the goal vent is in a difficult-to-reach location, equivalent to excessive on a wall above furnishings.

Contemplate the MERV Ranking

When selecting a vent filter, it’s best to all the time intention for a MERV (Minimal Effectivity Reporting Worth) score of 6 to eight. The decrease the quantity, the much less air is obstructed, though it would additionally enable extra particles by. This score scale is an trade customary and is a wonderful technique to stability filtration and airflow restriction.

MERV 6

Filters with a MERV score of 6 are the bottom high quality advisable for family use. In comparison with a fundamental fiberglass HVAC filter, MERV 6 filters carry out roughly eight occasions higher. Filters at this score can filter out quite a few giant particles, together with:

• Allergens equivalent to pet dander, pollen, and mud mite particles
• Dust, mud, and different particulates
• Lint
• Random small particles

MERV 8

Whereas air filters on your house could have a MERV score of as much as 13, MERV 8 is the very best advisable for vent filters. These filters nonetheless enable for good airflow by your HVAC unit however are roughly 20 occasions extra environment friendly than fiberglass filters, making them a wonderful alternative for properties the place members of the family smoke or persons are extra allergy-sensitive.

Nonetheless, these don’t eradicate all allergens, solely large-particle ones.

Are Filters Proper for Your Dwelling?

Air filters could make a giant distinction in some conditions however don’t all the time remedy air high quality issues. Air high quality will be brought on by quite a lot of sources, and your furnace filter does an excellent job of defending from airborne particles beneath regular circumstances.

When to Get Vent Filters

Vent filters will be a wonderful technique to increase your principal filter and are helpful for properties the place your AC system and furnace stay off for a lot of the yr.

In such locations, the filters assist to scale back mud accumulation within the vents themselves. This may occasionally additionally assist cut back the heated mud scent that happens when your furnace is first turned on after sitting for a very long time.

Whereas they can not eradicate the issue totally, vent filters may assist cut back airborne allergens equivalent to pet dander and pollen. These particles usually get pulled into the return air vents and are caught within the furnace filter, however they may also be pulled into cracks in your ductwork and compelled into rooms by the registers (provide vents).

When to Keep away from Vent Filters

Generally, utilizing vent filters in an older house is not any higher than putting a bandage over a damaged bone. The ductwork could accumulate holes or cracks over time, and seals can break. A typical symptom of this can be a house the place rooms collect mud shortly whereas the furnace filter stays comparatively clear.

In such instances, vent filters can catch a big share of particles, however the leaks in your ducts can even affect your heating payments. Getting the air ducts checked and repaired is one of the best answer and will show cheaper in the long run.

One other drawback in older homes is usually the furnace itself. Furnaces should be fed air with the intention to maintain from overheating or struggling to stay energetic. In such instances, including filters to your air returns could cut back the quantity of airflow sufficient to have an effect on the furnace.

Ensuring you may have a filter with a MERV score of 6 could assist cut back the variety of pollution reaching the primary filter from the home, however vent blockages or different issues could imply even these low-density filters can choke your furnace.

Remaining Ideas

Vent filters work properly and have their advantages, however they don’t seem to be a one-size-fits-all answer. In case you are uncertain whether or not filters within the return vents will have an effect on the furnace, it’s best to both name an HVAC skilled or keep away from them altogether. If you happen to do go for vent filters, select ones with a MERV score of 6-8 to stability filtration and airflow, and be diligent about common alternative.