Furnace Filters vs Air Purifiers

We are often asked how furnace filters and/or a HVAC system can improve indoor air when compared to a air purifier unit that you can place in a room. Both are beneficial for improving indoor air quality and like any comparison each is going to have its own benefits. For starters room air purifiers can be moved from room to room making them ideal if you would like to focus on indoor air quality for a specific space where as your homes HVAC system ie. furnace and duct work can help to improve indoor air quality in your entire home. It is important to remember that just because you have an HVAC system this doesn't mean your air is being improved, this is only the case if your using a good pleated style furnace filter that has a MERV rating. Another thing to remember is your system is only improving indoor air when it is running. Most people set the thermostat to the "Auto" position which means if your temperature isn't changing and the system isn't running your air is not being filtered. One thing you can do to maximize the benefits of your good quality furnace filter is set the thermostat to the on or run position as opposed to auto, this will keep your blower running thus improving your indoor air quality. This does use a little bit of energy but does not have a noticeable impact on your utility bill and if compared to running an air purifier all the time you could call it a wash.

We recommended focusing on a good quality furnace filter and regular change-outs if you are looking to improve overall indoor air quality, neither system is going to capture everything from your indoor air but both can make huge improvements. For some you may not have a whole home HVAC system, you could have baseboard heaters or other forms of heat so an air purifier may be your only option. Air purifiers are a great choice for this situation and if you are looking to make sure your breathing the cleanest, healthiest air you can. I personally have a 3M Filtrete air purifier unit that runs in my main living space and a smaller unit in my 1 year old daughters room. My house does have a high quality pleated filter in it as well and I can say that I am still amazed every time I change my filters in both my air purifiers and my HVAC system. That said they both can make a world of difference in your indoor air quality and everyone's situation is going to be different, if you have the option of a good pleated filter for your home that is a good start and the most affordable option. Once you see all the stuff a good furnace filter pulls out of the air you may consider adding an air purifier unit to certain areas of your home for the added benefit. As always thanks for reading, if you have questions we are here to help!

What's the deal with all the ratings on furnace filters?

If you have purchased a furnace filter recently chances are you have come across a bunch of different ratings. MERV ratings, MPR, FPR and more. Why so many ratings and whats the difference between them all? This is something that comes up often and seems to be something we are hearing more often. This is because there was once a day when all we really based pleated furnace filters on was the MERV rating. So we like to refer to MERV as the original. The MERV rating was created in 1987 to rate the effectiveness of air filters and means Minimum efficiency reporting value. This was the most common rating that we used for a long time, then everybody decided to be different. These differences can be seen throughout several manufactures and some of the big box stores.

Most notable is the 3M Filtrete line of furnace filters that uses the MPR rating system, then you have Home Depot that uses the FPR rating system and so on. So everyone is a little different and we are left to clear the air.  We will give everyone credit as they are all attempts to simplify the buying process but only within that store or specific brand. The main thing to remember is the larger the number whether it be an MPR 2200, MERV 8 or an FPR of 4 the larger the number the better that filter will do at improving your indoor air quality within that specific furnace filter manufacturers filters or if the store you are shopping at uses a special rating scale...but then again shouldn't you just get your filters at www.rememberthefilter.com!

For more info on ratings and a buyers guide on purchasing furnace filters visit our FAQ section for more info.

More than you wanted to know about dust mites

Some people don't even think about these little critters because you can't see them, but just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there. They are a major cause for asthma and allergies, especially in children and the elderly. An estimated 10 percent of Americans show an allergic sensitivity to dust mites. The Spring pollen aggravates allergies and dust mites make it even worse. During Fall and Winter we close up our windows and keep doors shut; which increases the dust mite infestation because they multiply during warm, wet weather.

Dust mites typically live in, on and around your bed. The typical used mattress may have between 100,000 to 10 million mites inside. Their favorite food is human and pet dander, which 80 percent of the material you see floating in the air is skin flakes.

While for most people dust mites can be harmless, they can still bring on allergies and other breathing problems even if you haven't experienced them before. Your best solution to helping control these little critters is to use a pleated furnace filter and to help control them in the bedroom use a air purifier.

Here are some of the typical symptoms of dust mite allergies.

• Hay fever
• Watering eyes
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Asthma, difficulty in breathing
• Infantile eczema
• Itchy, red or watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
• Postnasal drip 
• Cough
• Facial pressure and pain
• Frequent awakening
• Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes 
• In a child, frequent upward rubbing of the nose 

Flanders Precisionaire Furnace Filters

As an authorized retailer of Flanders Precisionaire products we may be a little bias but at the same time we stand behind the Flanders Precisionaire brand because we feel they provide the best indoor air filtration on the market at affordable pricing. RememberTheFilter.com has worked closely with Flanders Filters for about 6 years and we have a very strong relationship. This relationship shows as we are listed on Flanders Filters website as a preferred retailer, and we carry almost every product they manufacturer including the Naturalaire, EZ Flow, Pre-Pleat LPD product lines and the High Effeciancy HEPA filters. Flanders Precisionaire is a leader in indoor air filtration and Flanders Furnace Filters can be used in almost all systems. Since Flanders doesn't sell direct to the public we fill that void, this allows Flanders Precisionaire to focus on manufacturing the best indoor air filters while allowing us to focus on Customer Service and getting the best furnace filters to you...our valued customers!

Founded in 1950, Flanders designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes air filters and related products. They are one of the largest US manufacturers of air filters which are utilized by many industries including those associated with commercial and residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (commonly known as “HVAC” systems), semiconductor manufacturing, ultra-pure materials, chemical, biological, radiological and material processing, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, synthetics, nuclear power and nuclear materials processing.

You can be sure to find the Flanders Precisionaire Furnace Filters and AC Filters you are looking for at RememberTheFilter.com or by calling our indoor air specialists at 1-866-469-8556.

With fourteen locations worldwide, Flanders Precisionaire is focused on providing complete environmental filtration systems with the highest quality in the world.

Is your Furnace keeping you up at night?

If you have a noisy furnace that keeps you up at night there are a few things you should check before you call a HVAC technician.

The first thing we recommend is to be sure that you have the correct size furnace filter in your system. The better the fit the quieter your system should be, when a system turns on and air starts moving through the filter it will shift if you are using a size that doesn't fit well. The noise from the filter shifting will carry through your ducting and can sometimes sound like a loud bang. A incorrect size can also allow air to travel around the filter if there are gaps. Air will always follow the path of of the least resistance so if there are gaps that is where it's going first. In some instances this can create a whistling sound that will travel through your ducting increasing the operating noise in your home.

Another option is to use a less efficient filter, or what we call a lower MERV rating. These filters do not restrict as much air as the higher MERV rated filters so the air will flow through quicker and quieter. But keep in mind that the lower the MERV rating the less the furnace filter will capture from the air. A good option is a filter with a MERV 8 rating as you get the best of both worlds. A MERV 8 furnace filter has a low airflow resistance while it still does a great job at capturing particles from your indoor air.

Remember the more you change your furnace filter the quieter your system will run since it will essentially breathe easier, this will cut down on noise but also prolong the life of your system. Changing your furnace filter regularly will save you in the long run...and possibly get you a better night sleep during the cold months.

These are a few things to help make your night a bit more peaceful and quiet. If you have any questions please contact our indoor air quality specialists and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Does your Furnace Filter brand matter?

A lot of people are under the impression that whatever furnace filter was initially installed is the same filter they must use for the life of the system. This is not true. The only thing that should be the same as the original filter is the size, ie. 12x24x1. One thing that should come into play when selecting a filter for your system is the filters rating. If air flow is a concern that you have, you can pick a filter with the same MERV rating as the original filter. With so many Furnace Filter brands on the market it can be overwhelming and sometimes difficult to find what you are looking for. We would be happy to assist you in finding a furnace filter that can be used in your system.

Millions of products are manufactured by the same companies, but some companies have a high ranked brand and a lower ranked brand, in essence it is the same product you just aren't paying for the name. This is not always true but a very common thing and can be found with some manufacturers.

At RemembertheFilter.com we carry filters that are compatible with around 40 filter manufacturers and the equivalency to the brands we don't carry. So check us out to help with all your filtration needs or give us a call at 1-866-469-8556.

Fall Season - Catching those colds floating around!

Superstitions Fact
If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter.

Labor Day has come and gone and the kids are back in school. Everyone enjoys watching the leaves change from green to orange, red and yellow and Autumn brings on pumpkins, apple cider and crisp fall mornings' air. But on some parents minds is the worry of the kids catching those colds floating around. The most important back-to-school cold prevention tip is to make sure your kid eats a healthy diet, not too much sugar and lots of vitamin C. But another way to help is by changing your furnace filter in the recommended time frame to make sure that all the bacteria is being pulled from the air. 

Make sure your kids wash their hands and get enough sleep because no one wants to catch on of these common fall colds.