What Is the Best Air Filter For Controlling Dust In Your Home?

Posted on July 11, 2021 by - Uncategorized

What Is the Best Air Filter For Controlling Dust In Your Home?

Every homeowner who has ever spent time sweeping, mopping, and dusting has wondered how to eliminate dust from building up. It streaks surfaces, causes allergies, and generally makes you feel like your home isn’t clean. If you want to know how to remove dust from home, it can be as simple as choosing the right HVAC filter. But before we get into the types of filters, let’s talk about why it is so hard to eliminate.

What Is Dust, Really?

Dust is a composite of many things. It comprises microscopic pieces of pet dander, mold spores, hair, skin, dust mite waste, food crumbs, pollen, and soil. Dust is insidious, settling on fabrics, flooring, hard surfaces, and electronics, and recirculated by your HVAC system if there isn’t a good filter to catch it and stop the cycle.

There are multiple causes of dust, and it is no surprise that 60% of dust comes from outside. That leaves 40% generated inside the home. This can vary depending on the personal habits of the occupants, frequency of cleaning, smoking, cooking, and the age of the home. 

How To Use MERV Ratings To Pick an Air Filter

While annoying to all, dust can also be toxic to many people. It can cause a variety of allergic reactions, such as:

  • Cough
  • Itchy throat
  • Nasal congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Watery eyes

Choosing the right HVAC filter not only keeps your home cleaner but protects your health. Getting the most effective one isn’t just a matter of finding a brand name or choosing a more expensive filter. You need to select one that is effective in trapping both large and small dust particles. The way to ensure that is to look at the MERV rating.

The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) rating indicates how efficiently the filter can filter and trap small particles. The scale goes from 1 to 20. The higher the MERV rating, the more effectively it filters small particulates. The smaller the rating, the more appropriate for filtering larger particles.

So, the answer is to get the highest MERV-rated filter, right? No, it’s not that simple. While a MERV 17-20 will catch a lot of dust, they are designed for cleanroom applications with commercial HVAC systems that can handle high filtration. A MERV 11-13 is the perfect balance of dust filtration, airflow, and affordability for home HVAC systems.

How You Can Get the Right Filters Delivered Directly to Your Home

Crockett Filter Club makes it easy to choose the right filter. There is no more standing in big box stores, looking at endless aisles of filters, then wrestling them home. We make it simple to choose the right MERV rating for your home:

  • Follow the easy-to-understand infographic and descriptions to pick your ideal MERV-rated filter.
  • Schedule how often you want them delivered.
  • Choose how many you want in each delivery
  • Select the sizes
  • Put them in your cart and checkout

And just like that, your perfect air filter is on its way to you. No hassle, no realizing you forgot to pick up replacement filters only to get there and forget which sizes you need. Get started purifying and simplifying your life today.

Here’s Why (and When) More Expensive Air Filters are Worth It

Posted on June 8, 2021 by - Uncategorized

What you’ll learn by reading this blog:

● There is a difference between cheap air filters and quality ones.

● How to get high-quality air filters delivered directly to your home.

Chances are, you’ve looked for air filters either online or in stores and asked yourself why they are so expensive. After all, you can get multi-packs of bargain filters for $10 or less. The best way to answer that question is with the well-used saying of buyers beware. Let’s look at some reasons why you should think twice before going for a cheap air conditioner filter.

Is There Really a Difference Between the Bargain Filters and Quality Air Filters?

The answer is an emphatic “yes!” Just like any other product, the more corners you cut, the cheaper your costs. That means that you can sell for less and still make a profit. Though the basic version of some things may be fine, that’s not true with air filters.

You may think that a cheap air conditioner filter should be fine. But that’s like saying buying a cheap car with little to no safety features is a good option to save money. The truth is, air filters are meant to protect your air quality and preserve the life and efficiency of your HVAC system. When you consider what you could spend on allergy medications, repairs, or replacement of your air conditioning system, the few extra dollars you spend to buy the best A/C filters look like a much better investment.

The Best A/C Filters Use Higher Quality Materials

There’s a reason cheap air filters are, well, cheap. They are made from spun fiberglass, which creates a loose web-like material. If you think that will work well to block dust, dirt, and other contaminants from entering your HVAC system where they can be recirculated into your home, try a little experiment. Sprinkle some chocolate powder or powdered sugar on your counter, then blow on it toward one of those cheap filters and see what happens.

Quality Air Filters Catch More Particulates

Now that you can visualize what happens with a fiberglass air filter, let’s talk about pleated and non-pleated air filters. When you have materials that actually stop the particulates from passing through the filter, the difference between a good filter and a great filter is surface area. By creating pleats, you can add more surface area without increasing the dimensions. The other

bonus is that the extra surface area means you don’t have to change the filter as often as a non-pleated one.

Thicker Air Filters Last Longer

Don’t be fooled by the myth that thicker filters will block or constrain the airflow to your A/C unit. A thin filter will clog much faster, while the thicker one will last much longer. If you still aren’t convinced, look at the manufacturer’s recommended replacement schedule. You should be able to tell that the thicker ones have a longer expected life.

Choose Quality Air Filters From Crockett Filter Club

The best A/C filters truly are a better value than a cheap air conditioner filter. They have superior materials, more surface area, and are thicker. All those factors mean you don’t have to change your air filters nearly as often. It also means you get better air quality in your home and fewer particulates in your HVAC system. Contact us today for questions or place an order to get your high-quality air filters delivered directly to your home.

How Often Do I REALLY Need to Change My Air Filter?

Posted on April 8, 2021 by - Uncategorized

The air filters in your home should be changed every 30 to 90 days to ensure the best air quality for your family.

Air filters trap the dirt, mold spores, and other particles that pass through your HVAC system, so changing them often is essential to good health.

Change your air filters! You hear it all the time, but do you take it seriously? Your air filter is in your HVAC unit, tucked away in a dark corner of your home. How much could air filter replacement really affect your home and your family? More than you might think!

What Do Air Filters Do?

The basic function of an air filter is to clean any air that passes through it while circulating through the HVAC system. Instead of allowing the dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, and other particles to pass through, the filter collects them and keeps them from being blown into the air you breathe. In most cases, that air has already been in your home, so when it returns, it pulls in hair, animal fur, lint, fibers, and other particles that have been floating around your home.

How Often Should I Change My Air Filters?

The recommendation to change air filters is once every 30 to 90 days, though this could vary based on a few factors. These include:

How often you run your HVAC system – If you live in an area where you don’t need to run either the air conditioner or the heater on a regular basis, your filter could last up to six months. If your HVAC system is running at full capacity all day and all night, there may be a few months that you change it after only 20 days.

How large your home is – The larger the home, the more air that’s going to be pumped through your HVAC system and your air filters. Depending on the size of your HVAC appliance, you may need to change your filters more often. If you have a larger system for a larger home, it’s possible you could stick with the 30-day recommendation.

Who lives in your home – If you have young children or elderly folks living in your home, it’s even more important that the air quality is superior. You’ll want to be sure you stick with the 30-day air filter changing schedule. If any of those in your home have severe allergies or asthma, you might change your filters on a more regular basis.

Whether you have pets – Even if your pets are non-shedding animals, they’re going to leave behind hair to some degree. Any of the hair that doesn’t get vacuumed up becomes susceptible to getting sucked down into your HVAC system. This could quickly cause your filters to fill up, making it essential you change them often. Depending on the type of pet you have, you could possibly go 60 days between changing your filters.

What Are Some Problems That Arise From Not Changing the Filters?

If you don’t change your filters as often as you should, or if you don’t get them changed at all, there are some negative consequences you might experience. This includes:

Unhealthy air circulating in your home – Especially for those with respiratory illnesses, asthma, or allergies, dirty filters could cause or exacerbate health problems for those living in the home.

Higher energy costs – When filters are clogged, dirty, and in need of a change, the HVAC system has to work harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. This is going to result in higher energy costs.

Higher repair costs – An inefficient HVAC system with full filters isn’t going to function as it should. That could result in parts breaking down and you have to pay for the repairs when you could have just paid for a new filter.

Getting Your Filter Delivery Scheduled

At Crockett Filter Club, we care about the air quality in your home. Contact us today at 844-401-4604 to learn more about replacing air filters or to get your delivery scheduled.

Image Credit: The Toidi/Shutterstock

How Will Dirty Air Filters Impact my HVAC?

Posted on December 9, 2020 by - Uncategorized

How Will Dirty Air Filters Impact my HVAC?

Turning on the HVAC system should be like taking a breath of fresh air, but if the filters are dirty, that’s not going to be your experience at all. HVAC air filters need to be changed regularly, especially if someone in the home has allergies, breathing issues, or is susceptible to other toxins and bacteria. You can see how dirty air filters can affect your physical health, but there are some negative impacts a dirty filter could have on your HVAC system as well.

System Failure

When a dirty air filter restricts the airflow of your HVAC system, it often causes system failure. This is because the air handler doesn’t get the air it needs to function correctly. Additional strains are placed on the fan motor, which often overheats and fails the system. When you replace your filter, you’re only spending a small amount of time and money when compared to the high expenses and extended time it could cost you to repair or replace your HVAC system.

Energy Consumption

Any time a motor has to work harder, it’s going to consume more energy. A clogged air filter is inevitably going to make the system work harder because of the restricted airflow. This means you have to pay more in energy bills, your system gets more and more worn out every time it is on, and your carbon footprint isn’t getting reduced as it could.

Dirty Ducts

The air that flows through your filters is going to pick up some of the dirt and dust contained in them. Especially if they’re dirty and clogged, the air is going to take some of that dirt and dust and deposit it inside your ductwork. As you may have guessed, it’s eventually going to blow into your home as well. When your ducts are dirty, the other components of your HVAC system are going to also be dirty. Dirt and dust may lead to more repairs, if not an early replacement of the entire system.

If you have dirty ducts, you’ll also need to spend some money on getting your ductwork cleaned out. This is something that’s recommended every three to five years to begin with, but if they’re particularly dirty because you haven’t changed your filters, you may have to do it more frequently.

Freezing or Burning

If your air filter is dirty and unable to collect any more particles, all that dirt and other debris are going to settle on the heating and cooling coils. When this happens, they begin to work overtime. Heating and cooling coils that work overtime typically end up burning out or freezing over. Your HVAC system won’t work at that point, and you’ll end up spending more money on repairs.

What You Can Do To Save Your HVAC System

As you can see, your air filters are an essential part of your HVAC system. With a dirty air filter, there are a host of issues that can result. These issues not only impact your health but impact your finances, your comfort level, and your time.

Your best solution to this problem? Give your home a little more love with Crockett Filter Club’s subscription service for air filters. With three options, you can decide which will be the best products for your home. Simply pick the filter you wish to use, schedule delivery service frequency, choose the quantity and size, and you’re ready for a convenient service that will keep your HVAC system in good condition. Contact Crockett Filter Club today at 1-844-401-4604 to get started.

Featured Image: Steve Heap / Shutterstock

How to Reduce Pet Dander and Pet Odor

Posted on November 9, 2020 by - Uncategorized

How to Reduce Pet Dander and Pet Odor

Your pet is probably your best friend, but no friends come without those little things that just seem to irritate you no matter what. As you’ve gotten to know little Fluffy, you may have realized she puts off a lot of strange odors, and there’s pet dander all around the house. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to reduce and eliminate the dander and the odors, so your home smells like a home, not the zoo.

Keep It Clean

You most likely already have a cleaning schedule and like to keep up on it because it’s just more comfortable, but it becomes an essential step in your daily routine as a pet owner. If you let your dog or cat use your bed or couch, you’re going to need to clean those furniture items on a regular basis. Keep them vacuumed, so no pet hair or dander hangs around. If they begin to smell, you’ll need to work on getting rid of that as well. You should wipe down hard surfaces, vacuum your carpets every day, and even clean the curtains and other linens in rooms where your pet is allowed.

Minimize the Smells

You can minimize pet smells by sprinkling baking soda on the areas where you can smell your pet the most. Baking soda is excellent at neutralizing odors, even if pet urine is something you’re dealing with. Simply sprinkle it on, wait a few minutes to absorb the smell, and vacuum the baking soda back up.

Clean the Pet Products

If you’re hoping to reduce cat dander or dog dander, you’ll need to keep your pet’s items clean as well. Many owners forget about the dog or cat toys because they seem to get dirty so fast. They may forget to clean the dog bed because it’s tucked into the corner, but it’s important you don’t forget. Throw your dog’s or cat’s toy in the wash every few days. If there’s a leash and harness that gets regular use, keep it clean as well. Your doggy beds, blankets, and other comfort items should be thrown in the wash at least a couple of times per week.

Not only should you clean soft items your pet regularly uses, but you should also clean the hard items. This includes hard toys, but also includes food and water dishes. Toss them in the dishwasher to ensure they are sterilized. If you don’t have a dishwasher, you should still wash them by hand using the hottest water you can stand.

Brush Your Pets

To reduce dog dander, especially, brush your pet regularly. Many dogs need to be brushed daily, depending on the type of fur they have. If your dog only has medium-length fur, you can wait about a week between brushes, and short-haired dogs only need to be brushed every few weeks.

Change Your Filters

The filters in your HVAC system are created to collect the allergens, dirt, and dander you don’t want hanging around your home. Unfortunately, they also trap smells, so if you don’t keep a fresh filter in your system, it’s going to get full and start emitting the allergens, dander, and smells back into your home. If you have filters delivered to your home regularly, you won’t have to even think about it, but will still benefit from the filter’s efficiency in reducing pet dander and odors.

Schedule Your Filter Delivery Today

While there are many things you can do on your own to reduce pet dander and smells, you can’t change your filters without the help of a filter professional. Contact Crockett Filter Club today at 844-401-4604 to get your questions answered, learn about filters, and get your deliveries scheduled.

Featured Image: Shutterstock / Prystai