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Facts About
Filters
The air filter you use in your central heating/air-conditioning system has two important
functions:
1). To remove from an air-stream the greatest number of particles whose size is of most concern and
2). Provide adequate airflow necessary to maintain satisfactory operation of your heating/air-conditioning unit.
Some air filters that are efficient at capturing particles fail to provide adequate airflow.
Restriction of airflow can result in:
1). Increased energy consumption.
2). Failure to pull particles to the air filter resulting in increased dust, etc. in the environment.
3). Irregular uneven temperatures throughout the home.
4). Decreased effective lifetime of the heating and cooling unit.
5). Increased possibility of compressor and blower motor burnout.
6). Increased possibility of high pressure overloads and frozen coils.
Some air filters provide excellent airflow but fail to capture an adequate amount of particles
of most concern.
Inadequate filtration can result in:
1). Failure to provide the degree of cleanliness required for normal occupancy and space usage.
2). Increased maintenance of your heating/air-conditioning system due to build up of particles on coils, fan motor and duct system.
3). Increased possibility of mold. mildew and other microbial growth in the ventilation system.
Proper maintenance a requirement.
Whether you purchase a filter that provides excellent airflow or a filter with excellent filtration capabilities, proper maintenance is a
necessity. As particles accumulate on the face of the filter restriction of airflow may occur. When an air filter reaches its capacity to
hold particles it has captured, the particles are pulled through the filter and re-enter the air stream and ultimately the environment you
live in.
Studies show that a well maintained filter can reduce energy consumption, in the operation of your heating/air-conditioning system, by up
to 4%. Cleaning/replacing dirty filters on a timely basis can save hundreds of dollars over the years.
Never be without a clean filter again!
With the purchase of any A+2000 air filter
you can, upon request, receive a friendly reminder to change/clean your filter on a 30, 60, 90 or 180 day schedule.
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What are the
Consequences of Filter Bypass?
Filter Bypass:
Filter bypass is defined as “airflow around a filter or through an
unintended path”. Many filter frames, constructed of hard metals, have imperfections in the filter track. Filters frames, constructed of
cardboard, that are not self-sealing, are too rigid to conform to the contour of the filter frame, leaving gaps for air to bypass the
filtering process. Gaps the size of a human hair, approximately seventy microns in diameter, are large enough to allow all particles of
concern to escape the filtration process and re-enter the inhabited spaces. Therefore, by simply improving filter efficiency without
addressing filter bypass, you provide little if any benefit.
Air that bypasses the filter can carry dust and other particulate
matter directly into the evaporator coil and ventilation system. Dust can provide a nutrient base on which fungi can grow.
Biological Contaminants:
“Contaminated central air handling systems can become breeding
grounds for mold, mildew and other biological contaminants and can then distribute these contaminants throughout the occupied spaces.”
(EPA Indoor Air-publications – “The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality).
Increased
Energy Costs:
“HVAC systems evaporator coils and drip pans are a breeding ground
for bacteria, mold, algae and other fungi. A .05 inch accumulation of this sticky dirty substance can cut efficiency 32% - raising your
electric bill for that unit at least one-third.” (HVAC Magazine Online – Clean A/C Saves Money)
Dirty
Coils:
“A dirty blower or air conditioning coil inside an air handler can
increase operation costs by restricting air flow and
heat transfer and can also cause premature motor wear. In addition, restricted airflow can lead to reduced heat transfer at the furnace
heat exchanger.” (Home Energy Magazine Online – July/August 1996).
Coil Fouling:
“Particle deposition of indoor dusts and other particulate matter on
evaporator heat exchangers, increases system pressure drop and correspondingly, decreases system airflow and air conditioner performance.
An accumulation of 140 (+/ – 10) grams of particulate matter deposited on evaporator coils can double pressure drop. For this level of
pressure drop, in a typical residential system, the pressure drop at the fouled flow is increased about 40%; the airflow is reduced by 5
to 10%, and the efficiency and capacity of the air conditioner decrease by 2 to 4%.” (California Institute for Energy Efficiency -
Dirty Air Conditioners: Energy Implications of Coil Fouling).
Lack of MERV Integrity:
“ASHRAE Standard 52.2 testing as well as most other filter test
methodologies, are tests of the filter media, rather than the installed filter system. When applied to real systems, filter test results
implicitly assume that no bypass exists around filters. Examination of most residential and commercial HVAC systems suggests that this is
not a good assumption: both small and large gaps are common.”
“An HVAC design that employs high efficiency filters to prevent
health problems associated with indoor fine particles may fail to perform as intended due to filter bypass.” Mathew Ward – Modeling
Filter Bypass: Impact on Filter Efficiency”.
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How To Measure Custom Size Filters
| Filtration Manufacturing, Inc. is committed to providing quality solutions for all
of your air filtration needs. Our company can custom make any and all types of air filters, both standard and custom. Send
Filtration Manufacturing your technical requirements and one of our trained sales representatives will contact you.
customerservice@filtrationmanufacturing.com
Please measure in fractions when ordering (i.e., 1/4", 3/8", 7/16", etc.) : |
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