Does Your Brand of Home Air Filter Matter?

Air filters work by removing allergen particles from your home air. Particles flow through the filter before cycling clean air out. Buying a poor-quality air filter could result in your filter becoming clogged quickly or not being as efficient at removing all the necessary allergens. An improper air filter could also circulate allergen-filled air into your home, negatively impacting your health.

Many air filter brands offer multiple filters sizes and materials. Common materials used in air filters are polyester, fiberglass, aluminium, and carbon -- all of which will affect the filtration efficiency of your air filter as well as how long it will last.

When comparing brands to find the best home air filter for your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system, consider the variations of the filters offered, their MERV ratings, and what materials each filter is made of as. This can inform how much you’ll spend and how well it filters allergens from your air as well as how often you’ll need to replace it.

The materials used in various filters will determine what they remove from your air, their filtration capabilities, and the longevity of your filter. Let’s break down how some of the most common filter materials meet these goals:

Polyester:

• Used in pleated air filters, polyester is a common filter fabric choice for a few reasons:
• It’s ability to maintain its shape while enduring wear and tear
• Its ability to withstand dry heat degradation.
• Its resistance to chemical damage and abrasion

When used in a pleated design polyester filters offer more fiber surface area for trapping particles, allowing for a higher allergen filtration efficiency when compared to other fabrics like fiberglass.

Fiberglass: Using thin strands of fiberglass that are spun together, this kind of air filter will clean your in-home air but isn’t a good choice if you or a family member suffers from respiratory issues. Constructed using spun glass that’s woven to form patterns that are unrestrictive to airflow, fiberglass air filters offer effective filtration but can only remove large particles from your air.

Aluminium: A popular metal choice for filters, aluminium remains a staple in the industry thanks to its ability to withstand corrosion as well as its strength-to-weight ratio. When alloying elements are used aluminium is transformed into an even stronger material while maintaining its light weight.

These filters are then made of multiple layers of aluminium screens which together maximize their filtration capacity. Aluminium filters are commonly also reusable because of their ability to be washed.

Carbon/Activated Carbon: This is a filter you might want to consider if you’re looking to remove smoke, odor, and gases from your home air. Referred to as both carbon and activated carbon filters, the carbon in these filters is made from coconut shells, wood, coal, and more.

The carbon itself is a porous material which makes it great for filters. When air flows through your HVAC system, the gas and smoke particles are drawn onto the surface of the porous carbon filter, getting stuck.

Filtration Efficiency 

The filtration capabilities of your air filter will depend on its MERV rating. MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) ratings range from 1-16 and will allow you to determine how well your air filter will remove particles of certain sizes from your home air.

When looking for the best home air filter, choose one with a MERV rating ranging from 8-10. This will ensure that smaller and larger particles are being removed from your air. To remove the smallest, microscopic allergens from your air - such as mold spores and bacterial and viral cells- choose a filter with a MERV rating between 12-16. This means your filter will remove small-to-moderate and large allergens at higher concentrations.

Consistency is Key

When it comes to choosing the right air filter for your home, consider choosing a brand that has consistency. Your air filter brand should demonstrate a dedication to caring for your allergies and keeping you and your family protected like Kleenex does with its range of facial tissues.

A brand that is committed to using regularly tested, high-quality materials in its product line will be more likely to create a long lasting, durable air filter.

Durability & Longevity

When considering which Kleenex Air Filter to purchase, it's important to know more about its technology as well as its durability and longevity. A great way to gain an understanding of this is by researching the materials that the Kleenex Air Filters are made of.

Kleenex Air Filters use various materials like steel support mesh, cold melt adhesive, and Bico spunbound filtration media, all of which contribute to the longevity and durability of the allergen air filters.

Bico Spunbound Filtration Media: A non-woven material, Bico spunbound filtration media is one of the key materials in an air filer that keeps your air fresh. Used throughout the entire Kleenex Air Filter range, this filtration media removes unwanted airborne particles from your home air as it works to filter clean air for you and your family.

Steel Media Support Mesh: Acting as a strong defense, the steel support mesh provides rigidity in the Kleenex Air Filters while also allowing for the control of its thickness.

Cold Melt Adhesive: Working to bring your air filter together, the cold melt adhesive used in the range secures the filtration media to the wood fiber frame. This adhesive also provides the benefit of ensuring that no gaps are left around the filter and frame, ensuring complete, leak-free filtration of your air.

Compatibility and Fit 

When you’re shopping for a replacement filter, opt for a brand that prints both the nominal and actual size dimensions on the filter to help you easily find the right size. Most filter sizes are easy to replace and come second nature after your first replacement.

Trust the Air you Breathe with Kleenex Air Filters

Finding the best home air filter takes some research and understanding of your current HVAC unit. When shopping, consider brands that have been in the industry that use the best materials as well as those who test and upgrade their technology.

Kleenex Air Filters aims to help you care for your air with a range of our line of air filters. With MERV ratings from 8-13, these air filters work to capture common allergens like dust mites, lint, and pollen as well as pet hair and dander, airborne bacterial cells, and smog. Find the right filter for you and your family at your local retailer .