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With the heat wave, home AC will be running more frequently. Check air filters more frequently as well. For homes using window or portable AC, check these filters weekly and wash or replace as needed.
If you have central air then you have more choices of air filters. The cheap fiberglass (usually green filter media) will offer the most air flow and so a slightly lower electric bill but will allow much more smaller particles to reach and dirty your AC coils. Their filtering ability can be slightly improved with a filter Charger spray which sprays a thin layer of oil over the filter to more easily trap particles. The cheapest pleated air filter will filter much better than the first filter and is a good alternative during high load summer days. Pleated air filters have different ratings most people don’t understand so some brands have a chart on the filter showing the types of particles they filter. We have a dog so we select one that at least filters pet dander. We’re also surrounded by pollen rich trees so pollen filtering is also a must. Some claim to filter out viruses and be nearly HEPA level of filtration. Avoid these filters unless 1. You have a medical need for such filtering at home and 2. Your AC service company says your unit can handle this level of restricted filtering. If you need this level of filtering then either get a separate air purifier or have an inline air purification system installed in your central air unit and service regularly.
Our unit is new and we have a filter size much larger than the unit’s actual air inlet for the fan. This allows us to have greater filtration filters without restricting air to the coils. Too much restriction can cause the coils to ice over.
If you’re using box or round oscillating fans then you can add filters over these fans made to fit these models. Some are like a fine mesh screen or fabric that can be cleaned and reused. Some are electrostic fabric material. If you’re using ceiling fans then you may need to dust the blades more frequently if you have central air vents. We use Pledge Allergen dusting spray. Doesn’t leave an oily film and reduces the speed of dust build up allowing us to go longer between fan blade dusting. We’ve tried those fiberous pads to place on the top of ceiling fan blades to help filter the air but some times when changing them, the adhesive will pull off some of the fan blade’s skin leaving behind bare patches like pulling duct tape off a painted surface.
If you’re using box or round oscillating fans then you can add filters over these fans made to fit these models. Some are like a fine mesh screen or fabric that can be cleaned and reused. Some are electrostic fabric material.
What would be the benefit of this? The fan is just blowing the same inside the house air over and over. What difference will a filter over the front make, aside from reducing the air flow (defeating the main purpose of the fan, which is to move the air) and causing the fan motor to work harder?
What would be the benefit of this? The fan is just blowing the same inside the house air over and over. What difference will a filter over the front make, aside from reducing the air flow (defeating the main purpose of the fan, which is to move the air) and causing the fan motor to work harder?
Thanks
The box fan filter is on the backside and the oscillating fan is like a shower cap going on over the front and tightly wrapped at the back filtering the air going in and out the fan. One advantage is reduced buildup of dust and debris on the fan blades. They help to filter the air. One person I know who uses them says he likes that it reduces the buffeting of the air making the air flow more uniform like an actual breeze. He has a window AC and so the filter on the fan filters slightly better than the built in sponge filter of his window AC.
Yup, probably be another month before I engage the A/C. It's usually 3-4 weeks of heat saturation. Even the ocean breeze is warm...
Lucky you. Because of temperature and humidity our heat index has been around 110. So glas we have new attic insulation, new AC, and installed storm windows and solar screens on our windows. We couldn’t afford double insulated windows so this was a more affordable option.
What would be the benefit of this? The fan is just blowing the same inside the house air over and over. What difference will a filter over the front make, aside from reducing the air flow (defeating the main purpose of the fan, which is to move the air) and causing the fan motor to work harder?
Thanks
To move more air while still having some small filtering you could buy a roll of window screen and form it into a filter on the inlet side of the box fan.
It seems that the a/c runs continuously, 24/7, for 10-12 months a year.
I do open the windows when the air outside is cooler, less humid, and refreshing. I opened the windows on both of those days last year.
Ah, the delights of living in Florida,
Depends on the home and thermostat setting. Our home was built in 73 with single pane windows with aluminum frame. When we moved in the attic insulation was virtually nonexistent. We had new insulation blown in. We had storm windows and solar screens installed for added benefit. We replaced the entire AC system as well as air ducts because we wanted to run small ducts to the bathroom and walk in pantry. Because of the age of the roof we’re putting money aside to replace the roof with energy efficient roofing shingles or metal roof. We may not be able to afford metal roof in this economy.our home is 1300 square feet with a chimney, two whirly ball vents, and 2 natural gas vents (water heater and furnace).
Depends on the home and thermostat setting. Our home was built in 73 with single pane windows with aluminum frame. When we moved in the attic insulation was virtually nonexistent. We had new insulation blown in. We had storm windows and solar screens installed for added benefit. We replaced the entire AC system as well as air ducts because we wanted to run small ducts to the bathroom and walk in pantry. Because of the age of the roof we’re putting money aside to replace the roof with energy efficient roofing shingles or metal roof. We may not be able to afford metal roof in this economy.our home is 1300 square feet with a chimney, two whirly ball vents, and 2 natural gas vents (water heater and furnace).
When you replace your roof, you might want to do away with the whirly bird vents and go with ridge vents, and of course, have adequate soffit intake vents (needed for whirly birds as well). The ridge vents work better, and also keep varmints, such as squirrels, out of your attic.
Our house had single pane windows with storm windows, and the storms were beginning to deteriorate, so we replaced the single pane windows and storms with high-e, double pane, super tight Andersen windows and I can't tell a difference in our utility bill. That leads me to believe that storm window over either single or double pane windows are just as good as top-of-the-line double pane windows, argon filled, with all the options. The Andersens are very tight, double hung, and will tip in for cleaning the outside glass.
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