The air filter inside of the heating and cooling system has a very important function.
The air filter traps indoor air particles and contaminants that can ultimately affect our health.
These indoor air contaminants include mold spores, animal hair, dust, pollen, bacteria, and viruses. A high quality air filter can remove a lot of the indoor air contaminants. Air filters have different performance ratings. I prefer to use an air filter with a MERV rating higher than 8. When the Merv rating is higher, the air filter traps more harmful pathogens. It’s extremely important to keep the air filter clean if it is possible and it is equally as important to change the air filter monthly if you have a disposable filter. A clogged and dirty air filter can seriously harm the HVAC system and it will reduce the airflow inside of your home. Dirty air filters do not trap dust and dirt properly. My family and I live in a house with multiple pets. We absolutely change the air filters on our HVAC system every month. Sometimes the air filter is covered with hair and other times it looks almost brand new. We still change the air filter every month, because there is a chance that we can’t see all of the microscopic germs and bacteria that have gathered on the air filter. We use an air filter with a MERV rating of 13. It is specifically made for homes with multiple pets and works well at trapping pet dander and dog hair while deodorizing at the same time.