Heads or Tails?

Tech Tip.

Heating or cooling? Flip a coin. Heads, it’s heating season and tails it’s cooling season.
Whatever the season check your air filter and see if the air is “whistling” or the filter slams up against the filter frame when the indoor fan motor is on. The cause could be a dirty filter, under sized return air, restrictive or excessive rated filter, fan speed not set correctly, or all the above.

Filters are usually rated in MERV (Minimum efficiency reporting value, common known as MERV rating, is a measurement scale designed in 1987 by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to rate the effectiveness of air filters. The Filtrete filter doesn’t measure their filters by MERV but by MPR (micro particle performance rating) and that rating starts at 100 up to 2400 doesn’t cross reference to the MERV rating. This is confusing to most homeowners who just wants the right size filter.

Open the return air filter grill and check your air filter and consider replacing it more often during the heating season, especially if it looks dirty. If you are using an expensive Filtrete air filter you may want to change it monthly instead of quarterly. A new Filtrete air filter is restrictive and becomes a problem when it gets dirty because it causes resistance (high static pressure) and may cause your indoor fan motor work harder. Most homes we see have too small a return air filter grill, not enough return air volume or poorly installed return air duct work. Have your hvac system evaluated for air flow which would include static pressure test, blower assembly and motor condition, evaporator coil condition and number and size of return air filter grills. A knowledgeable hvac technician will be able to recommend several options to improve the air flow and comfort of your home or business. Call Air Max Heating & Cooling LLC at 601-939-0015 to schedule your heating and cooling service.