HVAC & Plumbing Blog | Carolina Climate Control - Charleston

5 Important Things To Know About Your HVAC System That Can Save You Time & Money

January 15th, 2019

With our winter season now in full force here in the Lowcountry, we’re once again reminded of the need for dual operation from our HVAC system (both cooling and heating), despite our warmer climate in the Southeast.

With that said, this time of year can be troublesome for many homeowners as they start turning on their heating options and breakdowns occur.

For some Lowcountry residents, it may be the first time they fire up their furnaces or other heating source; for others it’s just been so long since they’ve turned it on, but either way, finding out your system isn’t operating correctly could lead to some cold nights ahead.

The same is true when the temperatures start to rise and you turn on your A/C for the first time in several months.

Whatever time of year it is, there a few simple things you should learn about your system that can help you avoid these seasonal breakdowns and understand how to keep your system running efficiently.

Knowing these five things not only helps you understand your system better, but also saves time when you need a local HVAC company to help with service, maintenance or installation.

1. Brand Name, Make & Model

Probably the easiest thing to know about your system, the brand name, make and model can help allow you to understand its operation type (see #3 below).

Not all brands are created equally, so knowing the manufacturer will also let you know if you like the quality of that company’s offering or if you want to look at other brands for your next system.

2. System Type & Operation Options

Now that you know the brand, make and model of your system you should be able to do a few quick HVAC related Google searches to learn about your system’s operation type.

HVAC systems are flexible by nature, and constantly improve operational efficiency each year so there are many different types of systems out in the wild.

System types include traditional central air conditioning & furnace combinations, high efficiency, variable speed heat pumps (that can both cool and warm your home), ductless mini-splits or even geothermal heating and cooling.

The great thing about learning about these system types is that it allows you to know what would be available to you for your next system installation.

3. Age

If you’ve moved into a new home or condo with an existing system, this may be hard to estimate, but if you know when your home or building was built, that is a good place to start.

If your home was built longer than 12-15 years ago — and your system doesn’t look new or recent — then it may be time for a replacement (see #5 below).

If your home was built within the past 2-5 years, you should be good but check the maintenance history (see #4) to see if issues are increasing in frequency, which may be a sign of larger problems or poor maintenance.

4. Maintenance History, Air Filter Schedule

Just like with your vehicle, it’s important to maintain a maintenance and/or repair history. This will help any future HVAC company to understand better the current state of your system and save them time when getting you back up and running.

If you keep a good maintenance history, you can also include air filter replacement dates so you never miss your next filter swap in your home.

5. Future Maintenance & New System Installation

Now that you know much more about your system and its past, it’s time to look forward. A properly maintained system can maximize your system’s lifespan so be sure to choose a quality HVAC company in Charleston.

Once you have done so, it will also allow you know who to go with when you’re ready for your AC replacement or furnace installation.

Have any more questions about your HVAC system or think we missed something important? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram and we’ll let you know how we can help.

The Top 3 Heating and Air Conditioning Trends For 2019 In Charleston

January 3rd, 2019

First of all, we’d like to wish all of our customers, friends, family and followers a wonderful & exciting year ahead in 2019.

With that said and 2019 now fully upon us, let’s take a quick look at the year ahead and review some of the latest trends to look for in the world of HVAC and how you can stay ahead of the curve with your heating and air system.

1. Connected/Smart HVAC Systems Continue To Increase In Popularity

Most homeowners in the Lowcountry who have gone through with an HVAC upgrade the past few years or so most likely are familiar with some of the newer “smart” HVAC apps & devices on the market.

For those unfamiliar with “smart” or connected technology, it essentially gives you a way to interact remotely and collect usage & diagnostic data of your HVAC system. Using apps on your phone, tablet or PC, you can control your system anytime, from anywhere and using advanced data, allow you to granularly optimize run-times.

This freedom of control, operation optimization and diagnostic information allows you always know you’re getting the best performance from your system and if something should go awry, allow your local HVAC company to quickly resolve any issues.

This technology is not only available for residential air systems, but is also rapidly being adopted by commercial HVAC needs.

2. Variable Speed & Ductless Solutions

Every year in the HVAC industry, manufacturers continue to refine ways of increasing efficiency and creating solutions to non-standard applications.

Two kinds of HVAC systems that check both of those boxes and are rapidly being adopted by Lowcountry homeowners are variable speed air conditioners and ductless mini-split systems.

Most traditional HVAC systems operate in with one or more different operating speeds. They either run at 100% power and/or multiple stages at less than 100%. Multiple stage operation is intended to help with efficiency as your system doesn’t always need to operate at full power, so to speak.

While multi-stage systems can help efficiency, a newer operating mode on newer systems called “variable speed” can be significantly more efficient.

Variable speed operation allows your system to run more granularly, or more precisely, to meet the cooling & heating needs of your home. Instead of operating at a “high 100%” or “low 50%” mode, a variable speed HVAC system can adjust its operation to finite percentages. This means your system will consume energy more precisely, ultimately allowing you it to really optimize your energy consumption (and energy bill for that matter).

Along with the rise of variable speed adoption, ductless mini-split air conditioners are on the rise for many homeowners across the Lowcountry.

Ductless mini-splits allow homeowners to cool & heat areas of their home that either don’t have ductwork running to them, or if they want more unique temperature control over different areas of their homes.

In fact, even homeowners that have existing ductwork in their home are making the switch so they can cut out ductwork upkeep from their list of home maintenance tasks. This is especially true for homeowners that have recurring flooding issues (which can devastate an under-home ductwork system).

3. The Rise of Geothermal Heating & Cooling

In 2018 we’ve heard from more and more Lowcountry residents interested in geothermal heating & cooling options and we believe it will continue to rise in popularity in 2019.

State and federal tax incentives, along with longer operational lifetimes and significantly higher efficiencies, geothermal HVAC systems are being adopted now more than ever by forward-thinking Lowcountry homeowners.

Things can change quickly over the course of the year, but we believe the 3 HVAC trends above will help shape the Lowcountry’s HVAC needs for 2019 and beyond.

You’ll Be A Bit “Cooler” After Learning These 7 Facts About HVAC Systems

December 7th, 2018

Could you imagine life without your heating and air conditioning system?

You might be able to picture it for a little while, but if you start thinking about the extreme-weather months here in Charleston, it gets harder to imagine what life would be like without your HVAC system.

The equipment that keeps you cool & dry during the summer and warm & cozy in the winter is very often overlooked and sometimes taken for granted in today’s modern world. To help broaden your knowledgebase and understand HVAC’s impact on daily living, here’s 7 facts you might not know about HVAC systems.

1. The Iceman Cometh

Simple air conditioning systems used in ancient times utilized ice blocks as the cooling source, with air manually fanned over them to cool different types of areas.

2. The First Residential Air Conditioners Were HUGE

The first home to be fully air conditioned with modern technology (at the time) was in Minneapolis in 1914. It was 7 feet tall, 6 feet wide and 20 feet long! Unfortunately the owner of the home, Charles Gates never got to use it because he passed away before it was completed.

3. Keeping The President Cool Since 1929

Several attempts at cooling the Whitehouse with simple air conditioning systems were made with inconsistent results, but Herbert Hoover finally had a working central air system installed in 1929.

4. Pain In The Architect’s Neck

Before the widespread adoption of whole-home ductwork and central air conditioning, architects designed homes and other buildings with high ceilings, larger windows, broader breezeways and other ways to keep air moving throughout the home. When demand for AC and integrated ductwork increased, the whole industry of architecture had to change to account for modern cooling systems.

5. Window AC Units Cost How Much?!

1932 introduced the world’s first window ledge air conditioning unit — albeit at a steep cost. In today’s dollars it would have been priced between $120,000 to $600,000.

6. Ductless In The ’70’s

Asian manufacturers drive the push toward a fully ductless air conditioning in the 1970’s, mainly due to limited building space for ductwork and to free up windows.

7. “Cool Man”

This one’s just for fun. While not directly related to HVAC, use of the word “cool” (as in “that’s cool!” or “he’s cool”) started in the late 1940’s when jazz musicians used it as a word of approval to describe their music; that jazz was “cool”. It was spread further to everyday use when teenagers started using it in the early ’50’s (to be “cool”).

What We’re Giving Thanks For This Year In Charleston

November 21st, 2018

It’s been a great year here at Carolina Climate Control in 2018, so we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving in Charleston.

So, as you’re getting prepared for your Thanksgiving feast in the Lowcountry or if you’re traveling elsewhere to celebrate with your families, here are just a few of things we’re grateful for this holiday season.

Our Customers

Since we opened business here in 2014, each year more and more Lowcountry homeowners and business owners have trusted us with their residential heating and cooling and commercial HVAC needs all over Charleston, Mt Pleasant, Summerville, Kiawah Island and surrounding areas.

We care very much about the quality of service and products we offer to our customers and it shows; we’re thankful they continue to come back to us and refer their friends, neighbors and colleagues for all of their HVAC needs.

Our Staff & Technicians

Nobody can do things alone, so we’re thankful for our outstanding staff and professional technicians that make things run like clockwork here.

We continue to get high praise from our customers about our staff and techs so we want to wish them a happy & safe Thanksgiving this year.

Our Product & Service Providers

We take a lot of time deciding which products and services we choose when installing and repair HVAC systems, so we’re thankful to manufacturers like Trane & Mitsubishi for continuing to produce products that our customers love and can rely on for years to come.

Our Friends & Family

Finally, we’re thankful for the support from friends and family of Carolina Climate Control staff. They’ve been there since the beginning and we definitely couldn’t have done it all without you at our sides.

We’re also thankful for the beauty and culture of Charleston and the entire Lowcountry. It’s one of the best places to live in the US for a reason and we look forward to keeping residents and businesses here cool & comfortable here for many more Thanksgiving celebrations ahead.

Everything You Need To Know About Geothermal Heating & Cooling Systems

November 13th, 2018

One of the newest HVAC trends to hit Charleston and all over the Lowcountry are geothermal heating and cooling systems.
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Despite the fact that it’s growing in popularity, geothermal energy in general is still often misunderstood so with this post we hope to help fill in some of those information gaps and hopefully show you why more and more homeowners are making the switch.
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What Is Geothermal Heating & Cooling and How Does It Work?

Geothermal heating and cooling is the process of using energy stored in the ground (geothermal energy) to heat and cool your home. This geothermal energy is there because the ground absorbs and retains heat coming from the sun (up to 47%), year-round. So while the air temperature above ground may fluctuate greatly throughout the year, the below-ground temperatures remain almost constant due to that heat absorption. This constant temperature means the ground is cooler than air temperatures in the summer and warmer than air temperatures during the winter.

So what geothermal technology does is tap into that near infinite, free stored energy below your home and uses it to heat and cool your home depending on the season.

During the summer, the geothermal system draws the warm air from your home and delivers it to the much cooler temperatures below your home. This is much like a normal air conditioning system but instead of dumping the hot air outside (in more heat), it puts it into the ground where it is much cooler making it run much more efficiently.

During the winter, warm air is pumped up from the much warmer ground to heat your home. There’s no combustion involved like a normal furnace; geothermal heating simply collects the natural, clean warmth from the ground to keep you warm during the holiday seasons.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Geothermal?

One of the biggest benefits of geothermal heating and cooling is efficiency. Geothermal’s high efficiency operation can lead to up to 70% in yearly electricity savings.

Directly related to efficiency, the other major benefit is how geothermal can actually yield you a profit over it’s lifetime. The amount of money you save each month by using geothermal will often be less than payments for installation if financed. This means that each month you end up at a net positive after spending, instead of constant net losses with a traditional HVAC system.

Geothermal technology also lasts much longer traditional HVAC systems (by almost 10 years for the indoor equipment), meaning you’ll be pocketing the net positive savings for several years over normal units.
The underground equipment for geothermal systems last up to 100 years so once it’s in, the only thing you would need to replace is the indoor equipment which itself lasts up to 25 years (versus 12-15 for normal HVAC systems).

Air quality and safety are also top-notch with geothermal systems, as they require no combustion material (that can cause fumes) to operate.

If all of that wasn’t enough, the EPA has listed geothermal as the most environmentally friendly heating and cooling source out there, helping reduce pollution caused by fossil fuel consumption.

How Much Does Geothermal Cost?

Geothermal system costs can vary depending on the home’s individual setup and circumstance. Generally speaking though, some of the upfront costs of installing geothermal will be more than with a traditional system, to be sure.

That being said though, combining the monthly energy savings along with the extended lifetime use of geothermal, you’ll be able to recoup that initial investment whereas with traditional units you’ll never break-even over its lifetime. You’ll also have to pay for a new traditional unit after 15 years, whereas geothermal will last up to 10 years longer, saving you additional expenses down the road.

Long story short, initial costs for geothermal exceed traditional HVAC installation, however you’ll be able to recoup the geothermal investment; that’s not possible with traditional systems.

Are There Any Tax Incentives?

Yes! To help offset the initial installation costs and reward homeowners to move toward geothermal HVAC, federal tax credits up to 30% and state tax credits of up to 25% are actively available.

Nearly every homeowner that chooses geothermal takes advantage of these programs so be sure to ask your local HVAC company about them.

What Are Some Of The Top Manufacturers of Geothermal Tech?

One of the leading producers of geothermal technologies is WaterFurnace. WaterFurnace is probably one of the most well-known names in geothermal for two reasons:

1) their top-of-the-line, industry-leading equipment, and
2) their restrictions on who can install their equipment.

Also, they’ve been around since 1983 so longevity in the market implies they’re one of the go-to suppliers for installers and distributors worldwide.

Who Can Install Geothermal HVAC Systems in Charleston?

As mentioned above, any proper geothermal equipment manufacturer will restrict installation of their technology to only those that are trained by them. WaterFurnace is no different. They, like most others, absolutely won’t let anyone touch their equipment unless they’ve gone through proper training, conducted by them.

The thinking behind that is that you can produce the best, sharpest equipment in the world, but if it’s not installed correctly it won’t matter. And poor installations reflect poorly on the equipment regardless of how good it is.

This is why, with geothermal especially, you need to make sure whichever company you choose for the installation has gone through the proper training; the manufacturer will be happy to provide you that information.

As you can see, geothermal has significant advantages for homeowners here in the Lowcountry and we hope we’ve covered any questions you may have had about it.

As always, if you have any additional questions don’t hesitate to contact us today; we’ll be happy to provide answers to any geothermal or any other HVAC questions you may have.

A Quick, Simple Fall/Winter Maintenance Checklist For Your Heating And AC System In Charleston

September 27th, 2018

With October knocking on the door, it’s time once again to get prepared for the fall and winter seasons here in Charleston.

We all know temperatures dip, but we sometimes don’t know how far or what kind of weather these seasons could bring. Last year’s snowfall caught many in the Lowcountry off-guard and stuck with heaters that weren’t working as well as they might have, leading to some chillier than normal homes here.

To help you stay ahead of the fall/winter curve (and hopefully warmer than last year), below are a list of HVAC related things you can do and check off your list this year.

1. Clear Debris From Around Outdoor Unit

With the recent hurricane and rains that brushed the Lowcountry earlier this month, be sure to look for any debris or buildup on and around your outdoor unit.

Doing this cleanup helps your system run more efficiently by clearing the airways that lead into the outdoor unit. If the airways are clean, the unit doesn’t have to “fight” to pull in air when it needs it, thus doesn’t have to work as hard during normal operation.

2. Clean Vents & Other Air Ducts

It’s natural for your vents and air ducts to collect dust and other debris over time. Cleaning these up not only helps air flow better out of them, but also helps your air quality as that debris won’t be blown around when your system is running.

3. Change Out Air Filters

It’s something that we’ve mentioned in several posts over the years, but changing out your air filters is a must — no matter which season it may be.

4. Listen For Noise or Unusual Sounds From Your HVAC System

Occasionally if there is something wrong with your heating and air system, you may be able to hear it. Turn down/off some of the devices in your home and listen carefully when your system starts up, runs and turns off. Report any unusual noises to your HVAC company when you schedule your maintenance appointment (wee #6 in this list below).

5. Test/Check Your Thermostat

We mentioned it in last year’s fall HVAC maintenance post but it’s still an important thing to do and worth repeating: test/check your thermostat’s settings and operation as you transition from cooling to heating your home.

If you have a programmable thermostat (which can save you up to 10% on your energy bill in many cases) make appropriate adjustments for fall/winter operation.

6. Schedule A Maintenance Appointment

Much like the car you drive, your home’s heating and air conditioning system should be inspected and checked out by your local HVAC company at least twice a year.

Having this kind of maintenance not only ensures that your system will be ready for winter (or summer), but also is a good way to prevent long-term problems. When your HVAC professional looks through your system, they’ll be able to find any small system issue (or potential issue) that if left unnoticed, can lead to your system to total breakdown.

These breakdowns generally occur when your system is needed the most (during the peak of winter or summer), but with regular maintenance you can help keep that from happening.

7. Consider Signing Up For A Maintenance Plan

With the importance of regular maintenance noted above, an easy way to ensure you don’t forget is by signing up for an HVAC maintenance plan.

Maintenance plans are available from most HVAC companies in the Lowcountry and include 2-3 inspections per year, priority scheduling, reduced cost part replacements and reminders to schedule your maintenance appointments.

8. Think About An Updated/Upgraded High Efficiency HVAC Unit

If your HVAC system is starting to get up there in years, some of the maintenance items may not totally ensure you’ll get the most out of your system this fall. HVAC systems have lifespans just like any other mechanical device so there will always come a time when you’ll have to replace.

The great news is that with summer winding down, many area companies run fall systems replacement promos and offers so this time of year is a great way of updating your home’s comfort systems.

Have any other tips you’d like to share? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

3 More Tips To Help Safeguard Your HVAC System During A Hurricane

September 10th, 2018

Last year when hurricane Irma was bearing down on us we reviewed 3 quick tips you could do help keep your HVAC protected during hurricane season.

This year, with Hurricane Florence knocking on our door, we’ve got some additional advice you can do to help protect your heating and air conditioning system investment.

Elevate Your Outdoor Unit (If Possible)

If you live in a low area and expect flooding to occur, see if it’s possible to have someone elevate your system up off the ground using a small platform, if you don’t already.

Depending on how high water floods around your home, you can have a platform built that will not only keep your system away from potentially harmful water damage, but also helps secure your system to a level, solid surface.

Check Tie-Down Straps and Fasteners

Most professional HVAC installations will include tie-downs or straps for your unit for detrimental weather like hurricanes, however these can loosen, corrode or break over time, depending on when your installation took place.

As you’re covering your unit (as we recommended in last year’s post), be sure to check these straps/tie-downs to ensure they’re in good working condition.

Schedule A Quick Maintenance Appointment

As always with HVAC equipment, your local HVAC contractor will have the best eye for potential ways of safeguarding your HVAC system. Every home/location/installation can be slightly different so having an experienced eye take a quick look can save you some potential headaches after the hurricane moves on and you’re assessing any damage.

Even if Hurricane Florence only glances the Lowcountry, taking these hurricane damage prevention tips and putting them into action can help protect your system for any inevitable storms/hurricanes to come in the future.

Here’s Why Your Charleston Home Is Humid Even With Your AC Running

June 15th, 2018

If you’re living in Charleston — whether you’ve just moved here or if you’ve been here your whole life — you know that Charleston, the Lowcountry and the entire southeastern side of the US is hot & humid this time of year.

That’s no surprise and hopefully you’ve reviewed our last post reviewing important questions to ask about HVAC for your home in Charleston that will help keep you cool & dry this warm season (at least indoors).

If you feel like you’ve got a good or new air conditioning system but are still experiencing too much humidity in your home, there could be many culprits to consider. Here are a few of them.

Poor or Leaky Air Vents

In many cases here in the Lowcountry, fluctuating humidity is due to poor ventilation and/or leaky air vents. When ductwork goes through a crawlspace or attic, moisture that exists there (because you’re not air conditioning those places) can be pulled in and elevate your home’s humidity levels.

Improperly Vented Bathrooms

There is quite a bit of moisture that exists in your bathroom, so if the vent in there isn’t doing its job or is non-exisitent, that extra moisture can seep into your home, especially after shower use.

If you’re outside a lot more during the summer or have frequent guests, that shower is going to be used more often this time of year leading to excess humidity that you might otherwise not have at other times of year.

Improperly Vented Dryer

This may seem too obvious to be an issue, but make sure your dryer is properly ventilated to an exterior port. If it isn’t that moist air coming from your wet clothes will be dispersed throughout your home.

Also make sure that if your dryer is, in fact, being ventilated outside, that nothing is blocking its airflow (dirt, debris, furniture, etc.).

Oversized Air Conditioning

This might be the biggest humidity culprit around Charleston. If your air conditioning is over-sized for your home, it may cool your home too quickly, leaving behind humidity after it turns off. That’s why you’ll feel like it’s cool in your home, but you still feel sticky/sweaty.

Ask An Charleston HVAC Expert

If you’re unsure how to check the above humidity culprits, or have other humidity related questions, it can be much quicker to give a local HVAC company a call and walk them through your particular situation.

They’ll be able to help you pinpoint your humidity woes and recommend the best possible solution.

As mentioned above, there’s not really getting around dealing with the humidity outdoors, however if you’re able to cover the items listed above, you’ll be well on your way to have a cool, dry and relaxing summer here in Charleston.

What Is A Smart Thermostat?

January 17th, 2018

We all know the importance and role that thermostats play in our everyday lives, whether that be for your home’s HVAC system or your commercial heating and air.

They control the temperature and humidity by adjusting the operation of the HVAC system for whatever area or space they’re in. The temperature is set, the thermostat monitors the current temperature of the room or space and sends the on or off signal to the heating or air conditioning until the temperature reaches the set level.

It’s a pretty simple invention that dates back to the 1600’s and is an integral — if not undervalued — device of our time.

Even though the concept of the function of the thermostat has changed little since its early beginnings, the technology used to carry out that function surely has.

The Pre-Connectivity Era: Analog & Digital Thermostats

In the pre-internet connected era, two types of thermostats were most abundant: analog and digital.

Analog thermostats relied mostly on mechanical means to sense temperature, often using the expansion and contraction of a two metal strips that would then trigger a mechanical on/off switch depending on their position.

Digital thermostats on the other hand, use no moving parts to detect temperature; rather they rely on semiconductor (electronic) sensors that can improve the accuracy of detection. These models also have other electronics within them that allow for programmed settings, such as turning on/off at specific times of the day for example.

While the analog models are still hanging around in some areas, digital thermostats have all but replaced them due to their more advanced functionality.

Internet-Connected Thermostats

In the age of internet-connected devices, or the Internet of Things (IoT) era as many people refer to it, perhaps one of the first “non-computer” home devices ever to connect to the internet were thermostats.

This added connectivity allowed users to control and operate their home’s HVAC system by connecting through the internet, often through a web or app interface on their computers or mobile devices.

This useful connection, however, is not necessarily what makes a thermostat “smart thermostat”.

Smart Thermostats: Next Level Connected Thermostats

What makes an internet-connected thermostat a “smart” thermostat is it’s ability to store and analyze data about your home’s HVAC operation, give you real-time energy usage and offer automated ways to make your system more efficient.

Instead of simply manually programming your HVAC system to operate during the times when you’re away, by connected your thermostat with your home security system for example, it automatically turn on/off based on when you activate or deactivate your alarm system. Since this event-based and not time-based, it will never perform actions if you’re not home, allowing for a more flexible schedule and improved operational efficiency.

Smart thermostats also can be setup to send you reminders for things like tune-ups, air filter changes and notify you and your local HVAC company if there may be an issue with your system.

These added features allow you to always know the state of your system and help extend the lifespan of it by catching issues early before they cause a major breakdown.

With smart thermostats, connecting-to and monitoring your home or commercial heating and air system is easier than ever, leaving you more time to do things you like rather than worrying about your HVAC system.

If you haven’t thought about integrating a smart thermostat before, hopefully after reading this you have a better understanding of the different types of thermostats out there and how a smart thermostat can help lower your stress levels when it comes to your HVAC system.

HVAC Explained: What Is The Best Air Filter Choice For Your Heating & Air Conditioning System?

January 5th, 2018

Air filters may be one of the most neglected, often forgotten components in residential HVAC systems here in Charleston.

It’s easy to overlook air filters as they quietly do their job unseen in most cases.

Despite this understandable overlooking though, air filters play a vital role in both indoor air quality and overall HVAC system performance.

Air Filters & Air Quality

The EPA lists indoor air quality as one of its top environmental health risks, so understanding the relationship between your HVAC system’s air filter and your home’s air quality shouldn’t be overstated.

We’ll get into more detail below about air filter ratings & types, but since most of the air in our homes here in the Lowcountry pass through your air conditioning or heating system, the air filters you choose can ultimately decide how good (or bad) your home’s air quality is.

Air Filters & HVAC Efficiency

We’ve stated the role air filters play in system efficiency & lifespan in several blog posts over the years, so we’ll be brief here.

If your air filters are clogged with dust & debris, this will result in buildup in your ductwork and sometimes even back to the main unit itself. This clogging means your system has to work harder to push air through it, resulting in overworking. This overworking will drive up your energy bills and ultimately can shorten the lifespan of your system.

Air Filter Ratings & Types

To help end users of air filters, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) created the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value or MERV rating. The MERV rating essentially allows users to see how effective air filters are at capturing particles that pass into it.

MERV ratings range from 1 (lowest effectiveness) to 20 (highest) which take into account three main characteristics:

Ability to remove particles
Air flow resistance
Air filter operating lifespan

To get a better sense of the rating system, let’s look at some of the more common air filter types and their associated MERV ratings.

Disposable Fiberglass
(1 to 4 typical MERV rating)Pros: Inexpensive, good for protecting HVAC components (less air flow resistance)

Cons: Not great at cleaning air

Disposable Pleated
(5 to 13 typical MERV Rating, up to 16 for high efficiency types)Pros: Pleated material increases filter efficiency lowered air resistance for HVAC system

Cons: Less efficent than HEPA for the smallest particles

HEPA
(17 to 20 typical)

Pros: Top of the charts as far as filtering all types of particles

Cons: Most are too large for residential systems, restrict air flow which could result in overworking your HVAC system

Washable/Reusable
(1 to 4 typical)

Pros: Longer lifespan of filter use, durability

Cons: Requires frequent cleaning & needs time to dry to prevent germ/mold buildup, more expensive, not great at cleaning air

So What is the The Best Air Filter Then?

As with choosing the best HVAC system for your home in Charleston, selecting the best air filter can be a challenge. There are tradeoffs between optimal air filtration, which gives you better air quality and optimal system performance, which keeps your electric bills down and extends your systems lifetime.

Our best bet for a good balance between these two would be the pleated air filter types. However, if you favor better air quality or better system performance, you can choose the air filter type on either end of spectrum to get the results you want.

As always, for more professional tips about air filters and air quality, reach out to your local heating and air conditioning company.

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