When you want to use an air purifier at home, be aware that you?ll need to replace the filters or to clean the steel rods, depending on which type of air purifier that you?ll be using. How effective your air cleaner will be depends very much on how well maintained it is and how smoothly it is running. So, it is wise to consider whether you want to deal with air purifier filters before you buy.

A highly efficient air purifier will circulate air through its filters and trap allergens, toxins, and other air pollutants to remove them from the air. The solutions that are the most common in the market are mechanical filters or air cleaning filter that use special materials, such as life charcoal, to filter the incoming air.

Air purifiers which don?t need air purifier filters are also available. Electronic air purifiers do not require air cleaning filters to work. To provide a home with some basic air purification, you may want to consider using electronic filters.

There are many selections and filtering styles that you can use such as UV, ozone, ionic or an electrostatic air purifier, which zaps the contaminants in the air when they pass through the filtering system. After you have decided which air purifier is best for your needs you should research the kind of air filter that will be best suited for your home.

Home air filters can be purchased in different forms. The cheapest filter being a fiberglass layered air filter. However, this style is not very effective in removing the smaller pollutants in the air. Your next choice is a pleated air filter which will remove more contaminants than the fiberglass filter. The best filter is the Hepa air filter systems which are known to remover 99% of your air contaminants.

When choosing your air filter pay attention to the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Rate Value) rating. This air purifier rating governs the industries standard for efficiency. The higher the number the more efficient the filter is in removing the air pollutants.

Want to read more? Visit my website on Air Purifiers for more articles.

Engines usually require paper, foam, or cotton filters. Some man made environments like buildings and planes use foam filters, pleated paper, or spun fiberglass filters. Another type of filter uses a static electrical charge to catch dust particles.

Cotton air filters are considered to be the best because of technological advantages, durability, air flow and filtration.

Paper filters are usually used in automobiles because they can be tossed away and they are relatively inexpensive.

Synthetic web formations are also used for air filtration and are made from polyester fiber. They can withstand high temperatures (about 250F) and are used for industrial, commercial, or residential application. Cotton and polyester can be blended together or with other fibers to resulting in a wide range of performance characteristics. Sometimes polypropylene is used to enhance chemical resistance because of its lower temperature tolerance. In many types of HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) filters, synthetic fibers known as micro-fibers are used.

Spun fibreglass is used for in-duct filters for home air heating and air conditioning systems. These come in many densities and sizes, are inexpensive and can be thrown away. The less dense the higher the airflow, but they don't remove as much dust as the denser ones. The denser filters remove more dust but are more expensive and don't let air pass through as easily. They can also become more loaded with dust and dirt but they are still cheaper to use than the pleated-paper filters of the same size.

Cotton is used for engine filters because it has excellent filtration and air flow but filters particles much smaller than the actual holes. Oiled layers of cotton gauze are used for high performance air filters. Dust particles caught in the filter are held suspended in the cotton gauze and become part of the filter medium which increases filtration but doesn't obstruct airflow to an engine. They outlast paper filters but are more expensive. However, over a service interval of 50,000 miles the disposable paper filter will have already been replaced several times.

The combustion air filter and the cabin air filter are the two main types of air filters used in automobiles. The combustion air filter prevents separate particle of matter from entering the engine's combustion chambers. When the oil is changed, this filter is usually changed but may be changed at longer or shorter times, depending on the use and condition of the vehicle.

Older vehicles that have carburetors or throttle body fuel injection usually use a cylindrical air filter which is 14 inches in diameter and 3 inches tall. These are positioned above the carburetor or throttle body and secured in place with a metal lid.

Another pleated-paper filter is the cabin air filter that is placed in the outside-air intake for the vehicle's passenger compartment and come in different shapes and sizes. If the cabin air filters are improperly removed and reinstalled it can lead to water leaks and in rare cases, a cracked windshield. So if you don't know what you're doing it's best to get a professional to replace them.

Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Air Filters

Some industrial warehouses are so large that they cannot be cooled by a single central cooling unit. Such spaces rent Portable Air Conditioners for their spot cooling needs. As their workers or machines move, the air conditioners can also be made to move along with them. Several machines in factories need such spot cooling. Even places where many computers are installed require cooling for their optimum use.

Portable Air Conditioners are specially designed for rough use hence, their capacities are higher than the usual ones. Portable Air Conditioners with cooling capacities of 3.5 to 60 tons can be rented. They are available with both Freon and evaporation technology. Air conditioners that work on evaporation principles are more expensive to rent than Freon ones.

Portable Air Conditioners are also rented by organizers of functions and events such as weddings, live performances, football matches, and more. Rented air conditioners are placed at strategic positions so that there is an average cooling throughout the place. Once the program is finished, the air conditioner can just be wheeled away to the next location.

Vehicles on the move sometimes rent Portable Air Conditioners if they require cooling ? especially when there is some shipment aboard that requires cooling, such as perishable foods. Water transport vehicles such as boats and ships also find it easier to rent a Portable Air Conditioner for their cooling needs.

One can rent Portable Air Conditioners both on a long term and a short term basis. Factories require long term rentals ? their rentals can extend to a couple of months or even years. But social events may rent Portable Air Conditioners for a day or so. Depending on the type of air conditioner rented and the period for which it is rented, the cost may range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.

Air Conditioner Rentals provides detailed information about air conditioner rentals, portable air conditioner rentals, window air conditionar rentals, RV air conditioner rentals and more. Air Conditioner Rentals is the sister site of Electric Generators.

This is one of the most important things you can do to get the best performance from your air conditioning and heating equipment. By changing your air conditioner filter and not allowing it to become dirty and restrict air flow you will enable the air conditioner to operate with minimal power consumption, reduce the risk of break downs and keep the amount of dust in your home at a minimum.

As the air conditioner filter or furnace filter becomes dirty it will gradually begin to restrict air flow through the system. Air conditioners are designed to have a certain amount of air flow for each ton of cooling. Four hundred cfm per ton to be exact. As the filter becomes dirty it will reduce air flow to the point that air flow falls below these design parameters.

When this happens it creates the effect of low load conditions on the air conditioner and the operating pressures begin to drop. Under normal conditions the evaporating temperature in the system will be above 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Because this evaporating temperature is below the room temperature, and the dew point temperature, condensation forms on the evaporator coil from the air as it passes through the evaporator coil. This is good because it helps maintain a comfortable humidity in your home. The condensation drips from the evaporator and drains away from the unit.

When an air conditioner filter becomes dirty enough to reduce air flow, it has the same effect on the system as low load conditions. When air conditioning equipment operates under low load conditions the evaporator coil can ice up. Once ice begins to form, the problem gets progressively worse and eventually a block of ice forms around the evaporator and there is virtually no air flow.

The ice forms because as the heat load on the system diminishes the evaporating temperature in the evaporator begins to drop. When the evaporating temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit frost begins to form on the evaporator coil.

As frost begins to form it further reduces the amount of air flow and the situation becomes worse. As mentioned before when equipment is allowed to operate like this, eventually the evaporator will become a block of ice and the unit will have to be turned off and allowed to thaw.If this situation occurs it can also damage the evaporator to the point where it begins to leak refrigerant and may even have to be replaced, which will be very expensive.

There are other conditions that can cause these symptoms but this is one of the most common. Frost forming on one of the lines coming out of the air handler is an indication of low air flow among other things. The first thing to do is check your air conditioner filter before calling for service.

Trying to determine which type of air conditioner filter or furnace filter best meets your needs? Donald shares his twenty years of experience in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry at http://www.furnacefiltercare.com

Room air conditioners:

They cool rooms and even though are usually noisier and lower in efficiency, also provide lower costs as they are used in rooms only where they are needed?not the whole house.

Window-mounted

-What it is: Small unit designed to fit in a window. Most are made fordouble-hung windows but some are designed for casement windows. Be sure to pick a unit designed for the type of window the consumer has. Most units include a window mounting kit, which will have sill brackets to support the unit and side vents that make an airtight fit for the window.

-Advantages: Purchase several and can adjust each room?s temperature to individual preferences. Can be removed easily and stored when the season changes.

-Disadvantages: Give up having a view from the window. Must be removed or winterized when cooler weather hits

Through-the-wall

-What it is: Usually used to cool a single room. Functions like a window air conditioner, only is permanently mounted through the wall.

-Advantages: Window is not blocked. Don?t have to remove and store during cooler weather.

-Disadvantages: Not easy to install in a pre-existing home. Has to be installed in an area where there is no electric or pipes running through the walls. May have problems cutting the hole if walls are made of concrete, stone or brick. Unit is hard to hide during the winter months. During the colder months, has to be sealed off to keep cold air from coming in the house

Free standing portable

-What it is: A unit about 30 inches tall and 80 pounds in weight that stands on the floor. May be single or dual vent. Dual vent units circulate clean air back into the room and will usually cool the air quicker. Most have wheels, giving the consumer the ability to move them around. Must be connected to a place like a window where the hot air from the unit can be vented. Most units have window-venting kits, that can be moved from one window to another and that are easy to install.

-Advantages: Portable meaning they can be moved from room to room. Window-mounting not required. Move the air conditioner from the bedroom to the kitchen to the living room depending on where you are during the day. Many have features where the condensation bin doesn?t need to be emptied as frequently, making the unit less of a pain to use and removing moisture from the air in the home, helping to prevent mold. Ability to keep different rooms different temperatures.

-Disadvantages: Costs more that a window-mounted air conditioner with a similar cooling ability level. Similar to central air conditioners.

Mini-split unit

-What it is: Mix between a window air conditioner and a split system. A compressor unit is mounted outside the house and a fan unit is wall-mounted inside the house. The system gets a copper lineset between the outdoor and indoor unit.

-Advantages: They are small and can cool individual rooms. Great for multifamily housing, room additions, rooms over garages and small apartments. The indoor part of the system does not need a window and can be mounted on the floor, hung on the wall, or suspended from the ceiling. Many of the systems even offer a remote control to turn the system on and off. Not noisy since the compressor goes outside.

-Disadvantages: They are more expensive than room air conditioners. Don?t have the built-in look of a central air conditioner unit.

Mini-duct unit

-What it is: They are specially-designed systems for tight spaces, where running conventional duct work is impossible. Forces air through plastic feeder ducts just 2 inches in diameter.

-Advantages: Good for historical homes where duct work wasn?t considered when the home was built. Minimizes renovation costs by keeping walls and ceilings intact. Not noisy. Use about half the air of a conventional air conditioning system.

-Disadvantages: Higher costs to install the system because they require more outlets, about 5 outlets per ton of cooling.

Central air conditioners:

Aside from being more efficient than room air conditioners, central air conditioners are out of the way, not noisy, and convenient to operate.

Single-package unit

-What it is: Everything (evaporator coil, compressor, condenser coil, blower motor, and controls with the exception of the thermostat) located in one metal cabinet box. Sits outside of the house. Each room in the house gets cold air via a duct system.

-Advantages: Get this system and you won?t need a separate furnace indoors.

-Disadvantages: More expensive and complex to install.

Split-system unit

-What it is: The air handler (inside) and condensing unit (outside) have a copper lineset running between them to connect the condenser to the evaporator. They usually share control voltage, but have separate circuits for line voltage power. Each room in the house gets cold air via a duct system.

-Advantages: Makes more economical sense to install if your home already has a heating system but no air conditioner.

-Disadvantages: More expensive and complex to install.

All Around the Home (http://www.allaroundthehome.com) is a national home improvement contractor directory. Homeowners can find established, quality contractors such as hvac contractors with experience in installing and repairing air conditioning systems.

There s air surrounding us everywhere, all at the same pressure of 14.7 psi (pounds per square inch). It s the same force you feel on your skin whether you re on the ceiling or the floor, under the bed or in the shower.

An interesting thing happens when you change a pocket of air pressure - things start to move. This difference in pressure that causes movement is what creates winds, tornadoes, airplanes to fly, and some of the experiments we re about to do right now.

An important thing to remember is that higher pressure always pushes things around. (Meaning lower pressure does not “pull”, but rather that we think of higher pressure as a “push”.)

Another interesting phenomenon occurs with fast-moving air particles. When air moves fast, it doesn t have time to push on a nearby surface, like an airplane wing. It just zooms by, barely having time to touch the surface. The air particles are really in a rush.

Think of really busy people driving fast in their cars. They are so busy doing other things and driving fast to get somewhere that they don t have time to just sit and relax.

Air pressure works the same way. When the air zooms by a surface (like an airplane wing) like fast cars, the fast air has no time to push on the surface and just sit there, so not as much air weight gets put on the surface.

Less weight means less force on the area. (Think of “pressure” as force on a given area or surface.) This causes a less (or lower) pressure region wherever there is faster air movement. Confused? Great! Let s try some experiments out to straighten out these concepts so they make sense to you.

Okay, let s begin.

Air Takes Space In a big bowl (or sink or tub) full of water, lower a clear cup, mouth downward, into the water. Let some of the air escape slowly into a second submerged cup (as if you were “pouring the air up”). Remove one cup and realign the other mouth-downward, and using a flexible straw, blow into the mouth of the downward-facing cup.

Magic Water Glass Trick Fill a glass two-thirds with water. Cover the mouth with an index card and invert (holding the card in place) over a sink. Remove your hand from the card. Voila! The card stays in place because air is heavier than water, and the card experiences about 15 pounds of force pushing upward by the air and only about one pound of force pushing downward from the water… hence the card stays in place. (Try this with two glasses stacked mouth-to-mouth with the index card sandwiched in the middle. Remove the card…)

Plumber Magic Take two clean old-fashioned, red rubber-and-wood-stick plungers and stick them together (you may need to wet the rims first). Try to separate them. Why is it so hard? When you rammed them together, air was forced out of the cavity that the insides make when pushed together, leaving you with a lower air pressure pocket inside, compared to the surrounding air pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi) outside the plungers. Higher pressure always pushes and thus is keeping the plungers together.

Magic Egg Trick Remove the shell from a hard-boiled egg and use a bottle with a neck large enough that the egg can be squeezed through (without squashing it) - old fashioned milk bottles work great. Light a match and toss it in, quickly setting the egg (small-end down) on the mouth of the bottle. The air inside gets used up by the flame, lowering the air pressure inside the bottle. The higher pressure, now outside the bottle, pushes on the egg and pops it in. (To remove the egg, turn the bottle upside down and get the egg to be small-end down inside the bottle near the mouth. Blow hard into the mouth of the bottle.)

Barometer Fill a cup two-thirds full of water. Cut the neck off a balloon and stretch over the mouth of the cup, fitting it tightly (like a drum). Tape a straw to the top, making one straw end one-third from the drumhead edge, and the free end hanging off. Place next to a wall covered with paper and mark the free end position. Over the next month, you can track pressure changes amplified by the straw.

Burping Bottle Tape a lightweight plastic funnel tightly to the top of a strong straw, inserting the other end of the straw into a hole drilled into the top of a water bottle. Use hot glue to seal up any holes. Pour water into the funnel and watch it burp regularly.

Fountain Bottle Seal a 2-liter soda water bottle (half-full of water) with a lump of clay wrapped around a long straw, sealing the straw to the mouth of the bottle. Blow hard into the straw. As you blow air into the bottle, the air pressure increases. This higher pressure pushes on the water, which gets forced up and out the straw.

Ping Pong Funnel Insert a ping pong ball into a funnel and blow hard. (You can tilt your head back so that the ball end points to the ceiling. Can you blow hard enough so when you invert the funnel, the ball stays inside? Can you pick up a ball from the table? As you blow into the funnel, the air where the ball sits in the funnel moves faster and generates lower air pressure than the rest of the air surrounding the ball. This means that the pressure under the ball is lower than the surrounding air which is, by comparison, a higher pressure. This higher pressure pushes the ball back into the funnel… no matter how hard you blow or which way you hold the funnel.

Squished Soda Can Heat an empty soda can (large beer cans actually will work better if you have one) in a skillet with a few tablespoons of water in the can over a hot stove. Have a shallow dish with about ? inch of ice water handy (enough water to make a seal with the top of the can). When the can emits steam, grab the can with tongs and quickly invert it into the dish. CRACK! The air in the can was heated, and things that are hot tend to expand. When you cool it quickly by taking it off the stove onto a cold plate, the air cools down and shrinks, creating a lower pressure inside. Since the surrounding air outside of the can is now higher, it pushes on all sides of the can and crushes it.

Squished Balloon Blow a balloon up so that it is just a bit larger than the opening of a large jam jar and can t be easily shoved in. Light a small wad of paper towel on fire and drop it into the jar. Place the balloon on top. When the fire goes out, lift the balloon… and the jar goes with it! The air gets used up by the flame and lower the air pressure inside the jar. The surrounding air outside, now at a higher pressure than inside the jar, pushes the balloon into the jam jar.

The Million Dollar Bet Take an empty water or soda bottle and lay it down horizontally on a table. Carefully set a small wadded up ball of paper towel in the mouth of the bottle. (The ball should be about half the size of the opening.) I bet you a million dollars that you can t blow hard and get the paper to go into the bottle!You re trying to force more air into the bottle, but there s no room for the air already inside to go except back out the mouth of the bottle, taking the paper ball with it.

Ping Pong Jump Cups Place a ping pong ball in a cup just barely bigger than the ping pong ball. Blow down on the ball and the ball jumps right out of the cup! Remember the ideas about lower and higher pressure? By blowing on the top of the ball, you created a lower pressure area than underneath the ball. And higher pressure pushes the ball right out of the cup!

Sneaky Bottles (Modify one water bottle in advance by poking a small hole near the bottom of the bottle with a tack or pin.) Take two water bottles (one of them you just modified), and poke a balloon into each water bottle, stretching the end of the balloon over the mouth of the bottle. Blow into each one… what happened? There s no place for the air to go in the unmodified bottle, so you can t blow up the balloon. On the other hand, there s plenty of room for the balloon to expand in the modified bottle because there s a place for the air to move when the balloon gets bigger… it goes out the hole you punched.

Flying Papers Hold a regular sheet of paper to your bottom lip (you may have to play a bit to find the exact location) and blow hard across the sheet. The sheet flies up! This is the same reason airplanes can fly. As you blow across the top of the sheet, you lower the air pressure (because the air is moving faster), and thus the pressure on the underside of the sheet is now higher, and higher air pressure pushes the sheet upwards.

Kissing Balloons Blow up two balloons. Attach a piece of sting to each balloon. Have each hand hold one string so that the balloons are at nose-level, 6″ apart. Blow hard between the balloons and watch them move!The air pressure is lowered as you blow between the balloons (think of the air molecules as ping pong balls … they balls don t have enough time to touch the balloon surface as they zoom by). The air surrounding the balls that s not really moving is now at a higher pressure, and pushes the balloons together.

Aurora Lipper, owner of Supercharged Science, teaches homeschool kids who are thirsty for more science. You can download the free science experiment workbook at http://www.SuperchargedScience.com.

Today more than ever before, mechanical, maintenance and process engineers are being challenged to provide effective solutions that help to optimize environmental air quality and process cooling efficiency, while reducing downtime and maintenance cost.

Regardless of the technology used to process incoming fresh air, the challenge has always been keeping cooling towers and other HVAC systems clean because as fresh air is drawn from the outside into the system, it brings along with it a wide range of airborne debris that can impact air quality and clog the system, ultimately leading to downtime for cleaning and maintenance.

In facilities that rely upon process cooling for robotic assembly, injection molding or other production applications, downtime due to system fouling is particularly costly because of lost productivity.

Seasonal Problems

Air intake problems are usually seasonal in nature and the times of the year that represent the greatest maintenance challenges are Spring, Summer and Fall. Depending upon the season and region of the country, different environmental factors come into play. In the Spring, nesting birds are frequently problematic (especially in cooling towers). In areas where cottonwood trees exist, you can count on cottonwood seed being a problem during the summer. In tropical and moist regions, insects are frequently problematic during Spring and Summer and in rural and farming regions, leaves, pollen and crop harvest debris can be problematic during the Summer and Fall.

Maintaining good air and water ecology are important elements in managing healthy and efficient HVAC systems. However, until recently, most businesses and institutions could do little to improve the quality of the air before it entered their systems, hence entry of airborne debris places greater demand on the maintenance process.

Air Intake Filtration Solves The Problem

Unlike traditional internal filter banks used in air handling units, air intake filters are installed on the system at the point where fresh air enters into the system thus filtering out debris before it can become a problem. Air intake filters can also be installed on cooling towers, air-cooled chillers and condenser units or any fresh air intake opening.

Air intake filtration is specifically designed to stop cottonwood, pollen, leaves, insects, birds, paper, construction debris and other airborne matter from being drawn into air intake openings.

The Benefits of Air Intake Filtration On Your Systems

Air Handling Units - air intake filters help to optimize environmental air quality and reduce filter changes by extending the life of internal filters by up to 60%

Cooling Towers - air intake filters help prevent fill material from getting clogged, helps prevent sludge build-up in water basins and helps optimize water chemical treatments while reducing chemical consumption. Additionally, by diffusing entry of sunlight into the tower and stopping entry of organic debris (a nutrient source for bacteria), air intake filters help to thwart the growth of algae and fight proliferation of bacteria, including Legionella, the cause of Legionnaire's Disease. Unlike water and sand filter systems that only filter debris from the cooling water, air intake filters helps keep debris out of the system in the first place and protects expensive fill material and cooling water so the system operates efficiently.

Chillers and Condenser Units - air intake filters keep coils free of debris for optimal cooling efficiency and eliminates downtime due to fouling. Also eliminates the need for coil cleaning solvents and power washing that can damage oils and fins.

Air Solution Company developed and patented the first Air Intake Filter specifically engineered to mount to the outside of cooling towers and other HVAC equipment for purposes of stopping the debris before it entered into the system. Since that time, Air Solution Company has been manufacturing and has introduced a variety of other innovative filter systems including its new Fine Mesh Filter which is engineered for use on small and medium size refrigeration coils and machine fan intake housing units. Air Solution Company Randy Simmons is with Air Solution Company, author of articles can be reached at http://www.airsolutioncompany.com

If an air conditioning filter is left dirty, over time, it can lead to higher energy costs and short equipment life due to all the air conditioning parts relying on each other. One can not work without the other. Overall, your heating and cooling will not be as effective and you will need to invest in more air conditioning repair and air conditioning maintenance.

An air conditioning filter should be changed every month or every two months for home air conditioning systems and every couple of weeks for certain commercial or industrial air conditioning since it's running almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Doing this as a routine in your monthly chores and not waiting until you see dust matted on the air conditioning filter will ensure you and your family the very best health as well as a smooth running air conditioning system . Dust particles can not always be seen so even if you see a little dust on the air filter , clean it as you normally would.

Since there are a variety of air conditioning filters , how quickly one gets blocked versus another depends on the brand - most air conditioning filters are sized 1 ? to 2 square feet for each ton of capacity for a home or commercial property.

You can judge a filter's ability to clean by using MERV ratings - Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value - which is a rating of how efficient an air conditioning filter is from 1-12. The higher the rating, the more effective it is at removing particles such as animal dander, pollen, dust, mold and other allergens, and the better the protection for your air conditioning equipment . Most air conditioning filters screen out particles measuring from 3 to 10 microns in size.

The common types of air conditioning filters are:

Conventional fiberglass disposable filters (1″ and 2″): These are common in most homes and small industrial air conditioners and commercial air conditioning systems. Since they are disposable and have an adhesive coating that traps the dust, you should not clean the filters . This may damage the filter's ability to remove particles by damaging the adhesive coating and/or the underlying mesh work. They are both not as effective as other types of filters even though they are lower in cost.

Pleated fiberglass disposable filters (1″ and 2″): The 1″ are generally used in many residential and commercial settings and are made of materials that can vary in the effectiveness. Usually, they are more densely woven to increase the efficiency of removing dirt. These have a larger surface area to lead to increased trapping of particles as compared to conventional filters. They must be specified for your air conditioning system or this can lead to increased demand on your air conditioning components. Thereby, a mismatch can be counterproductive on the health of the air conditioning system and possibly lead to higher air conditioning maintenance and service cost. You should check with the air conditioning manufacturer as to the appropriate type of pleated filter for your system. A filter spray can also be applied after the cleaning and drying of the air conditioning air filter .

Electrostatic filters: Different in design and performance, since there are so many varieties, it is rather difficult to determine which is the most efficient. They are commonly advertised as allergy-free air conditioning filters. These filters also come in the 1″ and 2″ sizes. Air that moves through the filter creates a static charge that collects any dust in the filter. They may require more cleaning and more blower power.

Electronic filters : Connected to an electrical power source and usually wall mounted, electronic filters come with a pre-filter that can collect larger particles and only need to be cleaned every six months.

Carbon filters : These filters contain carbon that can control any odor problems you might have within the air conditioning system . They can also be useful in homes with pets. Air Conditioning Filter Installation

When placing the appropriate air conditioning filter in to the system, the filter should be placed in the correct direction as indicated by the arrow located on the side or face of the filter. Air should flow in the proper direction which is in the same direction as the arrows. This allows the filter to work appropriately, as the air exits the filter in the most reinforced part of the filter.

The air conditioning filter should fit tightly. A perfect seal is necessary to prevent unfiltered air from entering and damaging your air conditioning system. Without a perfect seal and appropriate sizing, the filter is useless. Additionally, the non-conventional filters may have a higher efficiency and may not fit your system. This should be checked with an air conditioning company, contractor, or air conditioning supply company.

Sanjeev Shroff, the author has expertise in air conditioning system management and installation in both residential and commercial applications. Futher information can be found on his web site including information on search diverse topics as heat pumps to evaporator coils. www.AirConditioning-Filter.com: The Ultimate Guide to Filters and Much More.

Air-conditioning systems are designed in an ideal environment on a set of blue prints by an engineer who calculates the exact CFM or cubic feet per minute of air that is required to enter a room to maintain it at a set temperature and encourage air movement. This design of the air distribution or duct system is perhaps the most understated aspect of having a comfortable and healthy home. The design of the engineer in an office rarely if ever translates from the drawing to the reality of the actual installation in the field due to a multitude of variables. In residential homes the space in an attics, between floors, and crawl spaces is often filled with electrical wiring, gas piping, plumbing, ventilation systems, and structural supports that require all trades to reroute their materials to deal either with the preceding trade that worked on the home or the design of the structure that may not have been accurately reflected in the blue prints.

Most air-conditioning contractors understand this dilemma will be faced in the field by their installers and so they have a tendency to over design the duct system for maximum performance if the installation varies from the drawn prints. The problem occurs in that many homes built throughout the years have never had their air distribution system tested to see if they fell within the parameters of the design by the engineer. Even though engineers make over design to compensate for installation issues the installers may also have to make compensation for not being able to run the duct work as originally designed.

This creates even more air friction which reduces the efficiency of air delivery into various areas of the home. Poor installation techniques along with damage done to the air distribution after the inspection by the municipal authorities overseeing the construction of a home may lead to leakage in the ductwork that also creates problems with the air distribution system. Air distribution systems that are not delivering the proper CFM throughout the home typically indicate an inadequate airflow through the blower assembly, leaks or restrictions within the air distribution system, or a compromise of the initial design. Sadly however, most homeowners will never know whether their duct system functions as designed by the engineer.

Now what you may ask does this have to do with the type of filter that I choose for my home improvement center to install on my heating and air-conditioning system? It has an enormous impact! If in their distribution system the blower is not moving the proper amount of air then there is a strong probability that on the air-conditioning side the system is not charged properly with refrigerant. Almost all charging charts from the manufacturers for refrigerants are based on the assumption that the blower unit is moving a specific CFM within a given tolerance of error. If this is not the case then the charging recommendations from the manufacturers are never correct.

If the air distribution system was already operating with a cheap disposable filter at a marginal design level, then the introduction of a higher quality filter, which while possibly improving the air quality may also reduce the airflow, will exacerbate the problem creating even a greater challenge for a service technician to properly balance the refrigerant charge in and air-conditioning system. Improper refrigerant charge in an air-conditioning system is the leading cause of premature compressor failure, excessively high utility bills, and an uncomfortable environment within the house due to the poor performance of the air-conditioning system.

Many tract homes were built with a single central air conditioning and heating return. In this case adding a higher filtration filter can dramatically impede the airflow as the filter surface loads between the times that it is changed by the consumer or the air-conditioning contractor. Surface loading is where the face of a filter loads with dust and as it does airflow across the filter drops creating even less air for the blower unit to move to other portions of the home even though the efficiency of the filter increases because of the increased surface area that the air has to pass through.

Since higher quality air filters, not air cleaners, reduced to varying degrees the amount of air flow through a heating and air-conditioning system it is imperative that you understand the impact of utilizing a higher efficiency filter such as a pleated filter, electrostatic filter, or even in some cases a bag filter before you go to a home improvement center purchase one and then added to your air-conditioning or heating system. Filters that are advertised as HEPA filters typically have a much higher impact on airflow than other types.

To understand the impact of a higher quality filter on an air distribution system think of what happens if you apply a sheet of paper across the back grill of a floor fan. The airflow coming out of the fan will be dramatically reduced thus creating a greater load on the fan motor which increases its electric consumption and at the same time creates unneeded wear that will reduce its operational life. At the same time since the fan is designed to move a specific amount of air in attempts to draw air from any available area to get around the blockage. In a duct system this means that areas of leakage in the duct system that were previously considered small will now be increased in magnitude as the system tries to pull as much air as possible past or around the higher efficiency air filter. In some cases air quality in the home drops as particulates are sucked into the duct system downstream from the filter through duct leakage due to the high resistance of the new air filter.

Custom-built homes that utilize multiple returns throughout the house may suffer a lower incidence of duct leakage, excessive utility bills, and premature compressor failure with the addition of higher quality filtration, but it still requires good judgment and the knowledge of whether or not you're air distribution system is functioning as designed.

Many well-meaning air conditioning contractors recommend higher quality filtration system to be added onto an air conditioner or heating system at the time that the system is replaced without giving adequate consideration to the duct work that already exists in the home. If you are considering changing your air-conditioning system then you should insist that your contractor provide a test and balance of the air distribution system after the installation of the replacement heating and cooling unit. This procedure ensures that the air delivery across the blower unit as well as into each condition space within the home meets the design requirements of the engineer.

So how to I increase the quality of filtration in my home without sacrificing all my utility bills, or risking future damage to my air-conditioning or heating system? The answer lies in having qualified Service Company test and balance your air distribution for your home so that it meets not only the manufacturer's requirements but also the design of the original air-conditioning design. During this process additional return air ducts may need to be added if necessary to see that increased filtration does not reduce the amount of air flow required across the heating or cooling unit. In some cases your home may be too old for the original design to even be available. In this case a reputable air conditioning and heating contractor can create a design based on the parameters of your home and then match your air distribution systems performance to that design. This may require changes in duct work, sealing of leaks that have occurred over the years in your duct system, and even weatherization of your home in order to ensure that the air distribution system is functioning properly.

Even though it may sound attractive to purchase a higher quality filter and put it in our air-conditioning system to improve the air that we breathe in our home, due to the competitive nature of home building the design of an enormous amount of air-conditioning systems in use today is marginal at best. Adding a restrictive device to the airflow straight will create problems in the future that may far surpass the perceived health value of a better filter.

Higher quality filtration is indeed a necessity to improve air quality in your home. But before running out to your nearest retailer or home improvement center, or even asking your air-conditioning contractor to provide you with better filters, make sure that your duct system is designed to handle the increased load that a higher efficiency filter will put on it. Doing so may save not only your air conditioner, but your wallet as well by avoiding unnecessary utility consumption and breakdowns.

J Lowe is a 20 year veteran of the field of indoor air quality and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) as it relates to homes and offices. Related to no commercial ventures he shares his experience in indoor air quality evaluation and mitigation with all.

Currently working as a service operations consultant for the home service industries including, HVAC, Pool, Plumbing, and others he writes articles on improving business profits and customer satisfaction.

He can be visited at http://www.homeinterest.us/blog

Higher quality brands of HEPA air cleaners and air purifiers came onto the market, now with increased air exchange rates per hour and pounds of activated carbon and Zeolite to absorb dangerous out-gassing chemicals from the indoor environment. Environmental physicians came onto the scene to diagnose and treat people with environmental illnesses. Companies that specialized in detecting and remediation of sick indoor environments starting multiplying to help the people suffering from the many environmental illnesses that were being discovered and on the increase!

The Growing Need To Control Airborne Molds, Bacteria And Viruses

Today?s newest generation of HEPA air cleaners and air purifiers have a new and greater task to perform and the technology is already in place and doing its job. The new trend for HEPA air cleaners and air purifiers is not just for capturing airborne allergens and out-gassing chemicals they also have the ability to KILL MOLD SPORES, BACTERIA and VIRUSES! Toxic molds and bacteria?s in indoor environments have been on the increase due to improper construction of homes and commercial buildings and by environmental disasters caused by floods, hurricanes and tornados. Homes, schools, hospitals and office building environments are all being affected by dangerous strains of molds and bacteria. New strains of dangerous airborne viruses are on the increase and so is the threat of a deadly Pandemic such as the SARS virus or the Avian Flu also known as Bird Flu.

The Answer
There are two different types of technology that are now used in HEPA filtered air purifiers that will control dust, allergens, other particulates and now biological contaminates in indoor air environments They are UV {Ultra-Violet} lights that are aimed into the intake side of the HEPA filter and EGF {Enhanced Germicidal Filtration} that works by permeating 100% of the filter with 18 Kilovolts of electricity. Both technologies are able to effectively kill and prevent mold spores, bacteria and viruses from surviving in the filter media of the air purifier only allowing 100% clean germ free air to enter back into your indoor environment. The two air purifiers to look for is the TRACS HEPA air purifier using the UV {Ultra-Violet} light technology and the Bio-Net HEPA air purifier that uses the EGF {Enhanced Germicidal Filtration} technology. These units are so effective they are used in hospitals to protect people going through organ transplants and chemotherapy that cannot be exposed to biological contaminants. However with the growing concern for clean air in indoor environments many of these top quality air purifiers are now being used in homes to protect families and in office spaces to protect workers.

For More Quality Information On HEPA Air Cleaners & HEPA Air Purifiers See The Website at http://www.aircleaners.com

Cleaning The Air You Live With