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          Furnace Filters 101

Understanding Furnace Filters

As concern grows for the air quality outdoors, many are overlooking an increasingly toxic indoor environment. Homes and offices are much more tightly sealed than ever before, and for those sensitive to certain pets, VOC's or other compounds found in new carpet, paint, and even furniture, indoor air quality can be as difficult to handle as the air outdoors. Since indoor air pollution cannot really escape a tightly sealed office or home, the next best way to keep the air circulating indoors clear of pollution is with a quality HVAC or furnace filter.

In general, furnace filters clean dust, dirt and debris from the air stream that passes through an HVAC system. Keeping such particles out of the furnace improves indoor air quality while protecting and extending the life of the furnace motor and internal components. Allergen reduction filters, such as those we offer, include the added benefit of filtering allergen particles from the air. With the right furnace filter you can help to keep your HVAC running better, for longer, while making the air in your home healthier. While furnace filters can have a lot of upside, if not used properly, a furnace filter will actually hinder the passage of air or facilitate the introduction of dust and other allergens into your home environment. To avoid this, it's important to remember to change your filter regularly if it's a disposable kind. Or, clean it if it's permanent style HVAC filter. When used as part of an overall strategy, furnace filters are an effective way to minimize the allergens in your home.

Types of Furnace Filters

Electrostatic - Often, electrostatic filters are often permanent, washable filters that carry an electronic charge. This charge attracts dust particles much like a magnet.

Pleated - The pleats in filter media of HVAC filters increase the surface area, and thereby the effectiveness, where particles can be captured.

HEPA - Although HEPA filters are the gold standard when it comes to filters in air purifiers and vacuum cleaners, they create too much air flow resistance when it comes to furnace filters. We do not carry any HEPA furnace filters.

Activated Carbon - An activated carbon component in a furnace filter enables it to absorb chemicals, fumes, and odors as air passes through your HVAC system.

What is MPR?

MPR is a term used by 3M and stands for Microparticle Performance Rating. It is actually the E1 part of the MERV rating, and measures how efficient an air filter is at capturing particles between 0.3 and 1 micron in size, which make up 99% of the air's particulate matter. Smoke, bacteria, and smog particles all fall within this size range, so if filtering these out of the air is important to you, MPR is a good criteria to consider. MPR is used to compare furnace filters to one another, and cannot accurately predict how a furnace filter will actually perform in your particular home environment. However, comparing MPRs is a good way to see the differences in efficiency between Filtrete furnace filters. The higher the MPR, the more efficient the filter is at capturing these small particles. For instance, the Filtrete Micro filters have an MPR of 1000, the Filtrete Ultra filters have an MPR of 1250 and Filtrete Advanced filters, stand at 1500.

When choosing a furnace filter, keep in mind your needs as well as price and what features each particular style has to offer. Not all furnace filters are created equally, and just because your HVAC may be tucked away in the basement doesn't mean you shouldn't do what you can to keep it running efficiently and your family breathing better!

Changing Furnace Filters

Each of our filters comes with recommendations regarding how often to change them or wash them. In general, disposable furnace filters should be changed once every three months. However, during the winter and summer months when your HVAC system is running often, you may need to change filters more frequently. Similarly, if there's a condition that would make the filters become saturated faster than usual (such as open windows during pollen season, or several pets in the household), you will need to change your filters more frequently.

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Shelly's Hot Tip of the Month With spring just around the corner, here is a water table to help get you started off right so you can have the best garden in the neighborhood. Click on the table below for a larger copy.

  

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Community Events

In Springfield on February 14th at UIS, Shrek the Musical, based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an
unseemly ogre – not a handsome prince – shows up to rescue a feisty princess.
For more info visit:
http://www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/onstage/index.htm

Also in Springfield at the Lincoln Library 326 S. 7th Street in downtown Springfield, computer classes are provided on a continous basis. Classes for E-Mail, Excel, Facebook, Power Point, Word and many more. Visit their website for more details
http://www.lincolnlibrary.info/index.html

The Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding

their 2013 Business Expo on Thursday, February 28 from 3:30pm to 6:30pm at Hamilton's 110 North East. For more details visit:

http://www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org/index.shtml

Also in Jacksonville, the 1st Annual Family Sweetheart Supper at Prairie Village Healthcar Center, 6-8p.m.. For more information call Cindy, 217-372-5929.

In Bloomington-Normal at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, Rich Little will be performing on February 16th
at 7:30pm.
Comedian and impressionist Rich Little pays tribute to one of the most beloved screen actors of all time, Jimmy Stewart in this hilarious and touching one man show. For more info visit:
www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=362&recordid=201

For the complete calendar and more info visit  http://mason.k12.il.us/havana126/

There will be a Eagle Watching & Finn Inn Trip from Carlinville Wednesday, February 27. Call Michelle 217-839-4132 to make your reservation. http://enquirerdemocrat.net/pages/?page_id=184

The Carlinville Chamber's Annual Breakfast will be held on Thursday, February 21 from 8:30am to 9:30am at Lake Williamson Christian Center. For more information visit
http://www.carlinvillechamber.com/

Mark your calendar's in Chatham for the Mardi Gras celebration on February 23, 2013. For details email coordinator@chatham-il-chamber.com .
"Save Some Presidents" retail shopping event in downtown Pontiac on February 8 - 9 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Save some Presidents with many In-Store promotions. Don't forget that Valentine's Day is just around the corner.For more information call 815-844-6692.

BUY ANY ACE BRAND PLEATED AIR FILTER, GET ONE FREE Limit 1 Coupon good at participating Ace Hardware stores.  Savings are off regular retail price. Does not apply to  previously purchased merchandise. Not redeemable for cash. Must present coupon. May not be used in conjunction with any other coupon offer.  Limit one coupon per customer. Offer valid February 1 - 28, 2013 Cashier instructions: Key in coupon code 80035442 ---------------------------------------------