Oven air filters are an essential part of any kitchen, as they protect oven mechanisms from getting dirty and also remove particles from the air you breathe. The filters are made of different materials, including fiberglass, polyester, cotton, and other synthetic fibers. Carbon filters also use charcoal to improve air quality. Fiberglass oven filters are very popular, but they are not the only type.
These types filter less than 25% of particles in the range of 3 to 10 microns from the air, which includes things like pollen, dander, and some bacteria. For better filtration, pleated filters with a MERV 8 rating can filter at least 75% of particles between 3 and 10 microns. This high-quality, plastic-based synthetic material allows filters to trap particles as small as lint, dust mites, mold spores, pollen, pet dander, fine dust, smoke, viruses and bacteria. Carbon air filters are designed to trap gas molecules in charcoal.
A Second Nature MERV 13 Health Shield filter will capture at least 50% of particles 0.3-1 microns in diameter. We offer pleated air filters in various sizes with MERV 8, MERV 11 and MERV 13 ratings. Air filters are rated on a MERV scale of 1 to 20, the higher the number meaning the finer the particles they can filter out of the air. Creating a filter like this has been a difficult task because, generally speaking, the more efficient a filter is in actual filtration, the worse its airflow.
Fiberglass filters fall short compared to pleated filters when it comes to filtering out the smallest contaminants in the air. Pleated air filters are made of cotton, paper or polyester sheets that fold into folds, increasing their surface area. To make sure your filter continues to avoid the bad stuff, follow a three-month replacement schedule for a pleated air filter (and about twice as often for fiberglass filters). When finding the right filter for your home's HVAC system you should consider whether you should buy a pleated filter or a fiberglass filter.
