Smart Air Filters Guide

Your HVAC system's air filters clean the air circulating through your home. And, assuming you change your air filters as needed, they likely get the job done.

Even if you’re already changing your filters regularly, you can up your game with smart air filters that can tell you exactly when they need to be changed and even order replacements for you. Smart air filters provide multiple benefits, like energy savings, healthier indoor air, a longer HVAC system lifespan, and greater comfort.

What Are Smart Air Filters?

Smart air filters do the same filtering as a standard filter. They provide filtration of common airborne irritants and allergens like dust, smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and mold. Smart air filters go further than standard HVAC filters by tracking, and notifying you, of the filter’s lifespan and HVAC system performance by tracking airflow pressure and humidity. 

Sensors on the air filter can send this information to an app, which can notify you when the filter needs changing. Regularly changing filters keeps your indoor air healthier and more comfortable. Additional benefits include improved energy efficiency and longevity from your HVAC system.

Pros and Cons of Smart Air Filters

When would smart air filters make sense for you and your family? There are significant benefits to consider. 

Pros of smart air filters

• Air quality: Improved indoor air quality is important to health and comfort. Filtration of allergens, mold, pollutants, chemicals, and volatile organic compounds helps anyone with allergies, asthma, or a respiratory problem. Cleaner air is better for everyone in your home.
• Filter tracking: Smart air filters will let you know they need to be cleaned or changed. This keeps everything cleaner and running as it should. It’s another boost to efficiency. It helps you remember, just in case you don’t keep perfect track of when to change your air filters.
• HVAC life expectancy: Better filter care keeps your whole heating and cooling system running easier, putting less wear on components over the years and extending the probable life of your HVAC.

Cons of smart air filters

• Initial cost: A smart air filter is more expensive than a regular air filter. 
• Connectivity issues: If your network goes down, a smart filter will still function as a basic air filter, but you will lose sensor, monitoring, and communication functions.
• Changing batteries: Many smart air filters run on a battery. So, similar to a network connection, a smart filter needs battery power for its smart functions and communication. You’ll need to change or recharge batteries on the recommended basis.
• Ease of use: For some, using technology such as networks, apps, and smart devices might be inconvenient or difficult.

Smart Air Filter Shopping Guidance

If you’re looking at smart air filters, some of your considerations will likely be about the “smart” aspects while some could be the same you’d have with any air filter. 

• HVAC compatibility: The new filter needs to fit the dimensions (e.g. 20x25x1 or 14x14x1) of the spot for the filter in your HVAC, whether it’s smart or not. 
• Smart compatibility: Is the filter you’re looking at going to work with the smart home system you’re already using? Check its compatibility with your Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and smart home systems such as a smart HVAC system or a smart air purifier. If you’re already using Apple, Google, Samsung, or Amazon, you’ll want a model that’s easily integratable into it. 
• Features/data: Prioritize the data, monitoring, and alert functions and features you’ll use. 
• Filtration rating: You want the MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating recommended for your home, climate, and specific health or air quality needs. Just buying the highest MERV rating possible is an unnecessary expense and may lead to a restricted airflow, which can also be a health or comfort problem, and higher energy usage. You may also need HEPA filtration, for additional allergy or asthma protection, or activated carbon filters, for more odor filtration.

Making an Electrified Home Work for You

Switching to smart air filters gives you better visibility into your home’s HVAC system. It can also be a part of improved energy efficiency, lower energy bills, and moving toward home electrification. 

Smart air filters make your heating and cooling more energy-efficient, no matter the energy source or even with an energy- and cost-efficient heat pump. The monitoring you get can help you make decisions with HVAC maintenance.

If you’re interested in more information, or taking the next steps in saving with your home heating and cooling or overall energy use, you can use Palmetto’s HVAC advisor or home energy advisor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a smart air filter different from an air purifier?

A smart air filter filters all of the airflow going through your home’s HVAC system. An air purifier cleans air in a room or space.

Are smart filters better than standard air filters?

Smart air filters have improved features and sensors compared to standard air filters. For some homeowners, smart air filters might not be worth the additional expense for their certain uses or needs. Overall though, smart air filters can help you track filter life and keep your home air cleaner.

Are smart filters expensive?

Smart air filters are generally more expensive than standard HVAC air filters of the same size and ratings. You should see savings, from better energy efficiency and lower HVAC service and maintenance cost, in the long run by going to smart air filters.