Check Out Our Online Filter Store!

Let’s clear the air about HVAC filters.
They are not all created equal in their effectiveness.
When dirty or clogged, they do not adequately protect your HVAC system or indoor air quality (IAQ). They are not “one size fits all.”
HVAC filters are crucial for maintaining good indoor air quality and HVAC system efficiency. The correct size, placement, and effectiveness rating enable air filters to protect heating and cooling units and eliminate fine particles from indoor air.
The Correct Filters Can Enhance IAQ
At Joseph Frederick & Sons, we know air filters are the unsung heroes of HVAC. They play a huge role in filtering the air you breathe inside your Newark, home and extending the lifespan of HVAC equipment.
When clean and correctly inserted in your HVAC system, they trap dust, pollen, pet dander, and other airborne particles, preventing them from circulating through your home. Some high-quality filters even capture mold spores and bacteria.
We can help you select the correct size filter for your HVAC unit. Our qualified technicians at Joseph Frederick & Sons can show you how to insert the filter and recommend the correct MERV rating for your HVAC system.
MERV Ratings
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, a rating that indicates how effectively a filter captures particles. Filters used in residential heating and cooling systems are rated up to 13.
The higher the number, the better the filter screens out small particles, like dust mites and pollen. If you suffer from allergies or respiratory issues, consider using a filter with a higher MERV rating that will capture more allergens.
However, if the filter’s MERV rating is too high for your HVAC unit, it can restrict airflow and reduce your system’s efficiency. Check your user manual for guidance on the maximum MERV rating your system can handle, or contact us for help.
Shop Our Online Filter Store
We make selection easy and convenient by offering top-of-the-line filters at our online store. When you purchase filters directly from us, you know you will get a high-quality filter tailored to your heating and cooling system’s needs.
Our store offers hundreds of filters in various sizes and MERV ratings, including Aprilaire, Carrier, Bryant, and more. Consider buying one filter for immediate installation and one to keep on hand as a replacement.
Replace Dirty Filters
Maintaining your filtering system is the key to good airflow and indoor air quality. You can ensure the filter inside your HVAC unit is clean by inspecting it every month and replacing it when it is dirty.
How often should you replace it? Your HVAC system owner’s manual should include information about filter type and size and how often to replace it. Some filters require replacement every few months, while high-efficiency filters can last six months or longer.
Consider replacing it more frequently if you have pets or family members with allergies.
Beyond HVAC Filters
Although air filters are essential for your heating and cooling system and indoor air quality, they are just one part of the IAQ equation. Joseph Frederick & Sons offers a range of air quality accessories that can remove smaller particles, viruses and bacteria, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to enhance the air you breathe at home.
Why Does Good IAQ Matter?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the air may be more polluted than it is outdoors.
Even if you are allergy-free and unaffected by dust and pet dander in your indoor air, dozens of other contaminants in your home may expose you to illnesses. The EPA says immediate effects can include headaches, dizziness, and eye, nose, and throat irritation.
Long-term effects can include respiratory infections, heart disease, and cancer that emerge years after exposure to a pollutant or after repeated exposure over a long period.
Improving Indoor Air Quality
- Source Control: Start by eliminating the sources of contaminants in your Northern Delaware home. For example, be sure to store pesticides and paints outside your home. Consider using household products, like cleaners, that do not contain toxic chemicals. Do not allow smoking indoors. Dust and vacuum regularly.
- Ventilate: Ventilation can help freshen the air and reduce the concentration of pollutants inside your home. Open windows and use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom when possible. Whole-home ventilating systems, like Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs), exchange stale air for fresh air without reducing energy efficiency.
- At Joseph Frederick & Sons, we are proud to offer Carrier and Aprilaire indoor air quality products, including ventilation systems. Ask us which is best for your home!
- Humidity: Maintaining a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent can prevent the growth of molds and mildew and moist areas in your home where bacteria and insects thrive. Ask us at Joseph Frederick & Sons about installing a whole-home dehumidifier if the humidity is consistently above 50 to 60 percent in your New Castle County home. We recommend a whole-house humidifier for humidity levels consistently below 30 percent.
- Clean Your Air: Balancing humidity levels is just one way to prevent mildew, mold spores, and bacteria from affecting indoor air. An ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light in your ductwork or near the evaporator coil kills pathogens before they can enter your living space.
Other air cleaning systems incorporate HEPA filters or electrostatic technology to capture particles and VOCs. Advanced systems may use several layers of filters. We offer whole-home air cleaning solutions and portable air cleaners.
Take Your IAQ to the Next Level
Our expert team at Joseph Frederick & Sons wants to help you stay safe and healthy in your Newark, DE home. We are ready to answer your questions and offer solutions that create a clean, healthier indoor environment for you and your family. Call us at 302-994-5786 or request service online.