Your MVHR system is a vital component of your airtight home, ensuring fresh air circulation and energy efficiency. However, for it to function optimally, regular filter maintenance is essential. MVHR filters play a crucial role in capturing pollutants and ensuring clean, healthy air.
In this blog, we’ll explore the different types of MVHR filters available and how they can help you maintain a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. Whether you’re new to MVHR systems or simply looking to upgrade your filtration, this guide will help you make an informed decision.
Why Are MVHR Filters Important?
MVHR systems work by drawing in fresh air from outside, filtering it, and then supplying it throughout your home or business while recovering heat from the outgoing stale air. The filters within the system are essential for trapping dust, pollen, pollutants, and even harmful gases, preventing them from entering your indoor space.
Over time, these filters can become clogged with particles, which not only reduces air quality but can also impair the efficiency of your MVHR system. This is why it’s important to understand the different types of filters available and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Understanding Filter Classes
Filters are categorised based on their ability to capture various sizes of particles. The higher the filter class, the more effective it is at stopping fine dust and pollutants from passing through. In MVHR systems, the most common filters fall into three categories: Coarse, Medium, and Fine.
1. Coarse Filters
Coarse filters, which include G3 and G4 filters, provide a relatively low level of filtration. These filters are typically used for air extraction, protecting both the indoor air and the MVHR unit itself from larger contaminants such as coarse dust particles, insects, sand, and hair.
- G3 Filters: These filters are suitable for environments with moderate levels of pollution. They are capable of trapping larger particles like hair, dust, and sand, offering basic protection against the accumulation of dirt in your MVHR system. G3 filters are often used in rural or suburban areas with relatively low levels of air pollution.
- G4 Filters: G4 filters offer a higher filtration level than G3, making them suitable for more polluted environments, such as industrial areas or urban settings. They capture coarse particles like large dust, pollen, and sand, helping to prolong the life of your MVHR system by preventing these particles from entering and damaging the internal components.
Key Benefits:
- Protects the MVHR unit from large contaminants.
- Increases system efficiency by preventing blockages.
- Suitable for air extraction in less polluted environments.
Best For: Homes or businesses located in rural or suburban areas with low to moderate levels of air pollution.
2. Medium Filters
Medium filters—classified as M5 and M6—offer better filtration than coarse filters. They are capable of trapping smaller, less visible particles that could affect indoor air quality and system performance.
- M5 Filters: These filters are designed to block moderate amounts of fine dust and dirt, as well as larger particles like hair, sand, and insects. They offer improved filtration for environments with more dust, making them ideal for homes with pets or businesses with higher foot traffic.
- M6 Filters: M6 filters are more advanced than M5 filters and can capture even smaller particles, such as pollen, mould spores, and fine dust. They are especially beneficial for environments where people suffer from allergies, as they offer protection against common allergens.
Key Benefits:
- Captures smaller particles like pollen, spores, and fine dust.
- Enhances indoor air quality, making it healthier for allergy sufferers.
- Suitable for homes and businesses in moderately polluted environments.
Best For: Suburban homes, offices, and commercial spaces that require higher filtration to protect against finer airborne particles and allergens.
3. Fine Filters
For the highest level of filtration, fine filters, particularly F7 filters, are the best choice. These filters are designed to trap the smallest and most harmful particles, including fine dust, pollen, bacteria, and even some viruses. They are ideal for air intake, ensuring that the air entering your home or office is as clean and pollutant-free as possible.
- F7 Filters: F7 filters are highly effective at capturing fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which includes tiny particles that are harmful to respiratory health. These filters can also remove pollen, pet dander, and dust mites, making them a top choice for homes in high-pollution areas such as cities or industrial zones.
Key Benefits:
- Offers the highest filtration level, capturing small and harmful particles.
- Helps reduce allergy symptoms by filtering out pollen and allergens.
- Ideal for improving air quality in highly polluted areas.
Best For: Urban environments, homes near busy roads, and businesses in industrial areas where air pollution levels are high. Also recommended for households with allergy or asthma sufferers.
How Often Should MVHR Filters Be Replaced?
Maintaining your MVHR system’s filters is crucial to ensuring that it runs efficiently and continues to provide clean air. As a general rule:
- G4 and M5 filters should be cleaned or replaced every 3 to 6 months.
- F7 filters should be replaced every 6 months.
- Activated carbon filters typically last up to 12 months, depending on air quality.
It’s important to check your filters regularly and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning or replacement. In areas with high pollution or in homes with pets, you may need to replace filters more frequently.
Schedule a Filter Replacement
At Flynn Heat Recovery Systems, we offer a wide range of MVHR filters to suit every environment, ensuring that your system operates at its best. Whether you need coarse, medium, or fine filtration, we have the expertise and products to help you breathe cleaner air.
If you need help selecting or replacing your MVHR filters, feel free to reach out to our team for expert advice and support!