When it comes to air filters, there are two main types: pleated and non-pleated. Both of these can filter lint, dust, and insects, but pleated filters can also capture pollen, mold, dust mites, bacteria, and pet dander. So what is the difference between these two types of air filters?In general, pleated air filters provide a higher level of air filtration than non-pleated ones. This is because they have a much higher MERV rating than non-pleated filters.
A pleatless air filter has a MERV rating of 2 to 4, making it considerably less effective at trapping small particles than a pleated filter with a MERV rating of 4 which can capture up to 20% of particles smaller than 10 microns in size. This makes pleated air filters the better choice for people with allergies. However, non-pleated air filters generally allow greater airflow than pleated ones. This means that they are better suited for situations where the air conditioning system needs to move more air around the house. But when it comes to household air filters, there really isn't any advantage to using fiberglass over pleated air filters. Pleated air filters used to be the cause of many breakdowns in the air conditioning system since the engine in the system had to work harder than it could handle to extract the air it needed through the well-rolled filter.
But this is no longer an issue since pleated air filters are now constructed of synthetic materials that have smaller individual fibers which are rolled in such a way that airflow and filtering efficiency are maximized. The main purpose of an air filter is to remove pollutants from the air inside your home as they enter the air conditioning system. This is an area where pleated air filters excel and fiberglass air filters fail miserably. In situations where modern pleated air filters cause damage to modern HVAC systems, it's usually because the filter hasn't been changed and contaminants have built up in the filter. In general, pleated air filters are more effective at capturing very small particles than non-pleated air filters; 99.97% of airborne particles are trapped in a pleated air filter. They also have a larger surface area which helps them trap more dirt, dust, and other particles in the air.
However, this increased surface area can also make it difficult for your HVAC system to move air around the house. When it comes down to it, there really isn't any competition between pleated and non-pleated filters. Pleated filters outperform their fiberglass counterparts in almost every category; they're much more efficient, they're safer for the air and the HVAC unit, and they're not significantly more expensive. The only thing you need to consider is how often you need to change your filter; if you don't change it regularly then contaminants will build up and eventually create enough of a clog to overload the system. So when it comes down to it, pleated air filters are definitely what you want for your home or commercial environment. They provide superior filtration and are much safer for your HVAC system than fiberglass or non-pleated filters.
