Whole-House Air Filtration
A whole-house filter or purifier cleans the air in every room your system reaches. We install IQAir purifiers and high-MERV media filters in furnaces, heat pumps and air handlers.
How It Works
Filtration Built Into Your HVAC System
Portable purifiers clean one room. A whole-house system sits in the return air, so every bit of air your furnace or heat pump moves passes through it. It runs whenever the blower runs, and the filter changes on a schedule instead of room by room.
Options
Filtration Options
IQAir purifier
A dedicated whole-house purifier. We installed IQAir MERV 16 systems in Kensington and Berkeley homes.
Media filter cabinet
A deeper filter, typically 4 to 5 inches, that captures more particles than a standard 1-inch filter and lasts longer.
Matched airflow
High-MERV filters can restrict airflow. We confirm the blower and ductwork can carry it before we install.
Filter Ratings
Understanding MERV Ratings
MERV ratings run from 1 to 16 for standard HVAC filters. A basic 1-inch fiberglass filter protects the equipment from large dust. Higher ratings capture finer particles such as smoke and pollen, and need equipment and ducts that can move air through them.
- Standard 1-inch filters: protect the blower and coil from large dust
- Media filter cabinets: deeper filters that hold more and change less often
- MERV 16 purifiers: the top standard rating, used in our Kensington and Berkeley projects
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a high-MERV filter hurt my furnace?
Not when the system is set up for it. A filter too restrictive for the blower and ducts reduces airflow, which is why we check airflow before recommending a filter.
Do you install filters during a tune-up?
Yes. If you have replacement filters on hand, our technicians install them during the tune-up at no extra charge. The filter itself is not included in the tune-up price.
How often should a whole-house filter be changed?
It depends on the filter type and how much the system runs. We tell you the change schedule for the filter we install.
Can filtration help with wildfire smoke?
High-MERV filtration captures fine particles such as smoke when the system is running. Keeping windows closed and running the blower helps it work.
Add Whole-House Filtration
Book an estimate and we will check your system and airflow.