Hot air/AC filters

[04 commemorative]

Just bought 4 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen Filters - 1500......what fo the experts here use or recommend

[bill_daniels]

I have an odd size that generally you can't find at home depot, so I order a case or two at a time from these folks. They make them here, are local, but still easily 60 miles away, so I just have them shipped.

I use the pleated MERV 13 filters.



https://www.airfilterusa.com/residen...fficiency=3558

[Iron Chef]

I have, IMO, one of the sharpest and most honest A/C guys I know. He told me that the only thing the 3M filters do is restrict airflow. He suggested getting the least expensive air filters you can buy and change them frequently. You'll save money not only because your system won't have to work as hard, but the filters themselves will be much cheaper. And the difference in allergens will be negligible.

I get a bulk pack of filters and change them every 4 months.

Here's another suggestion...and don't laugh...I bought a Roomba. My daughter has one and she loves it. So I bought one (not the most expensive one, you don't need all those bells and whistles) and I run it every other day. You should see the amount of hair and dust this thing picks up! I have a dog that sheds a lot and lots of trees and flowers on my lot and have had zero allergy issues.

[MadInNc]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

I have, IMO, one of the sharpest and most honest A/C guys I know. He told me that the only thing the 3M filters do is restrict airflow. He suggested getting the least expensive air filters you can buy and change them frequently. You'll save money not only because your system won't have to work as hard, but the filters themselves will be much cheaper. And the difference in allergens will be negligible.

I get a bulk pack of filters and change them every 4 months.

Here's another suggestion...and don't laugh...I bought a Roomba. My daughter has one and she loves it. So I bought one (not the most expensive one, you don't need all those bells and whistles) and I run it every other day. You should see the amount of hair and dust this thing picks up! I have a dog that sheds a lot and lots of trees and flowers on my lot and have had zero allergy issues.

My furnace guy said something similar. Ie save your money, don’t restrict system and change often I buy Rheem brand for ~$4 per filter

No Roomba here. Will need a fleet of them

[bill_daniels]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

I have, IMO, one of the sharpest and most honest A/C guys I know. He told me that the only thing the 3M filters do is restrict airflow. He suggested getting the least expensive air filters you can buy and change them frequently. You'll save money not only because your system won't have to work as hard, but the filters themselves will be much cheaper. And the difference in allergens will be negligible.

I get a bulk pack of filters and change them every 4 months.

Here's another suggestion...and don't laugh...I bought a Roomba. My daughter has one and she loves it. So I bought one (not the most expensive one, you don't need all those bells and whistles) and I run it every other day. You should see the amount of hair and dust this thing picks up! I have a dog that sheds a lot and lots of trees and flowers on my lot and have had zero allergy issues.

Getting the pleated filters gives more surface area for the air to flow through, and cleaner air running through should extend the life of the system. Both of my units are 24 years old. One has never even been touched, and the other had a new A-coil, a condenser fan, and a capacitor. I credit the longevity of both units partially on clean intake air.

[ZipZap]

Home is at 7600 feet, so flow is king. MERV 5 in bulk are a few bucks each...

[04 commemorative]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Getting the pleated filters gives more surface area for the air to flow through, and cleaner air running through should extend the life of the system. Both of my units are 24 years old. One has never even been touched, and the other had a new A-coil, a condenser fan, and a capacitor. I credit the longevity of both units partially on clean intake air.

House we sold in October was same thing ...2 furnaces/AC units and were 25 years old.One in ttic never touched except for freon leak and one in basement just a blower motor....changed the filters every 3 months.

[Will]

Ditto on inexpensive filters and frequent changes.

I have SEVERE allergy issues. I can get attacks that bring on allergenic conjunctivitis.

We bought our 1st house a few years ago after renting forever, had the crawlspace redone with full vapor barrier, sealed vents, and dehumidifiers.

Not a single attack like I used to have since. If the air in your home is good, cheapo filters will work fine. And unlike the more expensive filters, they won't strain your equipment.

[6spdC6]

I change the cheap pleated filter every month in the bad part of the cold time.

That has been my MO since 1977 for the three different houses we lived in, and no problems to report. Upper NY state!

[Iron Chef]

Here's another suggestion: My system had two filters. One in the big air return in the living room, and the other in the air handler in the attic. He removed the one in the air handler. Said it wasn't required since I have a big filter in the air return. Air flow immediately picked up significantly. Two filters in the same line aren't necessary.

And as long as we're talking about air flow, if you only have one return in your house, you might want to spend a few hundred bucks and get returns put in all the bedrooms to balance your system. I had this done on my old place and the difference was stunning. Suddenly I didn't have to turn the A/C down as much as the house was cooler. It also solved the problem of feeling the temperature change as I walked from room to room. Each return had its own filter. Cut my A/C bill in HALF...and I was keeping tabs. I will be doing the same in this house as well. Newer homes have this already, but mine was built in 1947, so you have to retrofit.

[Lakota]

Nordic Pure, I buy a box of 6 from the company's website , delivered to the house. They are changed every 2 months, used for heat and AC. The following link which evaluated filters was used on filter to make my decision.

I started with a MERV 12, then went with a MERV 8 and recently bought a MERV 10.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/r...-we-would-buy/

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by ZipZap

Home is at 7600 feet, so flow is king. MERV 5 in bulk are a few bucks each...

top of the Rockies/Sierras??? my son is in Grass Valley, elevation 3500' my elevation is about 40' here in Floriduh.......so yawl gasping for CLEAN air up there???

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

I have, IMO, one of the sharpest and most honest A/C guys I know. He told me that the only thing the 3M filters do is restrict airflow. He suggested getting the least expensive air filters you can buy and change them frequently. You'll save money not only because your system won't have to work as hard, but the filters themselves will be much cheaper. And the difference in allergens will be negligible.

I get a bulk pack of filters and change them every 4 months.

Here's another suggestion...and don't laugh...I bought a Roomba. My daughter has one and she loves it. So I bought one (not the most expensive one, you don't need all those bells and whistles) and I run it every other day. You should see the amount of hair and dust this thing picks up! I have a dog that sheds a lot and lots of trees and flowers on my lot and have had zero allergy issues.

Heard the same thing from our HVAC guy, known him since HS and he's put in three units for us over the years and also a couple at a place I used to work at. Knows his stuff. We just get some fairly cheap ones in quantity and change them every month.

[ThomasTheGiraffe]

I heard the same thing IC mentioned. Those fancy filters are tough on your
furnace.

[Uncle Meat]

I've been using 3M #2200 filters in my HVAC system since I purchased the house new in 2000. I change them out every 90 days. The cheap HVAC system installed in my home when it was built lasted 17 years. I think adding a 700 sq. ft sunroom to the house in 2015 finally did it in. The system was in the attic of our home in central Alabama where it had to operate in a 115+ degree environment during the summer months. I had it replaced with an American Standard 16.5 SEER model. The guys who did the install work couldn't believe how clean my ductwork was and stated it didn't require any work or replacement.

I'll continue to spend a couple extra bucks for the 3M filters.

U.M.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by mrvette

top of the Rockies/Sierras??? my son is in Grass Valley, elevation 3500' my elevation is about 40' here in Floriduh.......so yawl gasping for CLEAN air up there???

Midway in the Rockies. Palmer Divide. Been pretty smoky lately...