We often overlook the best filters for air conditioning and furnaces, but they are more essential than most think. They protect your A/C and heaters from dust and debris and help with irritants like dust and pollen. They help you breathe easily, prevent respiratory issues, and keep your home’s general ambiance clean.
Another hidden fact about why filters for air conditioning and furnaces are so important is that studies show that pollutants are four times greater indoors than outdoors simply because the air inside our homes just recirculates. Of course, filters don’t last forever, so getting one you can rely on will balance out the annual maintenance cost.
How Often Should Filters for Air Conditioning and Furnaces Be Changed?
The quickest answer is that it varies for each, but Consumer Reports surely recommends the replaceable ones for better performance. You can get a washable variant, which typically lasts longer, but none of them have stand-to-toe filtration capabilities compared to the disposable ones. It’s economical, but saving money isn’t always the best option.
Manufacturers typically recommend specific intervals which range between 3 months to a year. It’s good sense to follow that to ensure that you always get peak filtration performance. However, that pushes your cost per year even if most filters are only around the $20 to $30 mark.
Another way to determine if it’s time to change is to look at how dirty your filter is. You can clear or dust it out and see if it still looks decent, and then it’s most likely still good to use. However, if it is already filthy between the cells, then it is indeed time to buy a new one.
How to Shop for the Best Filters
Here are some characteristics you have to consider before pulling the trigger.
Size – You will need to measure the size of the filter you need since there are different but standardized sizes in the market. Ensuring a perfect fit will guarantee its cleaning performance, and reduce the need for extra materials like gaskets.
Filtration Level – A filter that catches everything will improve your home’s air quality, but it can also do some damage. Getting the right restriction level is a must to prevent damage to your HVAC or furnace if the one you buy is too dense.
Thickness – Typical filters are at least 1 inch thick, but they can be too restrictive if they have a higher MERV rating. Thicker models, on the other hand, require a filter cabinet, but they are more likely better at filtering without restricting air flow, even if the MERV rating is high.
MERV vs HEPA – MERV ratings are the standard for filters, but HEPA variants are becoming available. The latter is too restrictive for a typical HVAC or furnace, so we recommend saving them for air purifiers and vacuum cleaners.
Best Filters for Air Conditioning and Furnaces
Filtrete MPR 1900 Filter
The Filtrete MPR 1900 filters offers excellent performance at high fan speeds when it comes to removing dust, pollen, and smoke from the air. Its capabilities diminish as the fan speed for your HVAC drops, but that’s normal with most filters. Filtrete recommends that you replace this filter four times a year, but its cheat at around the $20+ for each unit.
For most houses, this should be fine, but vigilance in checking its condition is a must. Dusting it out will help a lot in keeping each filter’s lifespan, but that shouldn’t be an issue since it’s very affordable.
Filtrete 2500 Smart Premium Allergen Ultra Fine Particles S-EAX22DC-6
The Filtrete 2500 Smart Premium earns an excellent rating when it comes to removing pollutants and irritants. It needs a high fan speed to achieve that since its performance also drops to average at the lowest speed. It’s expensive at $100, but that pays towards the smart feature, which lets you monitor its condition through an app on your phone.
Its built-in sensor tells you when it’s toast, but Filtrete still recommends a changing interval of four times per year. The filter may also tell you to change it out quicker or longer, but following the recommended interval is still a good way to maintain it.
Filtrete Ultra Allergen Reduction 1500 MPR
The Filtrete Ultra Allergen Reduction 1500 MPR is perhaps the most economical option and has earned a very good rating. Its filtration drops to average at low fan speeds but holds true for most filters in this lineup. This option provides excellent airflow no matter what the fan speed setting is, so it should be good to use as long as it’s still clean.
The 1500 MPR only costs an average of $68 per year if you follow the brand’s recommended interval. You can still clean it manually to get the most out of every unit, but it’s reasonably cheap enough, so following the schedule should be doable for most households.
Aprilaire Healthy Home 213 MERV13
The Aprilaire Healthy Home 213 earned an excellent score at high and low fan speeds thanks to its fantastic airflow rating. Its also very affordable at around the $40 mark for each unit, and the brand says that each one can last up to a year. That makes it a sweet deal since it offers the lowest annual cost in the lineup.
However, this filter is four inches thick, so some HVAC designs might not be able to accommodate it. However, that’s a rare occurrence in modern homes, but please check your filter holder first before buying one.
Aprilaire Allergy and Asthma 216
The Aprilaire Allergy and Asthma 216 is a slightly more sophisticated option than the one above. It’s very effective at removing all pollutants at low speeds, but it excels at catching allergens like pollen at higher speeds. It’s not restrictive, either, so it will work with all kinds of fans on most HVACs and AHUs.
One downside is its high annual costs exceeding a hundred bucks. Yes, it lasts 12 months, but you can get cheaper filters and change them out four times a year while still saving some cash.
Lennox Healthy Climate CarbonClean 16
This Lennox filter is especially excellent at removing dust, but it’s not so great at smoking. It’s thick but not restrictive so that it will suit all sorts of HVAC or AHU designs for most homes. One downside is that it will need professional installation instead of the drop-in options in this lineup.
Another downside we see is its higher price tag which can pay for up to four filters if you go with the cheaper options above. It wouldn’t matter if you could clean the filter out occasionally, but as mentioned, it will require professional assistance.
Carrier EZ Flex Filter Cabinet
The Carrier EX Flex Filter Cabinet has a MERV10 rating, but it’s quite thick at 5 inches. It offers a very good rating for combating dust and pollen, but it’s not that good when it comes to removing smoke. It’s not restricted at all, so you won’t need powerful airflow to utilize it.
The EZ Flex isn’t particularly expensive, but it needs professional installation. That can be expensive if you do it often, so cleaning it to prolong its lifespan might be impossible to do.
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