Having the best furnace filters are usually put at the back of our minds until our heating or cooling system fails. The worst part is that you might have been getting more allergies for a while now and that is due to the fact that you have been inhaling dust-laden air. So gross right?
No matter how alien it is for us to find the best furnace filters, we just have to do it because it is for our benefit, and also for the cleanliness of air inside our homes. At the same time, having the best furnace filters prevent you from keeping on repurchasing filters that amounts to a bigger expense.
In this article, we are going to discuss how to choose the best furnace filters. We are also going to review five furnace filters that are claiming to be the best.
Lastly, we are going to answer some of the frequently asked questions about furnace filters in general.
How To Choose The Best Furnace Filters
To choose the best furnace filters, you should first take a look at several factors that would affect your choice. It is not about purchasing the best quality out there but is also about choosing the furnace filter that would suit your home and your lifestyle.
Here are some factors to look at:
- Type of furnace filter
- The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value Ratings
- Your current environment
- Preference to save electricity
Type of Furnace Filter
There are different types and sizes of furnace filters. Choosing the best type of furnace filter is wise because it would depend on your preference and your lifestyle on what type you should get.
There are furnace filters that do not require a lot of maintenance and are cheaper. Other types of furnace filters are also easier to replace or clean but require a lot of checking. Ultimately, it would boil down on what type would suit you, and the frequency on how you want to replace the filter.
The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value Ratings (MERV)
This is the rating system that is used on how huge, or how small a furnace filter can suck in air. The logic behind this is that, the more air that is sucked by the furnace filter, the more dust that would accumulate within the filter.
This rating is very important in choosing the best furnace filters because this rating determines how often you should change or clean your filter. It also determines how strong the furnace filter is in sucking in air that is full of contaminants.
Your Current Environment
Taking note of your current environment is crucial in choosing the best furnace filters since your environment dictates the state of air you are currently living in. Do you live in the city? Do you constantly have construction going on? Do you have pets? Do you smoke?
These are questions that matter in choosing a furnace filter because again, the furnace filter would filter out air from any contaminants such as dust, pet hair, etc., and prevent those from recirculating inside your house.
Let us say you live in a place where there is a lot of construction going on. You might opt to get a permanent furnace filter that sucks a lot of dust but is very easy to maintain. Again, your environment dictates how much air contaminants are filtered by the furnace filter.
Preference to Save Electricity
This one is not really a major factor, but in the long run, the use of electricity would add up. If you have a flimsy furnace filter that clogs up every so often, and you forget to change it, the end result is that your furnace uses more electricity to make up for the lack of air passing through the system.
On the other hand, if you have a bigger filter that takes a long time before it is completely covered in dust, less electricity is used because the air is free-flowing inside the machine.
It all boils down to your expenses in electricity. If you want to save on electricity, go for a furnace filter that cannot be clogged easily.
The Best Furnace Filters: The Top Five
We are now going to review the five furnace filters that are considered to be the best ones. We are going to see if there is any weight to their claims, or if they are just full of hogwash.
We would briefly lay out their most important features, and go straight to their pros and cons, to find out which of these best furnace filters reigns supreme. Also, you might just find your next furnace filter purchase in this list.
Filtrete Clean Living Basic Dust AC Furnace Air Filter
This furnace filter is manufactured by 3M. It boasts of its fibers that are electrostatically charged which in turn attracts larger airborne contaminants such as household dust, pollen, and lint.
It helps in protecting your home from these allergens with 316 MPR. It is said to be perfect for houses with heating and cooling systems that are high velocity. It can also last up to three months even with continued use.
Pros
- It is best for filtering out household dust, pollen, and lint.
- They are a good size and easy to mount.
- It has a lower rating for its MERV, so even though it does not suck that much air, you would not replace these filters often as it does not clog up easily.
Cons
- It is not so good in filtering out smaller air contaminants.
- It sucks in air slower so if you are someone who has allergies, allergens just might still be present by the time you get home.
- The mesh of the filter might get sucked into the intake vent.
- The mesh might also be too thick for the ducts.
If you are someone who gets allergic rhinitis easily, this might not be the filter for you as it does not really suck in allergens that fast. On the other hand, if your house has a lot of dust, this might be a good furnace filter option because it is tough on filtering household dust.
Honeywell FC100A1037 Ultra Efficiency Air Cleaning Filter
This furnace filter has polypropylene. It also has an air cleaner that is of replacement media of 10 when it comes to its MERV. It provides a large level of filtration with a drop of static pressure.
It comes in a lot of different sizes that would also fit other Honeywell nodules and other air cleaners. They have a feature on any site that you just have to input the model number, and they would provide you the specific dimensions so you would be sure that you would purchase one that would fit.
Pros
- It can filter both big and small air particles.
- It has a high enough MERV rating that its air suction power is really good.
- You get filtered air very fast.
- This can be used for residential homes or commercial zones.
- You do not have to replace the filters often.
Cons
- It might make noises when there is a gap between the filter and the valve intake.
- You really have to get the size accurately because it does not fit the default and general sizes of the valve.
If you need a furnace filter that is tough on filtering out air contaminants, this is the way to go. If you want it fast and efficient, you will find this furnace filter to your liking.
At the same time, even though it is a powerhouse in terms of sucking in air, you still do not have to replace the filters regularly.
Flanders E-Z Flow Air Filter
This furnace filter comes with a pack of 12 disposable air filters that are UL Class II rated. It is perfect for protecting your central air units and your furnace. It has a rating of four for its MERV.
It can filter and remove household dust, lint, and pollen. Its design of having a continuous chipboard safeguards any type of separation on the corners, while the metal media retainer that is one-sided add to the strength of the filter.
The filters that it comes with can last for up to 30 days and are compatible with HVAC systems that require filters that are sized 16 x 25 x 1 inch.
Pros
- The filters are very durable.
- You get a lot of filters in just one purchase.
- The MERV rating is high enough to quickly suck in air contaminants.
- You get clean air fast with its steady and continuous air flow.
- Can filter both small and big air contaminants including hair or pet hair.
Cons
- It does not have any safeguard against mold.
- There might be discrepancies in terms of the size.
- You would keep on buying these air filters as they only last for 30 days.
If you need a temporary furnace filter, you might give this one a try. That is if you can keep up with repurchasing this product.
It is not that bad, and it is not that good, so it is a pretty so-so furnace filter. It gets the job done, but not necessarily in a graceful way.
Nordic Pure MERV 12 Pleated Air Condition Furnace Filter
This furnace filter can be used for both residential and commercial property. The size of the filter is 15 1/2 x 19 1/2 x ¾. Its MPR rating is between 1500-1913. The MERV rating is 12 which is pretty high compared to the other furnace filters on this list.
It is made of hypoallergenic material that has pleats of antimicrobial electrostatic filters. It can also filter pet dander and remove allergens. Most importantly, such furnace filters are environmentally friendly since they are made of board paper that has been recycled.
Pros
- This would be perfect for people who have allergies as the furnace filter material itself is hypoallergenic.
- Not only can it filter dust, pollen, etc., but also, it can filter pet dander.
- The MERV rating is extremely high, so this is very powerful in terms of air suction.
- The air is almost always completely cleaned out due to the fast action of the filter.
- The airflow is continuous and consistent.
Con
- It is very strong in filtering dust and other air contaminants that the probability of accumulation is high. You might need to replace the filter a lot of times.
If your only concern is to breathe in clean air, then this is the furnace filter for you. It can filter out even the smallest of particles, but at the same time get rid of allergens that trigger your allergies.
However, you should be prepared to clean this filter often, or even replace it since it can get a lot of dirt accumulation.
Air Care The Ultimate Furnace A/C Filter
This furnace filter claims to trap up to 95% of dust and allergens that are airborne. You need not replace these filters as they are permanent. You only need to vacuum it or clean it with water.
It has a replacement design that is drop-in that can also go for disposable furnaces and A/C filters. The media used for the filter is a self-charging one that is also electrostatic, so it does not require electricity.
It can filter out household dust, excrement of dust mites, pollen, allergens, pet hair, hair, and other air contaminants, its MERV rating is 8.
Pros
- It is hassle-free to use this filter as you do not have to constantly buy new filters to replace it. With this one, you just have to clean it.
- Removing and cleaning the filter is also easy. You can either use a vacuum or hose it down with water.
- Its MERV rating is pretty high on the scale that it can really filter out most of the air contaminants.
- Its design of having a self-charging filter that is electrostatic at the same time is great since you need not use a lot of electricity.
Cons
- You have to make sure that you get the right size because if you do not the problem lies there. If it does not fit perfectly, it makes loud noises.
- Also, if it does not fit perfectly—it restricts airflow—so the furnace is working on restricted airflow which leads to using more electricity.
- Although it is a permanent filter that can be reused, it is still not durable. You might have to replace it after six months of use.
This furnace filter would be perfect for people who do not want to constantly change their filters. It is also practical to use since it does not use too much electricity, except you have to get the right size for it to work properly. Otherwise, it would perform the opposite of its good qualities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does my furnace have a filter?
It depends on the system that you have. If you own a warming air furnace, then most probably you have a filter. But if you own radiators or boilers, those do not have filters.
What is the purpose of a furnace filter?
The filter acts as the safeguard for your furnace to prevent any type of contaminant build up. Air contaminant build up might lead to the fan of your furnace to not function properly or for the heat coils not to work.
Some furnace filters also filter out the air present in your home. They can remove bacteria, pollen, allergens, dust, pet hair, etc., for a cleaner air to breathe in.
How often do I need to change my furnace filter?
It depends on a lot of factors, particularly the type of filter you have, the MERV rating, and your current living conditions. The rule of thumb is to change your filters after the 4th week of continually using it. But again, it depends on what filter you have so you better check your filter weekly.
What is a MERV rating?
It is Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value Ratings. This rating measures a filter’s worst case efficiency in terms of performance. Easily put, the higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the furnace filter is.
Will I have cleaner air in my home when I use an efficient air filter?
Definitely. A more efficient furnace filter can filter out even the smallest air contaminants thus leaving your house with cleaner air to breathe in.
However, this also means that you also have to clean the filter more often as it sucks a lot of dirt, dust, pollen, etc.
The Best Furnace Filter: The Final Verdict
The best furnace filter is the Nordic Pure MERV 12 Pleated Air Condition Furnace Filter. It is the best on the list in terms of filtering out harmful air contaminants.
It is also good that it has a hypoallergenic material which would prove beneficial to people who get easily irritated when inhaling allergens.
You still need to replace this filter though, and you have to clean it often since the probability of accumulation of dust is high, but this we think is a fair enough sacrifice when in turn you get the cleanest air in your home.