Best Furnace Filter Brand? 3M Filtrete vs HoneyWell BestAir, Nordic Pure, Flanders EZ Flow 

Here's the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you! Washable Furnace Filter by Aire Care: amzn.to/3pnhcPE Flanders EZ-Flow: amzn.to/3qfFNam HoneyWell BestAir MERV 8 2-Inch Filter: amzn.to/2MV6qmL (no longer available) HoneyWell BestAir Merv 8 4-Inch Filter: amzn.to/3AeLUjh Filtrete 3M MPR 600: amzn.to/3rV8F86 Nordic Pure MERV 8: amzn.to/2Zc16xG AeroStar MERV 8: amzn.to/37cRwz0 Flanders MERV 8: amzn.to/3pjPDa7 Filtrete 3M 1085: amzn.to/3rP0WbO Filtrete 3M Basic: amzn.to/3dcVzPM Filtrete 3M 1900: amzn.to/3qnrVL8

Dude, I can't imagine the terror that the marketing staff must feel when they find out that you analyzed their products! I trust you more than the quality certificates on the labels!

I’ve waited my entire adult homeowner life for this.

This guy needs to get an award for these vids. Always so sad when I'm in the market for something and he hadn't tested the options first.

As a research person myself, l am amazed at the technology, time and effort you put into your testing! Since companies "exaggerate" & "embellish" the advertisement of their products, YOU bring it home to the truth....."it is what it is", and your test results, "tell it like it is"! Thank you so much for your time and diligence!!

Always concise, well-thought out and on-to-the point. No loud music, no endless roundabout filler storytelling, no obnoxious "creative camera angles", no clickbait title or jpeg - PF is the complete opposite from 98% of YT today. And it is very much appreciated :)

Do I have any reason to watch a furnace filter test? No. Am I going to watch a furnace filter test? Absolutely I am.

Honestly this channel is incredible.

Wow, I love all your other videos. As a hvac professional I was dreading this. But after watching you absolutely nailed it. The right measurement tools. The right tests. Great job.

Thanks for the great video, as always. I installed and repaired HVAC systems for over a decade and quickly became convinced that the cheap, fiberglass 1" filters do only a minimal job of protecting coils and furnaces. They stop large debris, but a wet A/C coil will still eventually clog up with fine dust even if the owner routinely changes the cheap filter (and many do not). An inexpensive pleated filter will offer far better protection to your equipment, but will probably need to be changed more often as it will catch far more stuff than a basic fiber filter. If you're buying a new HVAC system or building a new home, you should definitely talk with your contractor about filtration options, especially those that add little additional expense such as having the ability to use 2" filters. This gives people more options. We don't want to force people to spend a fortune on filters, but improved air filtration can have multiple benefits, including: 1. Longer service life and less maintenance for furnace, air handler, and refrigerant coil. 2. Fewer indoor allergens, which reduces suffering for those that already have allergies, but may not stop babies and toddlers from developing allergies (early allergen exposure might be beneficial). As an allergy sufferer myself, I definitely benefit from filtration. 3. No need to routinely clean duct system, which is an expensive and potentially damaging job often done by contractors who may not be licensed and who sometimes use exaggerated claims to frighten people into having their ducts cleaned. 4. Less overall household dust, but vacuuming should still be done regularly as it keeps a lot of dust out of your potentially expensive furnace filter(s). 5. Reduced or eliminated need to purchase and operate standalone HEPA filter units. Filter upgrades don't necessarily have to cost a fortune. If you choose somewhat better filters that have a lot of pleated surface area, you may be able to increase your filter change interval. While a single "good" filter is usually more expensive than a 4-pack of basic filters, the reduced need to go into the attic or crawl space plus some of the benefits listed above may make this a reasonable investment. No matter what kind of filter you have, if a filter "looks" dirty, then it's probably past time to change it. If your filter has an opaque layer of dust on it that can rub onto a finger, then you should probably *halve* your current change interval (double the frequency). Such a layer *greatly* increases the workload to your blower and reduces airflow, which can then cause A/C freeze-up and potential compressor damage. Dirty filters can turn out to be *very* expensive. MERV8 is often a fair compromise, as upgrading to MERV11 or higher filtration levels will usually require the consultation of a licensed expert. I do not recommend over-spending on air filtration except in cases of real medical need and I like to keep in mind that modern societies in rich nations seem easily attracted to over-cleaning and over-sterilizing their environments. Those with airborne allergies may substantially increase their quality of life with better air filtration, however.

As a pro HVAC guy, I really appreciate this video. I hope more homeowners see this!

As an HVAC guy, thank you for this! This is what I tell my customers every day. Yes, the higher rates filters will filter out more, but they're typically too restrictive. If you want more and better filtration, you need a wider filter. Sometimes you even need duct adjustments to accommodate higher filtration.

I’ve been doing research on this lately for cost versus actually effectiveness. Thanks for spending all the money to do the testing to give me an answer i feel like I can trust.

3M: Creates ultra expensive filter testing methodologies to demonstrate product effectiveness. My trust level: 2/10 Project Farm: Here's an acrylic box with a leaf blower My trust level: 10/10

Your parents raised a dang genius my friend.....it is very clear that you love what you do. Keep up your amazing contributions to this world

Thanks for the test. I got an electric furnace / AC combined installed about 2 years ago (replacing an oil furnace). Initially the tech installed an ElectroDust washable filter and told us that this was the only filter we should use. I noticed after a few washings (every month) that the air quality dropped throughout the house. A person living in this house has extreme chronic breathing problems and I have seasonal allergies. A few months ago, I switched to 3M MPR 600 just out of curiosity and I was astounded at the amount of debris that they would collect compared to the electrostatic filter. Within 2 days of installation I could easily notice a difference in air quality throughout the house (no fumes, no headaches, no nose congestion or sneezing). An HVAC tech was here about a month ago and he removed the 3M and put back the ElectroDust claiming the 3M was causing too much restriction and making the blower whistle. Of course he doesn't care about air quality. What should I do ? I'm through with electrostatic filters. I'm tempted to try out a 3M MPR 1900 even if the tech would not approve. Have you tested the K&N washable filters ? The Castle MERV6 and MERV 8 filters ?

I don't even have a forced air system and I still watched and thought this was an awesome video.

As someone who works in the HVAC industry, I found this video technically accurate and really educational.

Project Farm, PLEASE add a grid chart with all of the data at the end of the video so we can study your great work done. Thanks.

This channel is my favorite on RU-vid. So much quality information and testing it's simply the best. These videos help me through the day, I watch these videos daily (even ones I've watched before) and I help with my PTSD (USMC Infantryman) and the constant barrage of random questions that pop into my head that before now had no answers. Thank you for making this content, and thank you for taking the time out of your day to indulge us in the quest for the best of the best when it comes to anything and everything.

Just bought my first house and am still learning a lot about being a first time home owner. This video couldn't have came out at a more perfect time. Thank you.

I never make comments, but I had to say thank you. I appreciate your methodology in testing, it's about as thorough as anyone DIYer could ask for.

I've been filtering my flour wrong my whole life. Another great video!

Having an asthmatic daughter. 3 year old! This is gold to me and i applaud you for doing all these tests helping everyone! Keep up the good work!!

i love that you do research on WHAT each rating means and how it came to be to give all of us a deeper understanding. i really respect that!

A suggestion: always have the winners at the end of the video. Sometimes I circle back to remind myself what was the best one when it’s time to purchase. Thank you for what you do!

Everyone in the comments: oh shit I'm supposed to change that

It would be helpful to compare the 1" honeywell filters to really compare the brands as opposed to comparing thickness.

Great video!! I work in the air filtration industry, but even we don’t see real life testing like this with such a variety of filters.. good job!

I've been an hvac technician for 4 years, this video was a fun watch. I can tell you from experience that most systems (at least systems that I've worked on) can't handle a 1 inch filter with an 8 merv rating. In general an hvac system is designed to run at .5 overall static. Thats the filter, A/C coil, overall duct work friction, and even the furnace itself. When the system is initially designed it can be designed to handle a high merv rated filter. In reality systems aren't designed to handle a high merv filter. As of 2020 a new motor technology called constant torque comes standard with every furnace. The name speaks for itself but I will briefly explain why its a game changer. Before 2020 PSC motors were the industry standard motor for nearly all furnaces. PSC motors are great but their output CFM is determined by static pressure and the output can range wildly as static pressure changes. Filter get dirty, you get less air. Filter is brand new, you get more air. Constant torque is quite the opposite. A constant torque motor can maintain the same CFM all the way up to .8 static. The way this is done is too complex to explain for a RU-vid comment but the result of the technology is a system that is able to deliver a constant CFM even as static (resistance) changes. Additionally, in high altitude areas where the air is thinner, constant torque actually puts out more overall CFM to maintain a constant mass air flow. That means the system won't be at a deficit simply because of thinner air. Once again, great video, very informative. Hope I was able to teach someone something with this lengthy comment.

This is probably one of the most informative and impartial RU-vid channels In e ever subscribed to. Thanks for the fantastic content!

Being in the HVAC field, I would like a test on all the high efficiency filters that are supposed to last 6 months to a year depending on how much dust and pet hair is in the air. A good example would be the Aprilaire HE (whole home air purifiers) filters. Would like a review on other similar products as well as the different ratings of each brand, Merv 11,13, etc. Love the videos and will always be a loyal viewer.

Oh how cool is this. I literally was just at Home Depot getting furnace filters the other days and wondered if these were as good as they say they were. Todd is going test that, we the people are going to know and honest result.

Great video, with this crazy heat wave. I talked to my HVAC guy about this. He said it best. The point of the air filter is to keep dust out of your blower motor, not to clean the air for you. That is what HEPA filters systems are for.

"You may now breathe freely." I was disappointed you didn't say "we are going to test that!" XD

Thank you again for being an amazing consumer watchdog! Air filtration in HVAC systems is a very crucial aspect and people don’t understand that most duck systems are improperly sized. if your duct is sized correctly even the most restrictive filter will be just fine because the surface area is large enough to compensate for the static pressure. But like I said they’re usually too small. So is an HVAC repair man I would recommend the 3M 1900. Excellent video as always A true professional. And a service to homeowners everywhere this is always my favorite channel. let me add that up until this video I generally recommended the least restrictive air filter possible I’ve even use the green one so I mean you’re influencing homeowners and professionals with your content. Granted it benefits me to for people to have dirty ac cause I get more service calls 😂 but I’d rather recommend quality products to my customers

I didn't realize how many filters are made in the USA. Yes!!!!

Flow rate is one of the most important aspect of a filter. If it restricts too much air, most residential HVAC units are not designed to handle the load and will prematurely wear out the fan motor.

This is a fantastic video. I'm an occupational and environmental physician; I'd like to share this with my colleagues and trainees for educational purposes. There is much confusion, even in the professional world, about tradeoffs for filter ratings and designs. Please keep up this great work; I watch everything you put out!

Great Video !!!! Some years ago we tried different filters in the house. My two daughters had asthma. After trying different filters, we found that the 1900 seemed to work the best. It was nice to see your tests were similar to what a novice like me doing the testing. They are expensive, but worth it for me. Keep up the great work !!

I love that you reply to basically everyone, even if it’s a basic reply you still do it which is really cool

The fastest click in the west

This is awesome! Seems such a mundane thing to test, but I am one that will stand in the filter area of the store trying to figure out which one is the best bang for the buck. Man I love this channel!

After watching this video I purchased new filters based on what I learned from you. HUGE difference. Feel cheated by marketing. Thank you for this service.

This guy is great ! The amount of time you spend on these test for us is greatly appreciated ! Thanks man

Sometimes too much information can be overwhelming for some people. I would love to see at the end an analysis of which is best filtration according to cost and best filtration overall.

Im about 45 seconds into rhis video and i had to stop it.....to go make some popcorn. This is gonna awesome. Nobody does reviews like this dude!

Would love to see a video on the best room air purifiers to piggy back off of this. There are way too many options out there with a lot of variability in quality. Thanks as always for these incredible resources!

We are so lucky to have a guy like this. He makes quality content, gives useful information and has the patience to do this type of videos

Thank you for doing this! A suggestion if it hasn’t already been asked would be garage heater test!

Helpful info! One suggestion for future filter tests----add a small agitation prep box in which a fan stirs up the powder into a fog and then blow/suck that into your filter box. You should get much better dust distribution that will cover the entire filter instead of "blobbing" over the filter.

The most important thing here that everyone's is missing, is that frequent filter changes are what will extend the life of your system. Most installs have the air balanced upon installation and the static pressure is checked to be within specs of the manufacturers requirements. I believe as long as you are using a pleated filter and change frequently then that's all you need. Leaving clogged up filters will only increase static pressure and lead to premature failure.

The thickness of the filters makes a difference in the surface area of the filters. Putting 4" and 2" filters against 1" filters gives them a 2x or 4x advantage since their filter surface area is 2x and 4x as large. The home recepticals for filters generally are 1" only. There are "pocket" filters which have sleeves instead of pleats which make the surface area even larger as they fit in a 1" mount and hang into the compartment. Judging by air flow resistance would put these at nearly free-flow air values. The comparison should be the same thickness though as most 2" and 4" filters just will not fit in normal home applications because of the filter mounting frame used on homes outside of the pocket filters.

I bought the Filtrete 1900, it dramatically reduced the dust in our house in a week. Remarkable how dusty our house was using the Flanders cheap filters and replacing them monthly vs the 1900... however, my A/C condenser, evaporator and the lines completely froze, lol. The filter didn't look bad at all, but the flow of air must have reduced enough in a week to cause the unit to freeze. It thawed out with the fan on in an hour and I put the Flanders back in. Going to try the Filtrete basic. If you have a newer blower, you probably are ok, but my 80% eff. furnace and blower is 20 years old and might not have the CFMs for a HEPA filter.

wonder who's going to be watching this with their Valentine's day date lol

When I went to HD to buy a filter for the first time, I had no idea how to pick one (and still didn't until this video). Thank you for explaining it visually and audibly. You are awesome!!

Great video as always! I've been in the residential HVAC industry for 30 years, and questions about filters are always coming up. "When do I change them? Which one should I buy?" I tell customers, every situation is different but you really can't change a filter too soon, but you can definitely change one too late. Check your filter monthly and you'll soon figure out how often. I also tell customers, if air quality is a big concern, you are going to have to get away from a 1" thick filter and go with a 4" or 5" (yes, modification to your HVAC system will be necessary). A 1" filter that is capable of removing the small particles, is too restrictive. Also, DO NOT BUY the odor-reducing filters with carbon on them! You are buying a filter that is already dirty (very restrictive).

I always enjoy the level of craftsmanship you put into your test rigs and the testing equipment used to collect the data in order to help and teach millions of people. I definitely didn't pay attention to filter quality or lifetimes till I saw this video. Thank you and keep up the good work.

Oh man, please do the same brands with different MERV ratings. I’d love to see the amount of particles reduced vs airflow among brands! Great for allergy sufferers and someone in my family who has asthma.

4" filters are the way to go - I change mine out once/year. The box for them can be added on to most systems pretty easily by an HVAC Company.

I use the GlasFloss filters since my work over ordered about 500 of them in my size . Somehow somebody that wasn't our company ate the cost of those filters. They never shipped them back when they reorded them in the correct size . They told me to take what I want , so I've benefitted with a few hundred free filters and haven't paid for a filter in a year . I change them every couple weeks since I have two cats and a dog .

I think the best thing about this channel is that you get to collect all those testing instruments. Project farm may need a new barn soon.

I'm definitely using this information the next time I shop for a furnace filter.

Working as an Energy Auditor; I wish I could have every client sit down and watch this. Thank you for this video!!

Glad to have real tests to help me decide if I want to pay extra for a filter or if I am just setting myself up to pay sooner for a new blower. Thanks for the video!

Wow. You’re like the first person to ever actually test these things. Thanks for the info!

Wait a minute! Did you test using sifted or unsifted flour? LOL :-) Truly incredible testing as always! Loved the video. A++

After viewing Project Farm’s test of furnace filters, I installed a 3M Filtrete 1900 air filter (16x25x1) in my furnace (Lennox gas up-flow, 66k BTU, 94%, PSC blower motor). I didn’t do a PF-level test, but I did monitor air flow using a Testo 405i hot-wire anemometer. When the filter was new , the airflow was 1,100-1,200 CFM. The airflow decreased a little each month. The filter is now three months old and showing significant “dirt”, but the airflow is still 1,000-1,100 CFM. The multiple folds in the filter media are working well. Thanks

I have a friend that does air conditioning service and installation. He told me to buy the cheap filters and spray them with Endust. Works great and catches dust like you wouldn't believe. Just be sure to change the filter once a month.

🤔 So which brand/model wins? I watched the whole video, but I got lost with all the data.🤪 Another awesome video PF... no doubt... thank you!👍

You always surprise me at how well done and scientifically accurate your comparison videos are. I also like how at the end you only give a few rough thoughts about your favourite ones and basically let the data from your tests show us which is the best. Letting the data and not opinions speak for itself. You also do what most similar youtube channels don't do, remember to feature the control in each comparison video so we have the baseline standard to begin with. Certainly you are the standard in consumer/prosumer utility product comparisons and manufacturer claim testing.

Hey buddy, great video! I work in producing filter testing equipment, and I really loved the dedication and effort you put into this video. I think your analysis in general was really informative. Something worth considering if you tackle filtration in the future is the relationship between contaminate accrual in the media and the buildup of resistance to flow through the media. The differential pressure curve to contaminate captured is a huge factor in filter performance that you could maybe tackle by aerosolizing the particulate into the air stream and then timing each filter to reach a predetermined change in deltaP. Still, rad video, love your channel, I'll keep coming back.

I had a new furnace installed 6 months ago, after 38 years on old one. The installers said don't use filters higher than MERV 5 or 6. The higher numbers restrict the air flow and cause over heating of the furnace and shorten it's life. They also said the filters are to keep the heat exchanger, fan motor and fan clean only. NOT to keep the air in your house air clean. Your testing is very thorough. I love your channel.

Static pressure results - 7:34 Large particle results - 10:42 Static pressure overlay with Large particle result in order - 11:05 Square inches of filter media - 12:11

I work in the HVAC field. we usually recommend to customers buy cheaper filters and change them more often. Which is still cheaper to do then some of the more expensive and fancy type brands like some of the 3M stuff. Reason why we tell them to buy the cheap ones is because the "fancy" more expensive ones are a lot more restrictive with the air flow and also make your equipment work harder.

Man, this guy does the absolute best comparison of AC filters! You can bet your last buck this guy will always give you real world results when It comes to comparisons... Where would we be without him!! God bless you brother!

As a havc mechanic working in residential for over 20 years. I tell customers to use a pleated filter if a media filter doesn't fit there hvac system. I also tell them don't worry about the numbers on the filters at the store. Just change the filter every month. This is recommended by the manufacturer of the heating and cooling equipment. Marketing is such big business. Companies will do and say and claim the world to you just for you to buy there products. Great video by the way. People need to understand that every home is different every Occupancy is different. Traffic in is different. Hopefully you see my point.

Being a recent first time homeowner, this is exactly the video I needed. Thanks!

Thanks! This was great. I've been buying the Filtrete 1900 for 2 years now and dont plan on switching. They last us about 3 months each. They're not cheap but I buy a year's worth at Lowes and save a few bucks since they give a discount when buying 4 or more.

In the summers I have to buy the more expensive filters here in California when we have the annual wildfires, the smoke gets pretty thick, blocking out the sun sometimes where it just looks like a glowing orange in the sky, Have to have a good filter to at least get the smoke particles out of the air in your home so you can breathe and give your lungs a break from being outside.

Nice, last friday I bought 2 of those 3M filtrete ultra 16x20x1 filters that replaced some unknown filters that looked similar to those cheapo "max flow" filters in this video that didn't stop anything and I gotta say the difference is awesome. We can breathe easier and I dont wake up with a runny nose anymore. This video awesome.

In my opinion, the purpose of the filter is to protect the equipment, not to purify the air. I will only use the EZ Flow type filters. I also have a few dedicated air purifiers around my house because indoor air quality is important to me. Great video as always though!

My furnace manufacturer actually recommends using the filter that is the least restrictive and that only stops large particles from getting through. It still collects a lot of dust but is mostly there to prevent leaves and hairs from getting through. I buy the cheapest, least restrictive filter I can find and my ducts are still clean.

Those of us with allergies really appreciate this test. Thanks!

Great video and very helpful. I was one of the people that suggested this one. Thanks again for making it. My system takes a 16x20 like you were testing but only a 1" thick. I guess I will stick with the higher end 3M filters like the 1900 and change more often. I made a manometer to check gas pressure when I installed my furnace so maybe I can incorporate it as a way to check airflow.

I swear. No other channel has this much value. Wow.

For those using the best quality filters: keep in mind that these filters heavily restrict airflow and often times prohibit your hvac system from running at an optimum level. It’s not uncommon to use the filters and when the system kicks on you hear a pop. That’s your duct work collapsing in on itself meaning you have too much air restriction and over time that can damage your system. Not always the case but just something to be aware of.

You've been making some extremely relevant videos lately. Awesome! Keep it up!

here is a suggestion. Make a recommendation of which you would buy/use.

I've lost count of how many times I've watched this video. Its a great reference. Thanks for making it.

Why hasn't K&N jumped into this game???

I love how you go over the some of the qualitative claims made by each product. Adds a nice tinge of humor to the review

Odd one out being that I changed mine 2 days ago and this came up, great timing. Thank you!

Thanks again for an awesome test. I always wondered how my 4” filters were ok. Great in-depth and meaningful review. You can truly learn how things are designed and how they are supposed to work with the tests you do.

Yeah I got my idea picked. Thank you project farm!!! You did a good job at that I really thank you for the info this is nice.

This guy's kids are really lucky to have such a cool dad.

Yup, those 4" filters are awesome because it has more media but it's spread out. As for some returns not being able to take them you can get top Hat filters which are filters just like the 4" but it has a 1" lip so it fits in most standard registers.

Hey! Love the videos, but a suggestion. At the end of the video's, do a top 3 products from your tests along with your top Gold standard value recommended product. Some, even with the tests might have a hard time knowing which one's are best/recommended for example, this video.

After replacing my fridge water filter the other day with a cheap-o filter, I was thinking about how I'd love to see you compare different water filters!

This is awesome! You reviewed one of our sister company's filters