You should replace your furnace and air conditioner air filter often. However, there are so many options out there and it gets difficult to figure out which one to choose and why.
After stumbling through so many of what felt like advertisements. Finally an honest video that goes straight to the point and hits on the real differences (including airflow, which I suspected)! Thank you!
See why cant others just give it straight. I just commented on another video on how good the info was but this was even more clear. Ty for making this video. You saved me money and my unit over time. I appreciate it very much
My original AC had the cheaper filters, changed frequently, and when it was replaced, the coils were caked with grime. The replacement AC used the FPR5 filters, and I tried to replace them at the 2-3 month timeframe (failed a time or two). When that system was replaced after 13 years, the coils were remarkedly clean. Here in S. Florida, the AC runs about 350 days a year and gets heavy use. Ten to twelve years is a decent lifespan for AC here.
Good video. I change my huge heat pump filter every spring and fall and the filter is barely discolored with no noticeable debris on it. Sometimes it's so clean, I feel like that is too often.
I just installed a new HVAC system in my basement remodel (covid project lol) and went with a MERV 11, but I hear whistling and overall system is noisy. I just ordered the basic MERV 5 filters from filtrete. I'll also get a fiberglass per your advice. Thanks for the tips! Love to learn.
Nice tips. Wish I knew these tips years ago. I've been using the more expensive filters for years and notice my air flow has been a lot weaker and noisier suction sound since using these. Switched to the basic $5 filter after seeing your video and the flow is so much better and the suction noise is gone. 👍 I am in Calif so I don't use the central heating much. But it's great to have the quick heat up when needed.
Thanks for the video! Here in Phoenix I changed my girlfriends air filter in her apartment with a thin cheap one from ace and it cooled her apartment within seconds. It’s 115 today and it def cooled it down. Thanks!
Good info, thanks. I took a closer look at my furnace filter choice and decided to make a significant change to try and quantify the difference in efficiency and MERV level. I was running a Filtrate MERV 13 filter on the HVAC (Rheem Furnace: Prestige 96% efficient, and Rheem AC: SER 13). It always seemed that the HVAC system took a long time to heat or cool the house and the off-cycle time between cycles was 7 - 11 minutes, depending on the outside temp, wind, RH). So I switched to a MERV 8 and saw a significant improvement! The furnace cycles less times each hour and heats or cools much faster. The off-cycle time is now 15 - 18 minutes (depending on outside conditions)! I have not noticed any change in the amount of dust around the house on furniture or floors after the change. No difference in allergy symptoms either. I do not hav an anemometer to measure air flow at the registers but my crude test of taping one edge of a paper towel sheet to the middle of the floor register showed a significant improvement in air flow - the paper towel stood straight up with the MERV 8 filter installed but would only lift to about 60 degrees with the MERV 13 filter in the HVAC! I will not go back to a higher MERV filter! Too restrictive and too much wear and tear on the equipment. Filter manufacturers push their higher MERV filters because they make more money and they do not tell you about the long term impact on your HVAC system.
I use a MERV10 which is similar to the FPR 7 you profiled. We have excellent air flow blowing through the house so its not prohibitive in any way or taxing the motor. I agree to go higher would place a burden on the system. But since the system is not taxed on MERV10 or FPR7, I'm not sure swapping for a low end filter would really benefit, because then it would allow particles and debris to get through that could adhere to your coil which could clog it overtime and keep your motor overworked regardless of what filter you use.
That's why about every other year you get in there and clean the coil, even using the best filter known to man you still get particles and debris through. You would be surprised at how much more flow you would get and your ac will also thank you
I buy Merv 14 filters that are 5" deep and that fit my existing filter housing. Has more filter area and keeps the air flow high with less pressure drop. The merv 8 filters sold by the big stores are ok, but don't get the allergy dust.
I just purchased a Merv 11 filter by Best Air from Menards. The previous filter was the cheap green one you have in your video. So I'll be watching now to see if I feel a difference. My fam has allergies and we also have carpet. What's funny is that back in the day my grandparents used to have a box of cheap green ones, and I never remember seeing all these expensive ones.
I found if I installed a Thicker more dense filter in my unit, sometimes unit would freeze up because air flow was being restricted, of course here in the deep south, humidity is very high so that probably has some effect on filter...
I had 3 A/C guys come out and charge us a lot of money collectively. My refrigerant line was freezing, and none of them found the real problem. I realized my gf had switched the filters we were using. I swapped it out for a cheaper filter, and the airflow improved significantly, keeping it from freezing.
Good idea about changing to lower rating for top 2 coldest and hottest months. I’ve decided to do that this year. I’m using a large air purifier that isn’t a part of my hvac for house air quality improvement. I’ve decided my hvac should focus on heating and cooling.
That’s how I’m doing it. I was using a Merv 12 filter all yr long. Wife has allergy/asthma issues at times. I was working my system harder from the restriction of air. But I do have three Allen air purifiers in the home.
@@Kiddro22 you have a nice setup up. I have one blue air for the large area of the house and a couple of cheaper winix for an odd room or two. Changing the filters once a year will be about the same price as buying the Merv 13s I had been using so cost is about the same. I found some $5 pleated Merv 8s at a local hardware store for my main air handler unit. I’ve been replacing those about every three months. I agree the air is great like this and I think my A/C might last longer. The three Allen setup sounds really nice. Take care.
@@kw2080 thank you. So just think. I was running a Merv 12 with three air purifier’s. I guess I was trying to smell what The Rock was really cooking.😂😂
@@Kiddro22 not sure about the rock but it’s difficult to get the straight information on what to use in the A/C units. Too much marketing implying larger numbers are better. However, A/C units were meant for heating and cooling, not really energy efficient air cleaning.
Another way to reduce restriction to the airflow in your HVAC system is to add an additional return air filter grille and filter; however the best way is to install a filter box behind furnace or air handling unit, where you can use a 4 or 5 inch pleated filter. Systems are installed in attics; closets and basements.-
The problem with a furnace box and on a filter on the grill is the build up of thick dust and dirt in your duct system. Which will eventually get to those 4 inch filters and clog them up faster and the dust and dirt will fall out the return if in the ceiling. They should make 2 + inch return grill filters to cure both issues. A person can modify their return grill to accept a thicker filter but it would be great if they just came that way from the factory.
Beware: cheaper filters allow better air flow but also allow more dirt clogging up the evaporator coil and drain lines...It could be very costly! Check with your local heating and cooling servicer.
Most HVAC systems are not designed to use the expensive and restrictive filters. I have been using Filtrete Basic pleated filters but there is no Merv rating on them. They seem to be less restrictive. Personally, I like the True Blue FPR5 filters at Home Depot but for some reason they stopped carrying my filter size.
our new furnace ect has a 20x25x4 thery said to use it and even gave reason why, our old carrier had a space guard and my son never changed the filter messed up the furnace, i know these guys they are great
Based on all of my research which was extensive, the average home should use a Merv 8 -12 filter. Good tip for extreme heat or cold to lower the thickness!
If you are on a 1 inch filter - upgrade your setup to accept a 2 inch or better yet a 4 inch filter and you can have both high airflow and high filtration
Changing from 1” thick to a 2” or 4” filter would require a pro come to your house and totally revamp your sheet metal air intake at the furnace. Extremely expensive.
@@kentyler966 ...not true if you dig deeper into the options. Maybe so if your filter is RIGHT AT the furnace ( "air-handler").....but not so if your filter is in the 1" thick air return grille in your living area wall or ceiling. Follow me on this. I went with a BETTER filter ( MERV 8 instead of my 3M, 1" thick Merv 5)...AND....much less pressure drop. What I bought was a deep-pleat filter where the "guts" sits deeper inside the air-inlet tunnel.....BUT is 5" deep, using a 1" thick outer "flange". Here is the vid to show the "other" brand name" and how this works...and then what follows after that, is the FilterBuy brand I bought. Mine were about $68 for a 2-pack, and these should last 6 months or longer. The vid---> ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NuCwKf7SBbI.html .....and here is the same style I bought from FilterBuy....no foam-surround, but just use blue painters tape on the edges to seal the same way---> see the thumbnail pic---> filterbuy.com/brand/honeywell-filters/honeywell-return-grille-filters/
finally, someone looking at actual facts. most people just see Merv 13 is start screaming "omg too restrictive". they don't know what they're talking about.
1" pleated filters are too restrictive for furnaces above 70k btu and a/c above 2.5 ton unless specifically upsized for the extra airflow. fiberglass lets too much stuff through. the answer is to get a 4 to 5" media filter installed which provides good filtration without restricting airflow
Yes... that Should be the standard. But, most systems are set up to accept only 1" width. Got to go with less resistance. MERV 8 max or Home Depot FPR 5 max Replace before they get too dirty.
@Chef Bambu...Don't think that being 4".... that it's like stacking 4x 1" filters.....that's not how it works. Stacking 4 x 1" filters WOULD increase pressure drop.....but ONE, 4" PLEATED filter is MUCH LESS pressure drop. They to think about it like this--> imagine taking a 4" deep PLEAT and straightening it out flat. You gain something like 400% extra area where the flow contacts a single-thickness filter...like having a filter opening that is 4 times bigger than it was before. Much more filter area and much more area for the same amount of air to pass-over, therefore MUCH LESS pressure drop.
I use the cheap fiberglass with a 3800sf air purifier, although my apartment is 1300sf. I’ll leave the AC to only cool the house and the air purifier to clean the air. No need making your AC do 2 jobs making it work harder. Now my house stays much cooler and my air is very clean!!
Is there a difference between a furnace filter and an hvac filter. My home takes an odd size which is 18x18x1 but it cant be any bigger than 17.5 where most are 17.75. Which the 17.75 just will not fit without some jerry rigging.
I started renting a home this year and not familiar with furnace ac units or filters. I just got my electric bill and it was extremely high. When I checked the filter, it did not have one in it. I just recently purchased one, could my extreme high bill could have been due to not having one, my thermostat stays on 69 degrees.
If your system didn't have a filter; have some service person check evaporator coil as it may be dirty or stopped up and will also contribute to high bills!
Soooooooooooo....The last two homes I have lived in have options for the single layer filter or the filterX3. So a X3 filter restricts the air too much?? Why does the furnace have an option for that filter?
I do not have a furnace blowing warm air around in my house. Heating with warm air is very wasteful since it goes to the ceiling and heats from the top down, plus air is a poor conductor so it takes a long time to heat the walls and components in the house. I designed and built my house using Warmboard so the heat passes through my body as it becomes warm air. I can keep the thermostats much lower.
@@AlessioSangalli you are still heating with air which is poor conductor. Floor heat takes less energy and goes through people, the furniture, and the cabinets as it rises. People feel warmer at lower settings. Ceiling fans can make people feel cooler than it is due to evaporate from the skin.
@@aircommuter i know floor heating is superior, but it takes forever to warm up, so it's best when people are at home all day. Also, you need tile, no hardwood or carpet (tile is also a superior flooring). With air heating, the environment can be warmed up in 5-10 minutes.
@@AlessioSangalli the air may be warm but the mass of dense materials including Sheetrock and flooring will take hours and forced air units will keep cycling on as the cold materials keep absorbing the warm air. The floor heat doesn’t take a long time unless you heat pipes are installed in concrete or gypcrete. However with Warmboard it heats quickly, and with multiple zones you have ultimate control. You can also supplement with a wood stove or fireplace and get radiation heat.
I am wondering why filter manufacturers can't increase the number of pleats in order to reduce restriction while providing improved filtration at the same time.
The fiberglass filter is the proper filter to use for your HVAC system all year round! Unless you have 400 square inches of filter area per ton, pleaded filters are too restrictive! Grab your manometer and check for yourself. If you have air quality issues in your home, you need an air filtration solution. The HVAC unit is not designed to be that solution. Increasing the number of air returns in the conditioned area will allow you to safely use moderately pleated filters. Most new systems use ECM motors and will be overstressed by pleated filters.
Been doing HVAC for 6 years and i 100% agree. Pleated filters also provide too much resistance to air flow causing the drain line to become the path of least resistance, here in SC we have high humidity and these leads to mold issues inside the home as well as the drain line creating drain blockages. The correct air filter is the basic fiberglass filter as mentioned 👍🏼
@@michaelabbey7206 The truth is that anyone that uses a manometer will be able to tell that a pleated filter is not the right filter. It's not an opinion.
I use the blue fiberglass merv 4 in summer and the poly merv 5 in winter, spraying them with Endust before installing. Furnace clean as a whistle. No pleats for me
What brand and where do you buy the MERV 5 Poly filters? I think they are the best bet too to balance good air flow. The problem is that the big box stores don’t really sell them - it’s all MERV 8-13 Pleated stuff.
I believe merv 11 and up is only needed for those with asthma or allergies. Personally wouldn't go over 11 unless necessary and approved by an ac man. That's because some units can handle it some cannot.
Hi, we just installed an 80,000 BTU Goodmans, and the Filter we have been using forever is a 300 MPR Can we use a 600 or Higher MPR or MERV 8 or more? Don't want to trash our New Furnace lol
When I try to install my pleated (cardboard frame) air filter, it gets snagged by machine screw heads that protrude inside the track that I'm trying to slide the filter into. It mangles the filter and I can't get the filter installed all the way through. What am I doing wrong?
I looked inside mine with a flashlight to find the guides for my 1” filter. It also would get mangled and protrude out about and inch. Come to find out the previous owner had the wrong filter. It was a 20x20x1 and the actual width measurement inside from end to end was 19”. So I cot a custom 19x20x1 filter and it fits flush and AC works so much better. If your issue is truly screws, can you back them out and get smaller ones?
Our HVAC service company recommended buying the cheapest filter stating "the pleated ones kill the system", meaning the pleated ones make the HVAC system work harder & over time wear it out - is that true?
If the filter ports all accepted the really thick 2" or 4" filters, the filters wouldn't be as restrictive and they wouldn't need to be changed as often
That’s how I run my system. Lower Merv in the summer and a higher Merv in the winter. Summer all you’re working is the blower and AC unit. Winter, just the blower.
Depends on system - mine’s can’t handle MERV 13 - the static pressure drop numbers on those filters are pretty bad. I don’t need MERV 13 during winters unless I had a really dusty home and/or allergies. Cheap MERV 8 is fine and change frequently. The problem sometimes is that folks spend a lot on a 1” MERV 13 filter and overuse them - they’ll keep using it for 3-6 months and start straining the system.
NOT going to climb up & down a step ladder two or three times a week to rotate an air filter. Just install a merv 7 filter and be done with it for 30 days.
but flannel guy if you want airflow why not just no filter?? Because the filter is really to filter out all that dirt ect so it dont get stuck on the blower and the cooling coil. dirt is a good insulator and dirt on the coil makes it inefficient very quickly. and the dirt on the blower will make it move less air and make the fan heavy and harder to turn losing more electricity. if your not getting air thats at least 15 degrees cooler than the air going in then it needs cleaned or has a problem or if its just not moving air then it also needs cleaned. if you get a new coil get a mirv 10 at least and use duct tape to seal the filter in the duct to make sure all the air is filtered. my experience. I maintain 659 AC units. also the bad smell you get when turning the heat on the first time of the year is the heating coil getting red hot and burning off all the dirt, hair, dust ect that made it past the filter. hope this helps. depending on your blower air handler unit you MIGHT be able to clean it yourself. If anyone is interested i can make a video on it if flannel dont want to.
Anyone else notice when Flannel Guy shows how dirty the filter is, then flips it to the other side & says this is what it looked like new, that both sides look identical with regard to how dirty they are! lol
If you’ve never used an air filter these are great. ru-vid.comUgkx_dppjvjF8BYEmPSDTcgCUdRsgWYLXNHN I ended up with three after starting out with one. The noise level depends on the 1-3 settings with how hard you want the machine to work. You can also upgrade the filters and get one better for pet hair and smells which is a must have in my home. I noticed the air seemed lighter and easier to breathe when running the machine for the first time. Works great every time. Highly recommended!
The subject about HVAC filtration is just about religion, every body is right in there own opinion, the only thing I personally know is time Will know who is right
Those hot days are most likely to have more dust in the air thus a stronger filter is needed. That POS green fiberglass might be better in a very cold (sub zero) day when no dust, but you sure do need heat in the house. Flaky presentation, tried this channel this one time; never to return.
You are wrong. A higher MERV rating does not necessarily mean that an HVAC filter is more restrictive to air flow. It depends upon the construction and quality of the filter. For example a Filtrete 1900 filter is far less restrictive to air flow than any of the inexpensive filters you presented in your video. That is because the Filtrete 1900 has a much larger surface area than other filters and Filtrete uses a filtering material that does not clog up as quickly as do cheap filters. Independent testing by Consumer Reports and others has proven this to be true.
I disagree. I think the highest rated filters both filter the most and maintain a very high flow of air. Sure, the fiberglass filters have more air flow but they filter almost nothing.
@@Duke93720 Yup! Just read a nice article by a local HVAC company here in AZ that basically says MERV 8 is the best overall balance between filtration and efficiency; Once you go higher then you want to invest in having your whole system inspected...
@@kk-qu1zc Yeah and with the speed and lack of craftsmanship in new construction, I'm sure there's a lot of variance from one home to the next even in the same neighborhood / same builder / like homes. NOT having pets makes a HUGE difference as well.
Buy the cheapest fuzzy filters and a light spray of Pam will provide the best air filtration ever. Try it once and check the results, you'll stick with it.
