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Forum » Home HVAC Filters PSA
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Thread: Home HVAC Filters PSA

post 1613223781 08-11-2020, 10:01 AM
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Home HVAC Filters PSA

Guy at Home Deopt said the most expensive AC filters aren't always the best ones because they are too dense and make the unit work harder, even though they will technically filter out more and smaller particles of dust and pollen, etc, it isn't worth it.

He said the mid range are usually a good balance between breathability and filtering.
post 1613223961 08-11-2020, 10:03 AM
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Just got a new AC unit installed so I'm interested in what the expert AC tradies say about this.
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post 1613224251 08-11-2020, 10:06 AM
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Just had a new Trane unit put in last year. They told me over and over to buy the cheapest filter and change it monthly.

Cheap filters = high air flow

Expensive filters = low air flow

Low air flow causes problems.

I just buy the cheap green fiberglass type filters. They are about $1 each in 20x30x1.
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post 1613224591 08-11-2020, 10:10 AM
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buy the cheap ones and replace every month srs
MinisterOfLust: scooterbrah and Mcfreoko are the two worst posters here.
post 1613224721 08-11-2020, 10:12 AM
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Buy the cheapos and replace monthly
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post 1613225241 08-11-2020, 10:17 AM
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Dust accumulating inside the unit may burn the unit out faster, is the theory, which is why you go mid-grade. The cheapest ones with the best air-flow also let in more dust.
post 1613230511 08-11-2020, 11:15 AM
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Buy the cheap packs, change every 30 days. DO NOT buy the ones that have the Home Depot logo on the side.
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post 1613230721 08-11-2020, 11:18 AM
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My guy said you can go with a merv 13, but it does in fact make the unit work harder, so an 8 is good as well.
I have thick 35 dollar filters so i check them before just swapping them out; I usually check them each quarter until i clean the ducts.
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post 1613231251 08-11-2020, 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted By x-trainer
My guy said you can go with a merv 13, but it does in fct make the unit work harder so an 8 is good as well.
I have thick 35 dollar filters so i check them before just swapping them out; I usually check them each quarter until i clean the ducts.
Why do you have so much chit going by your filter that you need to clean the ducts? Do you ever clean the coil or is that completely blocked?
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post 1613231601 08-11-2020, 11:27 AM
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Good luck with your respiration and headache goals in 2021 if you go with the cheap filters.

Go mid range if anything.
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post 1613232411 08-11-2020, 11:34 AM
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How are you guys sucking all this crap into your system? My filter is in the ceiling 11 feet off the ground in the hall in the middle of the house.

I could probably get away with running no filter. The 20 year old coil that was taken out looked fine.
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post 1613232581 08-11-2020, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted By Anachron⏩
Does no one else see this?
older house, accumulation of debris
There is an unspoken thing, we are iron brothers and sisters, we are to support each other and...It is our duty to support our brothers and sisters in the iron game!
post 1613232651 08-11-2020, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted By jeshelton⏩
Why do you have so much chit going by your filter that you need to clean the ducts? Do you ever clean the coil or is that completely blocked?
a 2 year old unit in an older home, the ducts just need it after decades of accumulation
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post 1613232731 08-11-2020, 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted By keyboardworkout⏩
How are you guys sucking all this crap into your system? My filter is in the ceiling 11 feet off the ground in the hall in the middle of the house.

I could probably get away with running no filter. The 20 year old coil that was taken out looked fine.
I lived in an older house where the old floor furnace was converted to central air.

I absolutely hated having the filter in the floor, always filled with crap
post 1613232761 08-11-2020, 11:40 AM
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Mine use the 4inch thick accordian style...theres pretty much only a few models to choose from, but get the cheapest anyway bc theyre expensive
n4l
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post 1613232831 08-11-2020, 11:41 AM
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I thought buying the cheap ones was common knowledge.
post 1613234501 08-11-2020, 11:56 AM
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I'm currently designing an HVAC system and the client wanted to switch to a MERV-16 filter. The filters are thicker, so yes, it does require more airflow. However, if you system and fans are designed for whatever MERV Filter you are using, then there should be no issue. However, if your system is designed for a MERV-8 or MERV-11, and you shove a MERV-13 into it, you will have a lower airflow, thus leading to your fan to ramp up, thus leading to wear and tear on your system. The higher the MERV filter, the bigger your fan needs to be and typically the more expensive it is to run. There's pros and cons are pretty obvious. With a higher MERV filter you get cleaner air inside of your house, so if pollen and dusts are issues or if someone in your family has respiratory issues, this can be a huge plus. However, it will be more expensive to replace the filters, swap out the fan if you need to, and then higher energy cost to run. Then the net-negative is when you shove a filter in your system that it is not designed for, and you will get reduced capacity/efficiency, and you will damage your system.

Typical people only need a MERV 8 filter for their homes at most. You could change them every other month if you wanted to, but every month is preventative maintenance and will pay off down the line.

In regards to duct cleaning, you should be cleaning your ducts in your home every 5 years at most. The main cause from dust in your ducts will be during the downtime on the winter when you aren't running it. Dust will come up and accumlate in the ducts.
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post 1613235111 08-11-2020, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted By Anachron⏩
PSA with no info, this is great. While the concept in OP is true ( a filter that filters to a greater extent than needed will obstruct airflow to a detrimental degree)...

There is no filter that is available at HD that will create that issue. You'd need to go MERV 13 or higher for that effect. I don't recall HD selling anything higher than MERV 11. I'll stick to my MERV 13's that I special order.

Edit : The experts that tell you to go cheap are hoping for future business.
High quality HD filters will cause air restrictions leading the evaporator coil to freeze up. I've seen it many times. It may cause problems if you forget to replace it a couple months.

Lower quality HD filters do not capture as much particles, but those particles pass through eventually getting caught in the evaporator fins.

I say go with mid quality bro
post 1613235631 08-11-2020, 12:04 PM
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no filter crew

the dust and bacteria coming in from outside made my test 350% higher
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post 1613235641 08-11-2020, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted By keyboardworkout⏩
Just had a new Trane unit put in last year. They told me over and over to buy the cheapest filter and change it monthly.

Cheap filters = high air flow

Expensive filters = low air flow

Low air flow causes problems.

I just buy the cheap green fiberglass type filters. They are about $1 each in 20x30x1.
This...

Worked for a A/C company while in HS (summers) and this was pretty much drilled into my head. Use the cheap fiberglass filters and replace once a month... /thread
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post 1613235891 08-11-2020, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted By 1slo5oh⏩
Use the cheap fiberglass filters and replace once a month... /thread
If you do that, there may be more dust build up faster that you have to clean, but I can see how that's doable.
post 1613236321 08-11-2020, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted By BigTimeOperator⏩
If you do that, there may be more dust build up faster that you have to clean, but I can see how that's doable.
Not that I ever saw.. of course over time you are going to get dust collected on the coils regardless and they will have to be cleaned
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post 1613236391 08-11-2020, 12:12 PM
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dirtier the more efficient
post 1613236821 08-11-2020, 12:16 PM
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If the coils eventually have to be cleaned either way, I can see the logic in buying the cheapest, but mid-grade might still do better filtering out allergans if you have an issue with that.

You also have to dust your furniture less with mid grade.
post 1613629381 08-15-2020, 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted By JStrez⏩
I'm currently designing an HVAC system and the client wanted to switch to a MERV-16 filter. The filters are thicker, so yes, it does require more airflow. However, if you system and fans are designed for whatever MERV Filter you are using, then there should be no issue. However, if your system is designed for a MERV-8 or MERV-11, and you shove a MERV-13 into it, you will have a lower airflow, thus leading to your fan to ramp up, thus leading to wear and tear on your system. The higher the MERV filter, the bigger your fan needs to be and typically the more expensive it is to run. There's pros and cons are pretty obvious. With a higher MERV filter you get cleaner air inside of your house, so if pollen and dusts are issues or if someone in your family has respiratory issues, this can be a huge plus. However, it will be more expensive to replace the filters, swap out the fan if you need to, and then higher energy cost to run. Then the net-negative is when you shove a filter in your system that it is not designed for, and you will get reduced capacity/efficiency, and you will damage your system.

Typical people only need a MERV 8 filter for their homes at most. You could change them every other month if you wanted to, but every month is preventative maintenance and will pay off down the line.

In regards to duct cleaning, you should be cleaning your ducts in your home every 5 years at most. The main cause from dust in your ducts will be during the downtime on the winter when you aren't running it. Dust will come up and accumlate in the ducts.
How do u know what merv filter your unit is designed for? I just changed my coils and outdoor unit.. How do I find out the merv compatibility?

Also u really need to clean ducts every 5 years? House is 10 years old and I haven't done it yet.
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post 1613630351 08-15-2020, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted By Preban_AR15⏩
How do u know what merv filter your unit is designed for? I just changed my coils and outdoor unit.. How do I find out the merv compatibility?
Depends on your blower size, duct work, coil and so on. Technically anything can be compatible if your blower is powerful enough. You can try putting the filter on and if you notice reduced airflow, higher noise and bills then its not compatible.
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