Are Air Filters Really Worth It?

The air filters you use play a vital role in ensuring that the air in your home stays safe and comfortable to breathe. Not only do they remove allergens from dust, mold spores, and other pollutants from the air your family breathes, but they also filter out fine dirt particles that can degrade the performance of the HVAC system itself. Are expensive air conditioning filters worth it? More costly filters, such as pleated residential filters, are able to trap dust mites, pollen, mold and pet dander and even bacteria, so they are worth it, especially for people with severe allergies. HEPA filters filter out bacteria and viruses and are worth the extra money for people with respiratory conditions such as emphysema.

An air purifier is basically a fan and a filter, which can be noisy, especially at higher speeds. While cheaper generic filters trap less than 20% of contaminants, a medium grade pleated filter can trap approximately 50% of contaminants and a HEPA filter even more. The new filters avoid additional billing over time by allowing air to pass through them with the minimum required airflow. If you can't find Nordic Pure in your size, or if you prefer to buy and buy a new filter from a store immediately, Honeywell's FPR 9 filters and Filtrete MPR 1500 filters are similar and widely available in retail stores.

Both are evidence that the smoky air is finding a way around the clogged filter rather than through it, and that it's time to install a new one. At Filter King, we offer affordable filters that look expensive but provide equal protection as you pay for. Expensive filters may seem like a luxury, but their function is too important to settle for lower quality filters. Some filters are reusable and washable, but require meticulous maintenance, so they are not usually found in the most effective air purifiers.

This scale rates air conditioning filters from 1 to 16 based on their ability to trap particulates from the air. In addition, pleated filters do not have to be changed as often as just one every 3 months compared to the monthly frequency of non-pleated filters. Finally, look for online retailers that offer discounts to set up recurring shipments of air filters (ours is 5%, for example). For example, hospitals use filters with a rating of 16, but that is not necessary for your home environment, and using a filter with such a high rating will increase your energy costs.