house air filters

RenegadeT

RenegadeT

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How oftern do you change your house air filters? And what filters do you use...el cheapo or the something better?
I had 5 filters inthe house, just finished the basement and added 3 more. This is going to be expensive. I usually use 3M red 'midgrade' filters from Lowes, every 4 months or so. The recommendation is every 3 months. With 2 dogs in the house, ours get pretty nasty.
 
I change mine every two months, because like you said the recommendation is every three. I have three dogs in the house as well, and so I figure it is worth the extra expense to change it more often.
 
I use the better quality filters, anti-allergen ones. They are about $17 each, and I change them about every 6 weeks. However, I only have one in my house. The cost of changing filters is minute compared to the cost of changing the coils on your air handler, or your heat/AC running more than needed because it's not getting the proper air flow.
 
Keeping the fliters changed is alot cheaper than having a service tech come out and clean your coils. I use a Merv 8 filter (the something better) since i work for an HVAC contractor and i get them at cost.

There is nothing wrong with using the cheap blue fiberglass filters but those should be changed monthly especially since you have pets.
 
Lankford said:
There is nothing wrong with using the cheap blue fiberglass filters but those should be changed monthly especially since you have pets.
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I use these and change them once a month. I don't like the airflow loss with the "high efficiency" filters.
 
Wow - 5 filters? Really? Is there one at every return or something?

We just have the one big 16x25. I use the mid-grade. We've tried the micron hypo-allergenic types but they clog so fast it's costly, and I could feel teh change in pressure just having it in place.

We're having a problem now where our system dosn't seem to be blowing like I'd expect... the filter was dirty but OK (still translucent) but the one before that was pretty bad... now you've got me thinkin' about those coils, grrrr....
 
I was using the midgrade 3m ones, but I think they are too restrictive. I can hear my ducts pop from the vacuum it creates when the unit turns on and off. I heard that the cheap ones are easier on the system from an airflow perspective, so i guess i am going to try those.
 
I own a HVAC company and we suggest only the el-cheapo's! Pleaded 3 month filters restrict too much air flow and cause problems with fan motor, compressors, etc. Especially, if they are in for the full 3 months. The cheap ones are oiled much like a K&N and catch dust but allow proper air flow. I only suggest the pleated if you have allergies and then I suggest changing no more than 45 days. Best thing to do is use the cheap filters and change them every 30 days!


Jon
 
RatLabGuy said:
Wow - 5 filters? Really? Is there one at every return or something?

We just have the one big 16x25. I use the mid-grade. We've tried the micron hypo-allergenic types but they clog so fast it's costly, and I could feel teh change in pressure just having it in place.

We're having a problem now where our system dosn't seem to be blowing like I'd expect... the filter was dirty but OK (still translucent) but the one before that was pretty bad... now you've got me thinkin' about those coils, grrrr....
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thats what i was thinking i have one in the basement and its a 25x25 change it every other month with the cheap oooo's
 
jmthomason said:
I own a HVAC company and we suggest only the el-cheapo's! Pleaded 3 month filters restrict too much air flow and cause problems with fan motor, compressors, etc. Especially, if they are in for the full 3 months. The cheap ones are oiled much like a K&N and catch dust but allow proper air flow. I only suggest the pleated if you have allergies and then I suggest changing no more than 45 days. Best thing to do is use the cheap filters and change them every 30 days!


Jon
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I can't get the " cheap" filters at the box stores i my size ( 16x25x1) , was told they aren't popular enough to carry ( though they have no problem carrying the expensive 3mo filters )

When I asked, the HD sales wench stated" The 3month filters are better anyway"

right, when they are bowed out from the suction due to the restriction they cause in the air stream, surely they are more efficient.

" Then you have a problem with your blower, you should have that checked out......."

ya ok, I'll get right on that.

fortunately I have several HVAC distributors and dealers as customers, I bought a case of the "cheap" filters from one of them. guess what, no bowed out filters..... go figure !

Fawk the box stores !
 
jmthomason said:
I own a HVAC company and we suggest only the el-cheapo's! Pleaded 3 month filters restrict too much air flow and cause problems with fan motor, compressors, etc. Especially, if they are in for the full 3 months. The cheap ones are oiled much like a K&N and catch dust but allow proper air flow. I only suggest the pleated if you have allergies and then I suggest changing no more than 45 days. Best thing to do is use the cheap filters and change them every 30 days!
Jon
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That is exactly (almost word-for word) what my AC man told me... and he's been in business for a very long time. I buy 'em by the case at Lowes. I also run the vacuum cleaner over, and around the inside, of the register at each change. In addition, once a year (usually fall) I spray (weed sprayer) a half gallon of Greased Lightning through the condenser coils, then rinse them real good with hot water. I have good heat in the winter and comfortable cooling even in the hottest months. :driver:
 
furnace filters

What ever filter you use it should keep the coil clean. I see alot of coils ,ducts, and blowers covered with mold. The mold feeds off the dirt ( organic food ) in the air with moisture being supplied by condensation on the coil during air conditioning. Also keep condensate drain clean. The filter should also seal well in some sort of frame. A poor fit allows unfiltered air to bypass. I like the pleated filters , changing every 3 to 4 months.
 
moldman05 said:
What ever filter you use it should keep the coil clean. I see alot of coils ,ducts, and blowers covered with mold. The mold feeds off the dirt ( organic food ) in the air with moisture being supplied by condensation on the coil during air conditioning. Also keep condensate drain clean. The filter should also seal well in some sort of frame. A poor fit allows unfiltered air to bypass. I like the pleated filters , changing every 3 to 4 months.
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So I've been working on boosting my HVA efficiency by sealing fittings etc, and thanks in part to this thread went to check my coils. only been in the house 1 year, but it has a humidifier (which makes me nervous about what's brewing in the HVAC)

How the !@#$ do you guys actually get to the undersides to check or clean them? On mine, the freon line that supplies the coil goes through the panel that you have to remove to see them - and since it's a hard/fixed line, I can't really remove the panel more than ~4".so I can see the outside/topside fine but I assume the potentially nasty part is the underside of the triangle? do you typically have to remove them to getin and clean? That seems odd.
 
air filters

I,m guessing the cover gets hung or stopped by the elbows or sharp bend on the tubing. Some units (Trane) have separate small cover allowing removal of big cover. I would cut enough to be able removal and add a patch panel or slit cover at tubing holes for removal. After big cover is removed there should be another triangle cover to remove. This piece holds the two coils in place. Some units have two triangle covers, one is a splash shield. Most people don't go this far but I think it best to get to both sides of coils for inspection and cleaning.
 
at school we only change our filter whenever we think about it, so far only once since august :lol:

at home i have no idea, my dad does it.

for both places we use the cheapos tho.
 
I wouldn't use anything higher than a MERV 8, unless your system has been designed to work with a high-performance filter.

Also, one filter at each return grill is preferable from a design perspective because it will decrease or eliminate the accumulation of dust and debris (esp organics) within the return ducts. Not something that's worth changing if your system was built the other way, but it does increase the potential for mold/allergen/etc problems.
 
Blkvoodoo said:
I can't get the " cheap" filters at the box stores i my size ( 16x25x1) , was told they aren't popular enough to carry ( though they have no problem carrying the expensive 3mo filters )
When I asked, the HD sales wench stated" The 3month filters are better anyway"
right, when they are bowed out from the suction due to the restriction they cause in the air stream, surely they are more efficient.
" Then you have a problem with your blower, you should have that checked out......."
ya ok, I'll get right on that.
fortunately I have several HVAC distributors and dealers as customers, I bought a case of the "cheap" filters from one of them. guess what, no bowed out filters..... go figure !
Fawk the box stores !
Click to expand...

Mine are odd sized as well. Bought a 20 pack off of ebay. Dude was local in NC but further west from me than I wanted to drive compared to the cheap shipping due to extremely light weight. Heard same to go with cheapo blue's. I go every month or a little more depending on how much it's ran but go 3 months at my rental due to it has 2 returns and the renter is a tight-wad bachelor that only runs it enough to keep the pipes from freezing in winter and mold from growing in the Summer.:rolleyes: I figured it's cheaper to cut out mold and replace pipes than replace the heat system anyways.:beer: 2 years with no problems / complaints there so far. To me, he's the perfect renter.
 
jmthomason said:
I own a HVAC company and we suggest only the el-cheapo's! Pleaded 3 month filters restrict too much air flow and cause problems with fan motor, compressors, etc. Especially, if they are in for the full 3 months. The cheap ones are oiled much like a K&N and catch dust but allow proper air flow. I only suggest the pleated if you have allergies and then I suggest changing no more than 45 days. Best thing to do is use the cheap filters and change them every 30 days!


Jon
Click to expand...


^^^ This ^^^



I normally use the Camfill Farr filters. There is one that is pretty good but you have to buy it from a supply house. its similar looking to the 3M pleated ones but is much less restrictive than those. Changed it about every 3 months.



Now, I just use the elcheapo blue ones since they do not restrict the air flow as much as the others. Don't wanna kill the AHU...
 
I moved our return duct and main filter in the last couple of days.

It turns out that the new duct is a lot less turbulent and a lot more airtight than the old one was... I've tried both the old filter and a new MERV 8, but they both whistle like crazy. Looks like I might be switching to the cheapo filters.
 
After buying many filters, & watching a TV show, were a guy poured salt thru a fiberglass filter; I setteled on a reuseable filter. Has hard plastic houseing with double sided plastic mesh screen, on outside. Center holds a fine stainless[i think] screen, with 2 different foam rubber type filters. When it gets dirty, [or I think about it] Take it outside & run hose thru it, till its clean. U can see the dirt/dust roll off! U can also disasemble it for cleaning. Paid about $25,5 or more years ago, with no complaints!
 
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