Why “Good” filters will ruin HVAC

I always use FPR 5 from Home Depot, whatever merv rating that is.

Dud you guys ever review that merv 16 filter ?

We use MERV 11(5x20x25), our fan runs constantly and it was properly sized for the target usage. It’s deadly quiet and we change our filter roughly every two months. We also have a UV light system and all these elements have benefited my allergies tremendously. I found little difference between MERV 8 and 11 but given the negligible cost difference and our system’s design I just stick with 11. There’s no shortage of polarized opinions but I know what works for me.

I switched from high merv filters to the basic fiberglass filter a couple years ago because my cooling system would never cool my house. it works like a champ now. saves a ton on electricity too. i use merv 5 pleated filters when it's in heating mode.

So what's a good filter that won't damage my ac home system I have a Goodman

Costco only has the merch 23 filters. What do I do? I don't want to spend $20 a filter

The AIR X brand has a MERV 11 filter and rated for "HIGH AIR FLOW" has more pleats than a standard merv 11 filter. I have two German Shepards and I gotta filter the hair and pet dander.... I would run a Merv 8 if i didn't have dogs!

Exactly what our reputable HVAC company told us.

Hi, so my apartment complex started supplying us with new filters, that seem very dense. I used the new filter for a month then one night I kept hearing a strange noise in the wall by the air conditioner. I thought it was my cats. So I ignored it. Then the next morning it seemed warm and I realized that the AC was not working! So maintenance went up and he said my coils were frozen. And he used cleaner and it finally defrosted but...then he said the motor was out. So after installing a new motor it seems to be working...but...one day later, I just now started hearing that gurgling drip noise in the wall. And I'm wondering if it's these dense air conditioner filters?? Because I replaced the last one with a new one (same dense filter) I had a gut feeling it's these new filters! What are your thoughts on this? I really don't want another day without AC, I'm in Arizona and it was 107 degree's out and 85 in my apartment all day. Thanks so much for all the helpful information!! Going to call my apartment office in the morning and ask if maintenance can check my coils later today.

Anything thicker than 1" will not fit in my furnace filter opening.

3M filtrete 1900 - merv 13, but also twice the media as most merv 8's on the market (1,560 sq. in) so they do not clog up fast, or create static pressure build up any faster then the typical merv 8. Oh, but they do collect smaller particulate matter MUCH better than any merv 8 on the market (including particulates from wildfire smoke) - which equates to cleaner coils, less work for your motor etc, and FAR better overall air quality in your home. It's a no brainer. My residential HVAC heating/cooling system (Maytag) is close to 20 yrs old. Other than changing out a pressure switch yrs ago, not a single issue.

I change the 3M 1900 every 4-6 weeks in summer, 8 weeks when snow is on the ground.

I currently live in a building with a boiler and radiators. However, I grew up in a house that was built to the '50s with central heat, air added later, My grandparents and later my parents only ever used the spun fiberglass filters and they changed them monthly. In about 2008 my parents put an addition on the house and the HVAC was split into two units, one in the Attic and one in the basement. So a lot of duct work was cut, open to reroute or remove or abandon and my mom asked if it was a good time to have the ducts cleaned, One of the tin knockers took a white cloth and wiped the inside of a duct and pronounced the ducts completely dust free.

I switched to a 1” anti static reusable air filter. After watching this video, I checked the specs and to my surprise it is a Merv 8. So I should be fine. Unless someone wants to chime in.

when I bought my home the previous owners had some bs filter installed. my unit says merv 11 and I use merv 11. my cat has asthma so I don't want to cheap out on air quality.

I use a blanket folded over 6 times as a filter.

I confidently use a Merv 8 4 1/2" deep pleated. Its replaced every few years because the hvac only runs ~4 weeks every year.

Very good video, got a question for u, my ac has 2 capacitors 1 for fan the other for the compressor can I replace it with 1 capacitor for equal value?
Thanks
Richard

Don't use your AC as an air cleaner. Just stop it. Stop it now. If you need to clean your air then buy a dedicated air filter. Use the standard high flow and cheap filters for your AC. Those high filtration filters are going to damage your HVAC because you'd rather burn up a 6,000 dollar AC than spend a couple of hundred dollars for a real air filtration system that's designed to do the job. Just stop it. Use the right tool for the job. Would you open your refrigerator door to try to cool your kitchen? I don't think so. So stop it, and if you see someone At Lowes or Home Depot buying a HEPA filter to use on their AC..tell them to stop it.

I think MERV 11 is the sweet spot with a 1" filter.

We have a downward flow furnace we just put in a merv 11 16x20x1 did we mess up we do have dogs and cats along with a highly allergic grandchild

Here is something everyone may be forgetting: When was the last time you had your HVAC ducts cleaned? I used to be a home inspector. I would lift up the vent grilles (registers) and find gypsum board dust, pieces of gypsum boards, carpet threads, dead mice, etc just under the grilles. Imagine what is in the rest of the ducts.

I just bought a new 2.5 ton trane heat pump that takes 20x20 four inch filters; what kind should i use?

That isn't possible because the most common air handler won't allow anything else but a one inch filter. I do appreciate the logic of making sure I change my filter often.

👍🏻😊

Mine is 5" thick so this doesn't apply to me.

This is my situation. I bought a house 2 years ago, the furnace is horizontal in a crawspace, and for 2 years i have been looking for my filter. Couple months ago i decided to change out my return vent and put a vent that housed a filter. I then put in a 8x16x1 merv 13 filter in it and im still getting musty, allergy irritating air through my system. I also have cheap filters in my floor registers. Im at the point now where im going to shut it all down permanently and get a window unit or two. Any suggestions that wont cost thousands?

Only one problem with this advice. In most cases, you can't just install a two inch filter without re-configuring ductwork or your return grille. A two inch filter won't fit any and everywhere.

Note that 3M's Filtrete 1900/MERV 13 filters create less pressure drop than their 1500/MERV 12 and even their 1085/MERV 11 filters, due to the construction of the filter paper. You have to drop down to maybe MERV 10 or less before you see a decrease in pressure drop.

I have five ceiling return vents containing filters. Can I just put 2 or 4 inch filters in those? I hope the question is not too stupid!

I use the 16x25x4 Filtrete merv 11 filter... I usually pull it out at 3 months to vacuum it out if theres any debris, check if i can still see light through it, then change it at 6 months. Would you recommend i move to a merv 8 filter? I noticed you said 4 inch filters are better for air flow.

I do construction and have to come behind AC guys and rebuild or completely seal the AC air in box. The air should only flow through the filter not the outer portion of the grill inside the walls up to the attic. The list goes on. I rarely find a box completely built right.

It's funny because I bought a brand new house built in 2023 and checked the intake air filter for the furnace and it was a 4" MERV11 and I went on Aprilaires website and saw ooouu I could slot in a MERV16 but immediately the first thing I thought of was will this increase my energy bill because the furnace needs to suck harder to pull through this filter?

I have a 14 SEER 2 Ton Condenser R410 -Goodman unit installed 2019 at a rental property in Louisiana. The tenants have a dog and 3 cats. The drain line kept getting clogged so I have them using a Merv 11 filter changed every month. Is this appropriate or should I really go with merv 8?

I have a newer construction build 2022 and my hvac system suffers from the “dirty sock syndrome” wouldn’t I be better off either a higher Merv rated filter?

I buy the 1750 1” filter and my 1 AC line freezes up. Is that my cause likely since I always have a clean filter and maintained system? I feel not even air flow is moving due to the filter being to dense? Instead of using this filter and changing every 4 months which never ever looks dirty should I just do monthly changes on basic filters like a 800 rating?

You never mentioned that most home HVAC systems only take 1" filter as there are not enough space for 2" or 4" filters.

I just had the filter installed in a Trane heat/air system. Not only does it calls for a 1x20x22, the slot which the filter goes will not accept a thicker filter. So just stick with a one inch with a 8 MERV rating?

I use the cheapest filter in mine...but I have two air purifiers in rooms we spend most time in.... and in addition to that... I'm a total clean freak. I have a rainbow vacuum that I use frequently to dust the entire house top to bottom..My filters are 2 different grills in a hall...not in the air handler... and when I check them there's a very little bit of dust on them....and I vacuum them off...but the air handler A coil is clean... My brother scolded me for using those cheap filters... but then he remembered what a clean freak I am so he was curious what the A coil looked like. He had me go to my attic to snap a picture... he said it looked perfectly fine. and my unit is approaching 20 years old this year... I DREAD having to upgrade (both the cost and the process) to a new unit but I know it's inevitable...

DONT use thick filters. I do Home Depot FPR 5 rating. I ran thicker ones and my motor burned out. Even my reputable AC guy said thick filters are hard on your system. $790 later....FPR 5 filters installed and no issues. And these catch A LOT of dust anyway.

That’s what they sell at the store! Expensive, and no air flow

A lot of people don't even know about filters. I once walked into a room air conditioned by a window unit and wondered why it was so hot. There was little air coming out of the vent. I checked the filter and the dust was so thick it was like a kind of thick paper. Cleaning the filter did help, but the coil was also clogged probably from air leaking around the filter since there was no other path for it to go.

Our new furnace needed a new blower motor after three years, because I’d been using MERV 11 filters and running the fan nonstop. I learned my lesson and now I use MERV 8 filters and have the fan set to circulate (so it only runs when heating or cooling plus randomly for short periods).

B S

It should be industry standard to install 4 inch or larger filter boxes at this point smh.

I rent so I have zero reasons not to use a good carbon filter. Love clean air.

My HVAC guy had to replace my inducer motor assembly because one of its three plastic cast motor mounts broke. He noticed I was using MERV13 filters and told me to switch to MERV6 and said to change monthly (vs changing MERV13’s every 90 days) and I’d not only save money but I’d prolong the furnace life. He was right, and the filters don’t come out concave from the pull of the airflow over time 👍🏼

My gas furnace uses 1" 20x25 filter. It doesn't look like it's possible to insert a 4" thick filter there. Am I missing something?

thnx