Air filters

[butneway]

Any one have a particular air filter they prefer?

I'm not particularly sold on the "whole house" air cleaners for one simple (maybe short sighted) reason. I have one return, on the first floor of my 2 story. The ducting is a shared trunk with supply vents in the ceiling down stairs and in the floor up. There is no way the air in the upstairs rooms will make it from the furthest point away and through the return to the air cleaner.

This leaves me with the questions of is any one of the pleated throwaways better than another, and would a washable electrostatic one be any better?

I have always used a Filterett (sp) and changed as close to the monthly interval as I can remember. Any reason to change type?

[BaldLoonie]

As long as you are frequently changing your 3M you should be fine. Those things can be very restrictive if left too long.

The washable jobs tend to be restrictive clean and many question how well they pick up anyway.

[iheatncoolinnc]

Prefer a polyester filter over a fiberglass filter. The 3M filter is good if the filter is oversized, otherwise these develop high static and can cause low air flow. Also, if this is in a filter grille these 3M filters can cause dust to be pulled in from any hole or crack between the filter and the blower. If the duct system is perfect then this is not a problem. With a loose fitting duct system this is a problem.

[browntigerus]

>I'm not particularly sold on the "whole house" air cleaners for one simple (maybe short sighted) reason.

My wife was the same way. She did not think it would make a difference. I bought one of eBay just to try it (you can put 1" filter in those cabinets). We could not belive what difference it makes. With Honey MERV-13 charged filters she no longer has to dust.

But you should also consider maintanence cost. I can see how one can give those cabinets away and make money on supplying filters.

[butneway]

What was it exactly you purchased. I assume a stand-alone unit not attached to your HVAC system?