furnace filter

[koolah]

3M furnace filter cost from $17-24 and cheap bread cost $3 for pk of 3

worth the money to buy 3M brand?


I have no kid or baby

[Jazzhound]

Keep the windows open and the house well circulated. House air quality is 10x worse than outside air.

I know it doesn't quite answer your dilemma, but for what it's worth, I use the cheapo brand (bread?).

[vacitah]

i use the cheap brand

[B40]

On a similar note, how often should you be changing the filters? My landlord used to do it once a year, before it started getting cold. On the other hand, I don't think my parents have changed theirs in years.

[koolah]

recommended change is 3 months but i changed every 4 months or so.

[B40]

recommended change is 3 months but i changed every 4 months or so.

Damn...what about in the summer when you're not using it?

I think once before the heating season and once half way through should be enough...or maybe just once a year

[tlamm]

I bought the reusable filter at walmart. Its about 25 bucks. You just wash it every month....

The really cheap filters dont really do anything for you except block large particles like pet hair. Better ones filter out all sorts of crap.. The reusable one I have kinda falls in the middle, but atleast I dont have to buy a new one..

[HunkaHunkaBurningLove]

I used to use the cheapo filters, but it's really worth it to upgrade to the $14 ones. I'm using a Filtrete filter, and there's a huge difference in what is filtered. If you examine the cheaper filters, you will see a loose network of woven mesh that doesn't look like it would filter anything small at all. The Filtrete ones have a dense mesh that cleans the air a whole lot more.

I change the filter every 3 to 4 months, and wow the Filtrete ones are a dark grey with a heavy accumulation of dust. The cheaper ones wouldn't even look that dirty after 6 months.

[Gee]

I use the Honeywell ones, they are about 4" thick and used for high efficiency furnaces. I replace them once a year.

But should you cheap out on the air your breathe?

I also use the Oreck Air Purifier in my bedroom. You won't believe the stuff in the air.

Remember to get those air ducts clean

[vacitah]

Damn...what about in the summer when you're not using it?

I think once before the heating season and once half way through should be enough...or maybe just once a year
if u have an AC then u still need to change it

[ephemera]

Using the cheepo brands are fine unless someone has allergies or have asthma.
Also, you can easily pull it out and give it a quick vacuum. Definately change that filter 3-4 times a year.

I want to check out those more expensive filters... but those are useless unless the ducts are clean which mine are not, yet.

[HunkaHunkaBurningLove]

Actually, if you even try just one of those Filtrete 1000 filters for a few months, you'd see how much crap it does filter out. I haven't had my ducts cleaned yet, but the better filter does get quite a bit more dust out regardless. You'll never go back to the cheap ones after seeing what's being removed.

[MrDisco]

i use nothing but ultra filtrete and change it every 3-4 months. after seeing the crap it stops why should i settle for cheapie stuff.

[Spent]

ESPECIALLY if you own the house.

[iamthehub]

The very first filter I ever bought was so cheap, you could see right through it. The filtrete picks up alot of crap.

Are the electrostatic one's better than the the filtrete? I've been buying filtrete for over 3 years now, and everytime I pick one up, I think to myself I should try those electrostatic ones...

Just want your opinions...