Selecting the proper air filter is key to cleaning the air that circulates in your home. But the different filter mediums are not created equal. Starting from the lowest-performance filter medium to the best: Spun fiberglass matte mounted in a cardboard frame. Probably due to its cheap price, this is the most commonly used filter today. Each filter costs approximately $1 each. Flat paper matte mounted in a cardboard frame. This filter is a significant improvement from the spun fiberglass. Each filter costs approximately $2.50 each. Pleated paper mounted in a cardboard frame. The pleats increase the surface area exposed to the flowing return air. The larger the filter area, the more filtering occurs. Each filter costs approximately $4 each. Electrostatic medium in a rigid plastic frame. These filters are designed to be life-time filters. The air movement over the monofilament medium electronically charges the dirt, dust, lint, and hair particles that you are trying to filter out.

Do not purchase this filter unless you have the discipline to clean it at least once per month (every two weeks would be much better). Each filter costs approximately $30. This filter is an attachment to your existing air conditioning unit that electronically zaps the dust particles as they pass through. This works very similarly to the electric bug zappers that many homeowners use on their patios back east. This filter requires regular cleaning and periodic maintenance by an authorized air conditioning technician. window ac repair costOnly a qualified and trained technician should install this equipment. ac unit outside is not runningEach filter costs approximately $1,000.how much to replace 2 ac units Now that you’ve seen the difference, here are our thoughts:

Don’t use a $1 fiberglass filter. Choose a one-inch pleated filter for about $4. Sure, the expensive filters catch just about every speck of dust that tries to pass through to the coil, but they provide so much resistance that even air can’t get through; starving your unit for air.   Also, change the a/c filter every month. Even if the manufacturer’s instructions say you can change it once a season, do it every 30 days. Most places don’t have the heat and dust that we have in Arizona. Our filters clog quickly with dust, hair and debris.AC and furnace air filters come in a variety of different sizes and types. If your air filter size is not available at your local Home Depot, Lowe’s, or ACE Hardware, then buy them online and save some money while doing so.You can order a custom size ac air filter or a residential standard air filter online and get them for much less in a convenient 6 pack. Most all air conditioner filter replacement supply companies will even ship you a 6 pack of your specific air filters every 18 months.

This is a handy way to always have the correct size and type on hand. You will also remember to change your air filter on a regular basis since they are being delivered to your home.Here are some printable coupons and rebates for ac air filters for the 3M brand Filtrete.Most air conditioning filters, furnace filters, and HVAC filters are the same exact thing. You will find that HVAC technicians will usually refer to your filter as an “air filter” in the summer and as a “furnace filter” in the winter. A key thing to know about your air filter when ordering a replacement is the correct size. You will need to know the length, the width, and also the thickness (depth) when ordering a replacement. Most filters will have the dimensions printed on the side. If there are no sizes printed on your filter, measure your air filter with a tape measure to find the dimensions… And if you were wondering, the numbers are interchangeable. Here is an example: 20″ x 25″ x 1″ is the same as 25″ x 20″ x 1″.

Common filter sizing is referred to like this: LxWxD or length x width x depth or height. When ordering filters online, make sure you are ordering the correct depth air filters. This is a common mistake as many people get the first 2 numbers correct (length and width) but forget or ignore the last number which is the depth or thickness.Once you have the dimensions you will need to choose the level of air filtration by choosing what type of air filter suits you best. There are different types of air filters for different types of environments. Some filters are designed for maximum energy efficiency while others remove more particles from the air. If you have pets or smoke in your home, you should replace your air filter more often. You should also upgrade your filter to one that has a higher MERV rating for maximum air filtration.In the air filter world, there are cheap air filters and there are expensive air filters. The effectiveness of an air filter is measured in MERV ratings (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value).

This rating system breaks the filters down into specific categories. The higher the MERV number or category, the better the air filtration. Filtration performance is determined by the size and density of the material it’s made with as well as the size and volume of the air particles that are being filtered. The more dense the filter is, the more difficult it is for the air to pass through. This can result in higher energy usage and reduces efficiency. A less dense cheaper air filter will let the air flow through more efficiently but will not catch as many particles in the air. Those are a few of the differences in the types of filters available today. Your air filtration choice should depend on your current living situation such as if you have pets, you smoke, or you have allergies.The air pollution in your home is among the top 5 environmental health risks. You can make the air quality in your home exceptionally better by simply changing or upgrading your air filter. One brand that has the highest quality home air filters is the 3M brand called Filtrete.

The type of air filter you will need factors on the amount of particles in the air and the people in your home that may have allergies. If you have a smoker in your home you should upgrade it to a higher MERV rating and change it at least every month.To ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner you should replace air filters routinely. Change your AC filters every 30 days is best for optimal performance of your air conditioner. For a furnace it is recommended to change the filter out every 4 or 6 weeks in the winter time. What happens if my air filter is clogged? A clogged air filter will block the needed airflow and make it impossible for the AC to run efficiently. When the air that flows through the filter is obstructed, that air can slip around and behind the filter bringing in all kinds of dirt and dust to the evaporator coil. When this happens the heat absorbing capacity of the coil is reduced significantly. By removing and replacing a dusty obstructed air filter with a new one, you will reduce the amount of energy it takes to run your AC by 4% to 17%.

Standard and hard to find 1″ Air Conditioner Air Filters (Sizes) Click here to find your 1″ replacement air filter size online 10 x 10 x 1″ (usually not found in stores) 10 x 14 x 1″ 10 x 30 x 1″ (usually not found in stores) 12 x 12 x 1″ 12 x 20 x 1″ 12 x 24 x 1″ 12 x 30 x 1″ (usually not found in stores) 14 x 14 x 1″ 14 x 20 x 1″ 14 x 24 x 1″ (common) 14 x 25 x 1″ 14 x 30 x 1″ 16 x 16 x 1″ 16 x 20 x 1″ 16 x 24 x 1″ 16 x 25 x 1″ (common) 18 x 18 x 1″ 18 x 20 x 1″ 18 x 24 x 1″ 18 x 30 x 1″ 20 x 20 x 1″ (common) 20 x 22 x 1″ 20 x 24 x 1″ 20 x 25 x 1″ (common) 20 x 30 x 1″ 24 x 24 x 1″ 24 x 30 x 1″ 25 x 25 x 1″ 30 x 60 x 1″Standard and hard to find 2″ Home Air Filters (Sizes) Click here to find your 2″ replacement air filter size online 8 x 16 x 2″ 8 x 30 x 2″ 10 x 10 x 2″ 10 x 15 x 2″ 10 x 16 x 2″ 10 x 20 x 2″ 10 x 24 x 2″ 10 x 25 x 2″ 12 x 12 x 2″ 12 x 16 x 2″ 12 x 18 x 2″ 12 x 20 x 2″ 12 x 24 x 2″ 12 x 25 x 2″ 12 x 27 x 2″ 12 x 30 x 2″ 12 x 36 x 2″ 14 x 14 x 2″ 14 x 18 x 2″ 14 x 20 x 2″ 14 x 24 x 2″ 14 x 25 x 2″ 14 x 30

x 2″ 14 x 36 x 2″ 15 x 20 x 2″ 15 x 25 x 2″ 15 x 30 x 2″ 16 x 16 x 2″ 16 x 20 x 2″ 16 x 24 x 2″ 16 x 25 x 2″ 16 x 30 x 2″ 16 x 36 x 2″ 17 x 20 x 2″ 17 x 22 x 2″ 17 x 25 x 2″ 18 x 18 x 2″ 18 x 20 x 2″ 18 x 22 x 2″ 18 x 24 x 2″ 18 x 25 x 2″ 18 x 30 x 2″ 18 x 36 x 2″ 19 x 21 x 2″ 20 x 20 x 2″ 20 x 22 x 2″ 20 x 23 x 2″ 20 x 24 x 2″ 20 x 25 x 2″ 20 x 30 x 2″ 20 x 36 x 2″ 21 x 22 x 2″ 22 x 22 x 2″ 22 x 24 x 2″ 24 x 24 x 2″ 24 x 30 x 2″ 24 x 36 x 2″ 25 x 25 x 2″ 25 x 28 x 2″ 25 x 29 x 2″ 25 x 32 x 2″ 27 x 27 x 2″ 28 x 30 x 2″ 29 x 29 x 2″ 30 x 30 x 2″Standard and hard to find 4″ AC Air Filters (Sizes) Click here to find your 4″ replacement air filter size online 8 x 16 x 4″ 8 x 30 x 4″ 10 x 10 x 4″ 10 x 15 x 4″ 10 x 16 x 4″ 10 x 20 x 4″ 10 x 24 x 4″ 10 x 25 x 4″ 12 x 12 x 4″ 12 x 16 x 4″ 12 x 18 x 4″ 12 x 20 x 4″ 12 x 24 x 4″ 12 x 25 x 4″ 12 x 27 x 4″ 12 x 30 x 4″ 12 x 36 x 4″ 14 x

14 x 4″ 14 x 18 x 4″ 14 x 20 x 4″ 14 x 24 x 4″ 14 x 25 x 4″ 14 x 30 x 4″ 14 x 36 x 4″ 15 x 20 x 4″ 15 x 25 x 4″ 15 x 30 x 4″ 16 x 16 x 4″ 16 x 20 x 4″ 16 x 24 x 4″ 16 x 25 x 4″ 16 x 30 x 4″ 16 x 36 x 4″ 17 x 20 x 4″ 17 x 22 x 4″ 17 x 25 x 4″ 18 x 18 x 4″ 18 x 20 x 4″ 18 x 22 x 4″ 18 x 24 x 4″ 18 x 25 x 4″ 18 x 30 x 4″ 18 x 36 x 4″ 19 x 21 x 4″ 20 x 20 x 4″ 20 x 22 x 4″ 20 x 23 x 4″ 20 x 24 x 4″ 20 x 25 x 4″ 20 x 30 x 4″ 20 x 36 x 4″ 21 x 22 x 4″ 22 x 22 x 4″ 22 x 24 x 4″ 24 x 24 x 4″ 24 x 30 x 4″ 24 x 36 x 4″ 25 x 25 x 4″ 25 x 28 x 4″ 25 x 29 x 4″ 25 x 32 x 4″ 27 x 27 x 4″ 28 x 30 x 4″ 29 x 29 x 4″ 30 x 30 x 4″Standard and hard to find 6″ ac Air Filters (Sizes) Click here to find your 6″ replacement air filter size online 12 x 24 x 6″ 16 x 20 x 6″ 16 x 25 x 6″ 18 x 24 x 6″ 20 x 20 x 6″ 20 x 24 x 6″ 20 x 25 x 6″ 24 x 24 x 6″ MERV ratings for your home air filter replacementDo you have an air filter question?