Reusable Furnace Filters Vs Disposable

Reusable filters may not improve home air quality.

Reusable furnace filters vs disposable.

Whether you choose to buy in bulk take advantage of seasonal sales or purchase from an online source disposable filters are very affordable. It requires less effort to deal with. Simply pull out the old air filter toss in the trash and slide in a new one. Merv rating has little impact.

However when you consider how many disposable air filters you will use over the same five or 10 years that one washable filter will last the washable filter actually comes out costing you less money. If you re a busy person who takes pride in efficiency disposable air filters are probably the better choice for your home. Electrostatic filters take advantage of static electricity as the air enters the filter it s given a positive charge and as the positively charged air travels thru the next few layers of the filter the charge is released and traps the particles within the filter. A washable electrostatic air filter vs.

The best ac air filter has a merv rating between 11 and 16. High efficiency disposable filters can trap as much as 95 percent of the larger. A filter with a very high merv rating could stop air from getting inside increasing energy costs. With disposable filters that can add significant ongoing replacement costs especially if your organization has multiple hvac units.

Washable filters not surprisingly are considerably more expensive. Expect to spend anywhere from 30 to 50 apiece depending on construction. High efficiency disposable filters are great at trapping small particles and have a minimum efficiency reporting value merv rating as high as 9 to 12 merv. On average disposable filters cost about 15 each but you ll find countless opportunities to save.

The cheapest disposable air filters land somewhere between a one and a four on this scale. As a rough guide disposable furnace filters start at around 7 or 8 each for 20 x 20 x 1. In most cases disposable filters cost much less than washable versions. Washable filters require regular visits to the furnace room to remove and clean thoroughly.

Disposable air filters are definitely cheaper at the time of purchase while washable furnace filters are a little more on the costly side. The price rises to between 15 and 20 for 20 x 30 x 4. This is the measure of the effectiveness of furnace air filters. A disposable furnace filter might require the same trip to the basement but it s an easier process.

Filter manufacturers rate air filter effectiveness using a scale called the merv rating chart which stands for minimum efficiency reporting value.