Home AC filters
 

Im looking on Ebay for filters. I have a 20x25x2. Looking for a pleated filter. ANyone know if there is a difference between the expensive ones and the cheap one other than price?

Found these
20" x 25" x 2" Merv 11 Pleated Filter | eBay

But I have no idea if they are quality or not. Never had any issue with local store bought but now with the new AC and this odd size filter (2") I could not find them at HD or Lowes.

Any suggestions? I am thinking for $40 its not a huge risk.

The super cheap filters lack rigidity and will likely deform from the suction pressure and allow air to flow around it.

6 filters for $40 is not bad at all. My local Lowes has your size filter for $8 each but it's only MERV 8.

Buy the cheapest thinnest filters you can get away with. All you should be trying to do is keep dirt off of the evaporator. Forget the hypoallergenic filters. Don't make your air conditioner work harder than it has to.

It isn't much of a risk. Good time to test is in the summer when the AC runs a bit and see if it holds up or not. I'd definitely check it on a weekly basis since you don't want it to collapse and not know and this is an unknown although they seem to have a decent offering for commercial stuff.

Why not get the maker and part number of the good quality ones and shop for them on eBay or Amazon.

I do that with Bearings and eBay generally has them 1/2 of what they are sold for locally or even on other internet sites.

I get the quality I want for less money.

Just heard the same thing from the company that installed my new Trane AC.
Get the cheapest filter you can find.

Yeah, I was told the same thing by the company that installed my new (ish) gas pack. However, I have an active electrostatic filter that takes out the small chunks.

This needs further definition, The cheapest filters are the green fibre packs which at best are good for stopping rocks being sucked into the evaporator.

I have a 4 inch thick filter now but in my other house, I had a 1 inch filter. Thought that when I forgot to change it and it filled up it might have bent a little but that was a few years ago. Switched to the 3M units now.

You might be able to get away with slightly cheaper but I wouldn't get the cheapest one since it might be something made of very poor quality. They usually are cheap for a reason.

The GF lives in a dustier place and has dogs, so she was going through the things like crazy. I think in part it's because it's a bit undersized for her HVAC system.

So, we bought two of these washable - reusable ones (you cut it to fit, though I think this one already is 20x25):
http://www.amazon.com/WEB-WPLUS-Filter-Adjustable-1-Pack/dp/B001DOZD6I

Really, you only need one, as it's not that much trouble to wash but you do have to wait for it to dry. The GF is not the most patient person, which is why I got two so she'd have a clean one to simply toss in if I wasn't around. For the cost and added convenience it was a no-brainer to me.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg

Thats all we used growing up, and all my dad uses. They seem to catch enough dust to keep the evap clean.

I think I am going to go for the ones I posted. According to the pics they do have the metal lace reinforcements on them so I dont think they will shred. The one I have in now appears to be of the same construction so I think I am safe.

Thanks for the input

That might be true but here is another question. Do you want that dust blowing back into your air vents? I've seen some crud in the vents and if I can reduce what is blowing back in my face without too much issue, maybe? :confused: In winter my heat runs and in summer the AC runs so pretty much unless I have to, I don't open the windows to air the house except once a week. I do see a lot of the crap in the filter for the higher filtration ones and seems (observation so it might not be true) less in the lower filtration ones.

Hard to say if it is better to have something that only prevents the big stuff from going thru.

I'd be curious as to what happens myself. Do keep us posted. Also, interested in whether the house would seem dustier than before if these have larger pores or not.