blazenut Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 high efficiency air filters? like the spacegards and such? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 high efficiency air filters? like the spacegards and such? When they're dirty, just like any other filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted October 24, 2009 Report Share Posted October 24, 2009 high efficiency air filters? like the spacegards and such? Spacegard & Aprilaire filters have a huge amount of surface area. You can easily go 6 months to a year before changing them depending, of course, on how dirty your household air is. They're my favorite air filters. - Jim Katen, Oregon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted October 24, 2009 Report Share Posted October 24, 2009 I use a 5 inch MERV 16 ilter that cost around $100 and replace it about ever 10 months or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lamb Posted October 24, 2009 Report Share Posted October 24, 2009 Folks with animals (and children) that shed will greatly reduce filter life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted October 24, 2009 Report Share Posted October 24, 2009 Mike, do your kids shed?[] Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 I recall some mfg's. statement that these filters are not desirable due to their cutting down air flow substantially. They reduce air flow so much, they can cause the equipment to fail prematurely. Anyone else read this, or is my memory failed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 I recall some mfg's. statement that these filters are not desirable due to their cutting down air flow substantially. They reduce air flow so much, they can cause the equipment to fail prematurely. Anyone else read this, or is my memory failed? I've heard it in the field. My impression is that it's folklore. Think about it. Would you have greater air flow through a 6 square foot filter or an 80 square foot filter? These things allow more air flow, not less. - Jim in Oregon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sepefrio Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 But would a 24" high efficiency filter have the same air flow as a 24" cheap-O that needs to be changed every month? I understand the layers create more surface space, but once one layer is clogged, isn't overall air flow reduced? When I talk to HVAC guys, they say unless you have a specific condition like allergies or asthma, the filters that cost $5 for a pack of 3 is all you need. Just change them every month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 But would a 24" high efficiency filter have the same air flow as a 24" cheap-O that needs to be changed every month? I understand the layers create more surface space, but once one layer is clogged, isn't overall air flow reduced? The filters that we're talking about don't have layers. Never use those filters that have layers. They're the worst idea ever thought up in the HVAC world. The filters we're talking about are accordians. The Space Gard filters are about 24" x 24" and 6" tall. The 6" tall pleats each have about 2 square feet and there are about 36 pleats, giving you a sheet of filter paper that's about 72 square feet in area. A comparably sized 3M Filtrete filter, for comparison, has about 6 square feet of filter area. When I talk to HVAC guys, they say unless you have a specific condition like allergies or asthma, the filters that cost $5 for a pack of 3 is all you need. Just change them every month. Those filters trap very little. For the exact same price, (about $20 per year) you can have a monster filter that will trap far more particles and will only need to be changed once per year. Besides, how many people do you know who actually change their filter every month? - Jim Katen, Oregon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sepefrio Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 Ahh accordion, area makes sense in that regard. tks Besides, how many people do you know who actually change their filter every month? - Jim Katen, Oregon I do. I change my filter every month that I remember It might be 6 months before I remember but I change it every one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 I recall some mfg's. statement that these filters are not desirable due to their cutting down air flow substantially. They reduce air flow so much, they can cause the equipment to fail prematurely. Anyone else read this, or is my memory failed? I seem to have heard that too; however my filter (http://www.lennox.com/products/indoor-a ... tems/HC16/) was manufactured and installed by Lennox when my HVAC system was replaced last year. It does not make sense that Lennox would install a filter system that would damage the blower. My algeries were better this year then they have been since I moved to IL in 2001 and my equipment has had no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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