DISPOSABLE Air Filters VS WHOLE HOUSE Filters!

One argument I always hear about whole house air filters is that they add too much static pressure and to just stick with disposable pleated filters. A lot of old timer HVAC techs have said this. I'm not sure where this thinking came from. You can look up studies and check static pressures yourself and find that it's simply not true in the long run.

In this video I compare whole house air filters to regular disposable air filters. I also go through all the advantages of using a whole house air filter in your home!

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0:00 Intro comparing disposable air filters to whole-house home filters
1:03 Using papers for visual comparison of HVAC air filters
2:33 disposable air filters to whole-house home filters- static pressure
3:55 Filter surface area comparisons
5:09 Math of air filter usage and the cost
5:40 MERV on Whole house air filters and cleaner air
6:30 Static pressures on whole house filters in the long run
8:36 New HVAC Guide and Griffin Air promo

[KPHVAC]

The majority of systems I come across have high static pressure. Almost all homes need more than 1 return air duct. Get a 2nd return air duct and grill installed. Then you can install a nice filter without hurting airflow. The purpose of your HVAC system is to easily move warm and cool air through your home. If you have properly sized ductwork and low static pressure you are going to be more comfortable.

[greyholcombjr.]

Sq inches of filter surface area is very important. My 2.5 ton Trane HP was being filtered by an undersized 16x20x1 slot in the return duct close to the AH. I wanted to use a least a merv 8 to keep the evap coil clean. I tried one and got static drop of .23-.24 with my manometer. That's high for a clean filter. My returns could handle 3 ton unit with 1200 cfm, so I'm good there. My supply trunk would be sized right for my 2.5 ton @ 1000 cfm if it didn't have the 1" duct liner on the inside walls. That makes it adequate for 2 ton @ 800 cfm. according to duct sizing charts. Tried Purolator F312 fiberglass filter and got static of .10 @ 1000 cfm. That's good, but it's not gonna keep my coil clean in the long run. Had a Honeywell 20x25x4 cabinet fitted into the return that came with a merv 11 filter. Got static drop of .10 @ 1000 cfm clean filter. Less than half of the 1" merv 8 ! Measured TESP and got about .4. Compressor and ECM are happy.

[elgringoec]

This is something I've paid attention to over the last three to four decades, with no intention of contradicting anything you said, Josh, I'll be happy to share a couple tidbits of my findings.

I found that the pressure drop, within a reasonable range, doesn't have much effect on the quantity of airflow generated by the blower. That was counterintuitive. Another counterintuitive finding was fan current variation due to flow restriction. I expected fan current draw to increase when blocking off the inlet such as choking filter might cause, but no, fan current drops. The blower motor draws the most current (thus presumably works the hardest) when there's no restriction and it's moving the most air. Probe that current and give it a try, it's a real eye opener.

I bought a box of inexpensive fiber filters some 25 years ago, and I've trashed one or two since then. I go about a year without touching them, at which time I pull them down, take them outside, and blow them clean with an air gun, then reinstall. I have three filters stacked behind the front one at the grille site, plus another at the blower itself. The later filters accumulate deposits very slowly (years before anything noticeable) because the first filter catches all but a miniscule fraction of airborne particulates (dust). I don't feel any difference in the strength of air at the delivery registers between the clean filter, the year old dust plastered filter, and even no filter at all.

Pretty whack!

[skylerdylan]

Switched from 1” to a 5” media filter with a Merv 16+ carbon. My air feels so fresh. Probably overkill but I get great airflow.

[garypierce]

Our HVHC installer recommended a whole house Aprilaire filter for our Rheem system. We like it much better than having to mess with filters all the time.

[smirkinatu]

Thank you for recording and posting this valuable educational video.

[kevinsaint]

The way my unit is setup, there is no place for me to put in a 4 or 5 inch filter. For now, I’ve always had a 1” filter placed right below the coils in the AH. I have 2 return grilles in my living room ceiling as well as 3 more in the bedrooms. I replaced all of these return grilles with an egg crate filter return grill that can hold a 1” filter. Since surface area increase air flow, would using 5 different 1” filters in the return grilles increase air flow as opposed to the single 1” filter that’s in the AH?

[LemonTang_]

In the past year I have closed vents in the basement that lead to rooms we don’t really use. Because of this my furnace “pops” when the air is done blowing. Is this unhealthy for my furnace? Someone said I should just open all vents but I don’t want my bill to raise for rooms I don’t use

[jamesfields]

what about the amp draw and temp of the blower what about the cfm across the changes things pressure is important and each system is manufactured to operate at a set static a higher MERV into the system could cause many the heat mode it could cause the combustion chamber of a gas unit or the limit switches on an electric furnace to begin to recommendation would be to put on it what the manufacture says its rated on the system or where the home is located they may need to install an electric filtration system to control the dust levels

[JB-yqbn]

One thing most manufacturers don't provide you as a filter loading curve. Oftentimes the filter loading curve is 1 of the most crucial things. One of the best things you could do is pick a filter you like and start looking at pressure readings on a regular basis and figure out how fast does the filter change pressure. I seized my nerve 16 filters I manufacture at 200' per minute In order to ensure I start at a low enough static pressure that I can get a minimum one year out of my filters.

[zachattack]

My house has a ac1 general aire filter. It seams to do a good job. My guy said chance once a year. After 6 months I had it changed and that’s when he said go one year it was still clean.

[huanweili]

What's the Merv number filter 14x25x1 works best on a regular house furnace ?
I'm currently using a Merv 10.

[pepper]

Filter 10+ years ago blocked units. Todays disposable 1” do not impede air flow as long as they changed frequently 12 weeks at minimum

[usernamemykel]

My A/C unit takes filters of only 1" thick, so how does a 4" filter, which won't fit, come into any

[bigbirdwpg]

When the filter gets plugged, the motor speeds up, which means its unloaded, so it's not working harder, it's not working as hard. So how does that hurt the motor? The furnace will run hotter, and be less efficient. In an electric furnace that could damage the heating element(s).

[granstonboxx]

What are your thoughts on the 4-5” pleated filters for use in regular 1” return grilles? Like the Honeywell fc40r

[waytrav]

Do you do a zoom meeting consult? If so rate? I have had two professionals come in and tell me my system is fine. But their answers do not make sense considering my home.

[A-aronTrekn]

I bought an older home (1930)1800 sq ft in late 2019. I upgraded the AC/Heat system to a 4 ton AmStd Platinum communicating system with variable speed along with a whole house duct cleaning in 2020. The system has a 4" media filter. Originally there were 2 vent grates with no filtration at floor level. I replaced these with custom sized registers (16x16x1 and 18x18x1) and have been using Merv 8 pleated filters in them as a dust/animal hair prevent. The media filter is also a pleated Merv 8. Am I doing more harm than good?

[melissasloop]

I have a Bryant system 987MA66120V24A-B ac/gas. Uses 20 1/4 x 25 3/8 x 5 1/4
M8-1056 Amana MERV 11 would using a Amana, Goodman Filter
Model Number: G8-1056
Exact Size: 20.25" x 25.375" x 5.25" Filter Rating: MERV 15 increase static pressure too much in my system? How can I tell if it does? Thanks!

[GabeDrums]

If I have a whole house filter in the attic can I take away the disposable ones