Best Furnace Filter Brand? 3M Filtrete vs HoneyWell BestAir, Nordic Pure, Flanders EZ Flow
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.พ. 2021
- HVAC filter brands: 3M Filtrete, Honeywell Bestair, AeroStar, Flanders, Nordic Pure and Aire Care. Which Furnace Filter is Best? Let’s find out! Most home filters tested are MERV 8 but a variety of MERV, FPR and MPR filters compared for air flow and filtering capability. I always buy all of the products to ensure fair and unbiased results. So, thank you for supporting the channel.
➡ Thank you very much for supporting the channel: / projectfarm
➡ An easy way to find past videos along with products tested: bit.ly/2FCrBpk A big thanks to Jim for putting this together.
➡ Merch: www.Project-Farm.com
➡ Click here if you'd like to subscribe: / @projectfarm
➡ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
➡ Furnace Filters Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
Washable Furnace Filter by Aire Care: amzn.to/3pnhcPE
Flanders EZ-Flow: amzn.to/3qfFNam
HoneyWell BestAir MERV 8 2-Inch Filter: amzn.to/2MV6qmL (no longer available)
HoneyWell BestAir Merv 8 4-Inch Filter: amzn.to/3AeLUjh
Filtrete 3M MPR 600: amzn.to/3rV8F86
Nordic Pure MERV 8: amzn.to/2Zc16xG
AeroStar MERV 8: amzn.to/37cRwz0
Flanders MERV 8: amzn.to/3pjPDa7
Filtrete 3M 1085: amzn.to/3rP0WbO
Filtrete 3M Basic: amzn.to/3dcVzPM
Filtrete 3M 1900: amzn.to/3qnrVL8
Test Equipment:
Laser Air Quality Monitor: amzn.to/3rTtOQ6
Manometer: amzn.to/3pjRjQI
Videography Equipment:
Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera: amzn.to/2YdXvPw
Canon 70D Camera: amzn.to/31b5Gy0
Azden Microphone: amzn.to/34d3DLE
Go Pro Bundle: amzn.to/4cpmmof
This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
I’ve waited my entire adult homeowner life for this.
Thanks for sharing!
Haha ya
Washable filters are more efficient than others because they filter out more particles. BUT... they are also much more restrictive than regular filters. Thew require a stronger fan to circulate the air through the furnace. The filter in your furnace may not be strong enough and fan replacements are $$$$
You only uses air filters in homes you own? Lol
Same here. Straight geekin 🧐🤓🤓🤓🤓🤯😲
Do I have any reason to watch a furnace filter test? No.
Am I going to watch a furnace filter test? Absolutely I am.
Thanks for watching!
You don't like heat in your home?
@@GodWeenSatan I rent an apartment heated by an outdoor wood boiler.
@@GodWeenSatan there are many ways to heat a house aside from a furnace...
@@ProjectFarm hi, I have an interesting engine lube oil test for you but I'm not sure how to get a hold of you?
As an HVAC guy, thank you for this! This is what I tell my customers every day. Yes, the higher rates filters will filter out more, but they're typically too restrictive. If you want more and better filtration, you need a wider filter. Sometimes you even need duct adjustments to accommodate higher filtration.
You are welcome!
@@ProjectFarm Why aren't there more filters that are 3-4 inches thick? Or even 6" thick?
I had an HVAC guy come out for a quote on a new system and vaguely remembering this video with 2"+ being less restrictive I asked him about it. He said they are MORE restrictive so I had to re-watch and confirm he was wrong.
The HVAC guy who services mine told me the same thing. He especially recommended the high- flow woven fiberglass type for summer central air use.
My friend, who’s an HVAC guy, has been recommending that I use the woven glass filters, saying I’m starving my units w/ the 3m 1900 filters I use. I guess he’s more concerned with airflow than filtering.
I have been using the 3M 1900 filters for several years. They are somewhat pricey especially when replacing them monthly. I was glad to see your tests show they do a good job filtering without too much flow restriction. As an software engineer, I greatly appreciate your rigorous test design.
Thanks!
You don't know that at all. Do a static pressure test on YOUR equipment and see what is really happening with those filters in.
@@kenthomas4668 To be fair, the filters here are being tested, not the system. No HVAC system is airtight around the filter's edges, so yes it will be lower in a system. But this is about the filter itself. A standard must be set, sealing it off completely as was done here makes the most sense to me. I want to know the filter's performance. A junky HVAC system could allow tons of airflow around the filter, those results wouldn't be valuable.
Too bad it's a poor test design. Rigorous doesn't help when it's in the wrong direction.
i am an hvac technician of 20 years 40k + service calls. youre doing the right thing. but dont change. the 3m 1085 or the 3m 1900 best filters hands down. every month is probably a little excessive. Do not ever go past the 1900 tho or else i can tell you it will absolutely F up your AC. the 2200, 2500 lose minimum of 25 percent of your air flow which is a full ton on a 4 ton. i have had a few hundred calls where those filters just cause tons of issues and typically they wont even work at all. The only reason that they even work is because enough of the air somehow is able to find its way around the filter. Thats when the air starts trying to pull air from the attic or the gap in the filter and just wherever it can because it dam sure cant out of those filters. it suffocates and causes the suction pressure to drop. And in the heat mode it will cause the system to overheat which can cause its own set of serious damages. Its hard trying to explain to a customer that their filter is garbage regardless if its clean or dirty. its just amazing how filter changing isnt standardized. i cant tell you all the dam problems i get from filter issues.
Dude, I can't imagine the terror that the marketing staff must feel when they find out that you analyzed their products!
I trust you more than the quality certificates on the labels!
Thank you!
Lol they probably email him often
especially when they make up there own standards.
Something like: “PF approved!”
500 Watts!
"We're gonna test that"
lol! Oh yeah! LET'S!
Everyone in the comments: oh shit I'm supposed to change that
lol. Nice!
@Joe H I did not know about the bleach in the drain line but I do now. Edit: googled it lol. My unit is getting some maintenance done soon so I'll wait till that's done.
Thanks for the tip :D
That was MY DAD, six years after Mom died. He had no idea the furnace _had_ a filter, let alone that it had to be changed!
Edit to add that he didn’t have an AC, nor did he need one for the two days a year it got hot in Calgary back then.
lmao I asked my landlord where the furnace filter thing was to go to change it because it's been a few months of having it on every single day and she was just like 'the furnace what'
Joke is on you, I'm European, we don't have heating like that.
Im about 45 seconds into rhis video and i had to stop it.....to go make some popcorn. This is gonna awesome. Nobody does reviews like this dude!
Thanks! The popcorn sounded like a great idea to go along with watching the video!
As a research person myself, l am amazed at the technology, time and effort you put into your testing! Since companies "exaggerate" & "embellish" the advertisement of their products, YOU bring it home to the truth....."it is what it is", and your test results, "tell it like it is"! Thank you so much for your time and diligence!!
You are welcome!
“I built this test stand “. Well of course you did ... you are the expert we rely on ... well done, again.
Thanks.
"We are gonna test that"
Of course he would build a custom stand lmao this guy is the definition of dedicated
😁😁💯💯
One thing that you won’t have to test is how good Gorilla Glue is as a hair spray, it’s already been tested.
😂😂 damn you read this laugjed so loud it woke my 10 month old.
LOL yeah, and it worked GREAT!
And then you cry racism
But is it better than FlexSeal?
I don't believe this! I better gorilla glue a solo cup to my mouth to test it....
This channel is my favorite on TH-cam. So much quality information and testing it's simply the best. These videos help me through the day, I watch these videos daily (even ones I've watched before) and I help with my PTSD (USMC Infantryman) and the constant barrage of random questions that pop into my head that before now had no answers. Thank you for making this content, and thank you for taking the time out of your day to indulge us in the quest for the best of the best when it comes to anything and everything.
You are welcome!
Wow, I love all your other videos. As a hvac professional I was dreading this. But after watching you absolutely nailed it. The right measurement tools. The right tests. Great job.
Thanks!
This guy needs to get an award for these vids.
Always so sad when I'm in the market for something and he hadn't tested the options first.
Very interesting.
Thanks for the nice comment!
@Banana Man, yeah that’s when you contemplate putting off a purchase, until he releases a video.
comment the stuff you look out for he might test it. E.G best banana peeler?
@@BruceLortzHI Who is Jim and where can i find that spread sheet listing all the products PF has tested?
Thank you
Always concise, well-thought out and on-to-the point. No loud music, no endless roundabout filler storytelling, no obnoxious "creative camera angles", no clickbait title or jpeg - PF is the complete opposite from 98% of YT today. And it is very much appreciated :)
Thanks so much!
Bruh, did you just forget cousin Eddy? He is part of the narrative, and the second most important character after Todd himself.
Well said! Everything you just said is 100% accurate. His channel is absolutely the most useful channel I've ever come across.
And no bass battle.
Totally agree, just finished a video on a truck MPG upgrade where the guy got coffee, picked up his friend and talked at the camera for 15 minutes before getting to the info. The Project Farm brand is better than consumer reports IMO...
When I look for better solutions from watching TH-cam videos; respectively, I look for you bro. I trust your opinion and your testing procedures and results. I know they aren't 100% accurate, but are very practical and as scientific as one could possibly be. I really appreciate that about all of your videos.
I am a HVACR technician and I couldn't agree more with this. The more surface area the better. I wish my customers would watch this video. I love your videos. Thank you. 😊
Thanks and you are welcome!
@@ProjectFarm n
Man you must get swamped with companies wanting to buy you out. Love how you keep putting these unbiased reviews out.
Thanks so much!
This and AVE are both no BS channels that actually frequently influence what I buy. I've watched all the videos and PF videos don't have cursing so I've watched all these videos with my 13 yr old
@@JayMoravec is ave the guy with the the fire guy as his pfp?
@@ryzxn4703 he has the little ic chip as his profile picture because his name means Arduino vs Evil
Buy you out? Do you know anything about business?
Honestly this channel is incredible.
Thanks!
This channel is incredible scientific research!!
Also, credible.
Thanks again for an awesome test. I always wondered how my 4” filters were ok. Great in-depth and meaningful review. You can truly learn how things are designed and how they are supposed to work with the tests you do.
You are welcome!
Hey buddy, great video! I work in producing filter testing equipment, and I really loved the dedication and effort you put into this video. I think your analysis in general was really informative. Something worth considering if you tackle filtration in the future is the relationship between contaminate accrual in the media and the buildup of resistance to flow through the media. The differential pressure curve to contaminate captured is a huge factor in filter performance that you could maybe tackle by aerosolizing the particulate into the air stream and then timing each filter to reach a predetermined change in deltaP.
Still, rad video, love your channel, I'll keep coming back.
Thanks!
Can we all just take a moment to realize he built an entire test rig just to test those air filters?!? Awesome engineering abilities there!
Best TH-cam channel
Thanks for the nice comment!
@Constantine Fetter its everywhere and it is annoying
I believe he built it for the car air filters but he did have to build it then and modify it for this
Oh yeah and he used it for the shop vacs
3M: Creates ultra expensive filter testing methodologies to demonstrate product effectiveness.
My trust level: 2/10
Project Farm: Here's an acrylic box with a leaf blower
My trust level: 10/10
Thanks for the feedback.
Every company: We've designed a lot of tests that shows our product works and is good.
Me: I'll wait until Project Farm gets around to it.
Thank you for this! I'm sure others asked as well, but seems like only a couple weeks ago we were asking for this in the comments section! Project Farm is truly one of the most useful content creators on TH-cam. And yes, I tested that 😉
3m is a Minnesota company, the best kind.
why do some fools use colons like that? So upsetting.
Thank you for your testing. I've used the Flanders easy Flow filters exclusively in the house I just moved from. I purchased that home new it was approximately 1450 square feet single story with cathedral ceilings. The unit was a 3-ton tempstar and the air handler was in the garage. I did not have any problems during the 16 years of ownership. I currently have a smaller home I had built and I'm still using the same Flanders easy Flow filters exclusively. I hope these filters don't cause any problems for this home. The new home is considerably smaller and uses a new 2-ton straight cool Central air system and there isn't room for a thicker filter. I thank you again for your time and effort you put into your videos.
You are welcome!
I just want to say how much I appreciate you for doing independent, objective testing to the best of your ability with the resources you have available to you.
Thanks!
I wish my furnace had a static pressure sensor that would notify when it’s above a threshold. Seems like a practical thing to add that would objectively tell you when you need a new filter.
It's easy to put one in on the return between the furnace and filter. General Aire G99 Air Filter Gage
Great point!
Mine apparently does -- the thermostat whines FILTER when it's not happy.
Pretty simple to just check your filters every couple weeks and see if its dirty
They make whistles to do that
I am a manufacture rep for the Best Air brand, that was a great test. and extremely fair.
Thank you!
Hi Thom. Is Best Air owned by Honeywell?
@@SeattleMK2GLI yes they are, overall 4 and 5" filters tend to be better overall over 1" filters across the board. Less area to work with compared 4" and 5" filters. Also I prefer to install them horizontally in the return instead of slammed against the furnace, easier to change and you have have a pile of debris in the return air boot.
I love 11 Merv and above filters.1inch. They make me rich. I'm an HVAC company. Those dense filters creates me many service calls. They restrict the airflow so bad it freezes up evaporators, they overheat in heating mood killing many compressors. I make a killing off these filters. I'm totally surprised air filter manufacturers haven't had one heck of a class action lawsuit against them. I've been working on heat pumps since 1988..
@@Bryan-Hensley I have worked as an expert witness tearing apart people like you. In short, what the situation almost always is is you are falling victim to sampling bias, connecting uncorrelated events, and you actually don't really care about your customers. You have no sympathy or empathy for why they would want better filtration than a crappy panel filter.
And a class-action lawsuit? Really? For what? For selling a product that has stamped and inked, traceable classification and performance test results from an unbiased third-party organization and testing labs telling you exactly what they will do and endorsed by your trade organization?
If your "solution" is basically stop filtering the air, then I'm sure as hell glad you don't work for my local water treatment plant! If people don't change their filter for a year and that overworks and their blower and their compressor starts slugging, then that's kinda their fault. ASE mechanics don't go around complaining engine oil filters are crap because my engine falls apart because I didn't change the oil and filter. That's basically what you are doing.
Another way to think about it: They have been making these filters for 30 years, and capitalism has kept them not only alive but very strong growth. Sol what's more likely: Someone is subsidizing these companies to stay alive and to silence all the ASHRAE and trade unions and such, or you just are bad at this part of your job.
I love being able to see your videos as some of my search results for things like this. I go straight for them. Thanks man. Your vid’s help a ton.
Thanks and you are welcome!
Great Video !!!! Some years ago we tried different filters in the house. My two daughters had asthma. After trying different filters, we found that the 1900 seemed to work the best. It was nice to see your tests were similar to what a novice like me doing the testing. They are expensive, but worth it for me. Keep up the great work !!
Thanks, will do!
Project Farm, PLEASE add a grid chart with all of the data at the end of the video so we can study your great work done. Thanks.
Thanks for the suggestion.
That would be a good Patreon add-on. If done in the videos then most people would just watch the part with the chart.
@@DonJuanRicoSuave Not true.
People are still going to watch the entire video because they like Todd's methodology and seeing him do the test.
If, however, they are like me at 7:20 on a Sunday morning reviewing the video because I'm heading to Home Depot, a "round-up" of the charts and results would be super helpful.
I don't get why you are asking him to increase his workload - on tops of designing, testing, and video editing - instead of just re-watching the individual parts and taking your own notes. That's some self-centered, selfish flour right there.
@@workingguy6666 I'm not sure why you're struggling to understand the request.
There are charts all through his videos and it would be awesome to see a final round-up chart at the end.
You really put a lot of time and money into testing these things. And doing a good job of it. Keep up the good work.👍
He doesn’t do a good job, he does a GREAT job!
@@BobWidlefish, I was thinking the same.
Great as always!
Thank you very much!
@@ProjectFarm Am curious, does the ad revenue you get from YT offset your purchases in their entirety?
What about testing different types of face masks?
Wish u had tested the k&n home filter as well I’m currently using it and seems to be working great. Thanks again for all ur test u do a great job
Thank you so much for all the testing that you do. The data and testing make it so easy to pick out exactly what you need
You are welcome!
"You may now breathe freely." I was disappointed you didn't say "we are going to test that!" XD
Thanks for the feedback.
@M S poor taste amigo
@@BerryMan427 LOL
As a pro HVAC guy, I really appreciate this video. I hope more homeowners see this!
I appreciate that!
As a pro HVAC guy, the number of times I've see 4 1" filters stacked on each other, in the place of a nice 4" filter, makes me sad.
I would have loved to see what 4x 1" filter on each other did on his static pressure.
What is weird is the higher Merv had similar starting resistance and less resistance when dirty. So correct me if I'm wrong, but damage to system, or underpreforming system could only be caused by a dirty filter, not a high Merv rating like is commonly suggested.
@@_RiseAgainstThe higher merv filters has vastly more surface area than the MERV 8 filters. They compensate for their restrictive media with more surface area.
If you can find a high pleat count 8, you'll have a very, very free flowing filter that doesn't cost so much
@@monte0704 any brand recommendations? for 1" width that is
It would be helpful to compare the 1" honeywell filters to really compare the brands as opposed to comparing thickness.
He has a 1" Honeywell. That's the second one listed at 10:44.
@@joshuaychung It's not a MIRV 8 like the rest, though, so it isn't a very useful comparison.
I've lost count of how many times I've watched this video. Its a great reference. Thanks for making it.
You are welcome!
Thanks for the great video, as always.
I installed and repaired HVAC systems for over a decade and quickly became convinced that the cheap, fiberglass 1" filters do only a minimal job of protecting coils and furnaces. They stop large debris, but a wet A/C coil will still eventually clog up with fine dust even if the owner routinely changes the cheap filter (and many do not). An inexpensive pleated filter will offer far better protection to your equipment, but will probably need to be changed more often as it will catch far more stuff than a basic fiber filter.
If you're buying a new HVAC system or building a new home, you should definitely talk with your contractor about filtration options, especially those that add little additional expense such as having the ability to use 2" filters. This gives people more options. We don't want to force people to spend a fortune on filters, but improved air filtration can have multiple benefits, including:
1. Longer service life and less maintenance for furnace, air handler, and refrigerant coil.
2. Fewer indoor allergens, which reduces suffering for those that already have allergies, but may not stop babies and toddlers from developing allergies (early allergen exposure might be beneficial). As an allergy sufferer myself, I definitely benefit from filtration.
3. No need to routinely clean duct system, which is an expensive and potentially damaging job often done by contractors who may not be licensed and who sometimes use exaggerated claims to frighten people into having their ducts cleaned.
4. Less overall household dust, but vacuuming should still be done regularly as it keeps a lot of dust out of your potentially expensive furnace filter(s).
5. Reduced or eliminated need to purchase and operate standalone HEPA filter units.
Filter upgrades don't necessarily have to cost a fortune. If you choose somewhat better filters that have a lot of pleated surface area, you may be able to increase your filter change interval. While a single "good" filter is usually more expensive than a 4-pack of basic filters, the reduced need to go into the attic or crawl space plus some of the benefits listed above may make this a reasonable investment.
No matter what kind of filter you have, if a filter "looks" dirty, then it's probably past time to change it. If your filter has an opaque layer of dust on it that can rub onto a finger, then you should probably *halve* your current change interval (double the frequency). Such a layer *greatly* increases the workload to your blower and reduces airflow, which can then cause A/C freeze-up and potential compressor damage. Dirty filters can turn out to be *very* expensive.
MERV8 is often a fair compromise, as upgrading to MERV11 or higher filtration levels will usually require the consultation of a licensed expert. I do not recommend over-spending on air filtration except in cases of real medical need and I like to keep in mind that modern societies in rich nations seem easily attracted to over-cleaning and over-sterilizing their environments. Those with airborne allergies may substantially increase their quality of life with better air filtration, however.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Most furnace manufacturers like .5” w.c. Total static that’s measured before ac coil and after filter After taking in account for supply and return duct and ac coil static drop for filter is about .15”
I work as an HVAC technician. I agree with everything you have mentioned. The benefit of a 4 inch filter that can go 6 months, outweighs the costs.
What’s your recommendation for 1” filters I can buy today at Home Depot? Small home in Los Angeles, and I already have air purifiers running. I was using Honeywell Merv 11 FRP 9, but I’m thinking that’s overkill, and I might be damaging the HVAC system?
As someone who works in the HVAC industry, I found this video technically accurate and really educational.
I'm starting HVAC training at 61 since I'm living in Texas and "retiring" in Florida.
Any advice for a new student?
As an AirFlow tech who worked for pharmaceuticals and hospitals, I too found that this was far better and more informative that anything else I have seen in the public view.
I would have liked to see things like ash, filtered with a mesh used as it is finer and also I would have liked to see the dust to be released while the fan was running. as a filter clogs in one area, other areas allow air to pass. deep pleats can store the flower at the valley while the peaks don't have any flower. releasing with the fan running would cause the flower to enter the higher velocity areas.
as a note, home air handlers should have space to 2 or more filters. air moves slower, catches more lint and lasts longer with lower pressure drop.
Well can you suggest which filter I should go with??
@@jacobhendrickson8935 From what I gathered at the end, choose one that has a lot of pleats and a low merv rating. Around merv 8 or lower.
@@jennifercohrsbabb4518 thanks, I did see that but had skipped through a lot. Was hoping he had some categorized winners
I came back to this video a year later to figure out what filter I wanted in my return ducting to help out my dynamic filter system and I decided on the 3M 1900. Thanks again!
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Working as an Energy Auditor; I wish I could have every client sit down and watch this. Thank you for this video!!
You are welcome!
I don't even have a forced air system and I still watched and thought this was an awesome video.
Thank you!
What the other options if not forced air?
Base board heaters
@@joelvarela4444 wood, electric baseboards, in floor heat, hot water radiators,
You and me both - I have never even seen a furnace in my life, as they don't exist here.. but can never miss a PF video :-)
I’ve been doing research on this lately for cost versus actually effectiveness. Thanks for spending all the money to do the testing to give me an answer i feel like I can trust.
You are welcome!
Excellent set up, explanation, and video! One suggestion I have is to put your four graphs together with 4 bars color coded according to the point you're trying to get across for each filter. That way as individuals we can decide an "All Around Best" filter for our application.Thank you for your great work!
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
Having an asthmatic daughter. 3 year old! This is gold to me and i applaud you for doing all these tests helping everyone! Keep up the good work!!
Thanks, will do!
Your parents raised a dang genius my friend.....it is very clear that you love what you do. Keep up your amazing contributions to this world
Thanks, will do!
I never make comments, but I had to say thank you. I appreciate your methodology in testing, it's about as thorough as anyone DIYer could ask for.
You're very welcome!
"Thanks for taking the time/effort to run theses tests. And posting your results. Much appreciated." -Tom
You are welcome!
i really thank you for all the time and effort you put into all of these tests that you do, thanks again
You are welcome!
This man is like the dad we all wanted that tested everything to make sure your getting your moneys worth
Thanks for the nice comment.
1st. kid, "My dad is an aeronautical engineer".2nd kid, Well my dad is Project Farm! 1st kid,,,,, "okay you win"!
HVAC Tech who knows a thing or two about a thing or two. Can confirm everything that has been said here. Glad someone finally made this video.
Thanks!
Thanks for the clip. I’ve had my doubts about getting a high Merv rating because of it cause excessive air restriction and you helped clear the air (no pun intended). I watch quite a bit of your video comparisons and feel you do a great job with your testing. Thanks again.
Thanks and you are welcome!
Thanks for the test. I got an electric furnace / AC combined installed about 2 years ago (replacing an oil furnace). Initially the tech installed an ElectroDust washable filter and told us that this was the only filter we should use. I noticed after a few washings (every month) that the air quality dropped throughout the house. A person living in this house has extreme chronic breathing problems and I have seasonal allergies. A few months ago, I switched to 3M MPR 600 just out of curiosity and I was astounded at the amount of debris that they would collect compared to the electrostatic filter. Within 2 days of installation I could easily notice a difference in air quality throughout the house (no fumes, no headaches, no nose congestion or sneezing). An HVAC tech was here about a month ago and he removed the 3M and put back the ElectroDust claiming the 3M was causing too much restriction and making the blower whistle. Of course he doesn't care about air quality. What should I do ? I'm through with electrostatic filters. I'm tempted to try out a 3M MPR 1900 even if the tech would not approve. Have you tested the K&N washable filters ? The Castle MERV6 and MERV 8 filters ?
Any updates?
Sounds to me like in your situation you're going to have to pony up to make a 2" or even thicker filter possible. Either that, or go with a lesser filter and add internal air cleaners inside the home. That HVAC guy Wasn't Wrong. These furnace filters are not supposed to medically clean the air, they were only intended to protect the unit.
The fastest click in the west
Thank you and hope you enjoy the video!
@McEagle-Good thing you don’t live in the East, you wouldn’t be able to even click, your fingers would be immobile from being frozen!
A suggestion: always have the winners at the end of the video. Sometimes I circle back to remind myself what was the best one when it’s time to purchase. Thank you for what you do!
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
I watched this video months ago. Just come back to see the best filter and I’m guessing 3m 1900 🤷🏼♀️
Maybe y'all need to work on your memory skills
@@schnoogens76 i have dementia
@@schnoogens76 i feel sorry for your sad little life.
Thank you again for being an amazing consumer watchdog!
Air filtration in HVAC systems is a very crucial aspect and people don’t understand that most duck systems are improperly sized. if your duct is sized correctly even the most restrictive filter will be just fine because the surface area is large enough to compensate for the static pressure. But like I said they’re usually too small. So is an HVAC repair man I would recommend the 3M 1900. Excellent video as always A true professional. And a service to homeowners everywhere this is always my favorite channel. let me add that up until this video I generally recommended the least restrictive air filter possible I’ve even use the green one so I mean you’re influencing homeowners and professionals with your content. Granted it benefits me to for people to have dirty ac cause I get more service calls 😂 but I’d rather recommend quality products
to my customers
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! I am currently running the Nordic Pure MEV12 in my 20x20x1 return and an Aerostar Meve 13 in my 12x12x1 return (the only 12x12 I could get at the time). Definitely going to be changing up the 12x12, and maybe the 20x20, too. I use to have them set on an autoship so that I got a new set every month, reminding me change them, but turned that when you buy them in bulk, you save a ton of money, not just a few pennies.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Run merv 8. Less static pressure
Which ones are you switching to? Do you understand from the video which 1" filters are best? I still don't know.
@@iseektruth the 1900 from 3m seems to be the best
I've been filtering my flour wrong my whole life. Another great video!
Thanks!
😂😂😂
Just bought my first house and am still learning a lot about being a first time home owner. This video couldn't have came out at a more perfect time. Thank you.
You are welcome!
After watching this video I purchased new filters based on what I learned from you. HUGE difference. Feel cheated by marketing. Thank you for this service.
You are welcome!
Which one did you end up buying?
3m 1900. Our newest unit is 5 years in Oct. I could tell that it was more productive than the one it replaced. But, after watching TH-cam and PBS shows I knew that I was not getting the best output. 1st thing I noticed was when the unit was cycling I could feel the air across my skin/hands at the return. And at the furtherist vent I can tell a positive difference.
Thank you for the comprehensive test of various air filters. When my furnace was replaced, they gave me a permanent filter but I didn't use it for long as it restricted air flow too much. I usually buy a MERV 8 with the electrostatic covers so good to know this is probably the best for my home. I will pay more attention to the pleating now as I am restricted to a 1" x 16" x 25" size.
Thanks for sharing.
Static pressure results - 7:34
Large particle results - 10:42
Static pressure overlay with Large particle result in order - 11:05
Square inches of filter media - 12:11
@Mia L He should add a conclusion but he doesn't and that is only thing that is wrong about his videos.
@@moltenpros - thanks; thought I was the only one who felt that way.
@Mia L @@moltenpros A final conclusion might be improper, in addition the evidence is there , replete, you shouldn't need him to tell you which one is better or a better value, that's what all the testing and data is for... 'merica
@@cjlion7081 Not everyone understands the technical data or what the tests actually mean. So when you get to the end of the video you learn that you have to watch it again to figure out which one is the best.
@@moltenpros hoped you rethought this...
A final conclusion might be improper, in addition the evidence is there , replete, you shouldn't need him to tell you which one is better or a better value, that's what all the testing and data is for, but promoting one over the other isn't ethical, and this guy maintains that, It's up you, the viewer to calculate the outcome of his testing to foster unbiased objectivity
Great video!! I work in the air filtration industry, but even we don’t see real life testing like this with such a variety of filters.. good job!
Thank you!
Thanks, as always your videos are very informative.
Thank you! Your reviews are so thorough and are exactly what I love!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I didn't realize how many filters are made in the USA. Yes!!!!
yeah...i was happy to see "made in usa" stamped on the boxes instead of the usual "made in china"
@@trippplefive sometimes they try to catch you out by saying they're made in your country but then if you read a bit more, each component is made elsewhere and then assembled in america.
Thanks for sharing.
Yet when we need to make N95 masks for the pandemic, they all ho hiding
Probably because it’s cheaper, don’t give them too much credit.
i love that you do research on WHAT each rating means and how it came to be to give all of us a deeper understanding. i really respect that!
Thanks so much!
I just subscribed. I like this--very thorough and factual. Thank you for your work!
You are welcome! Thanks for watching and subscribing!
Just bought a house and now needing to replace filter! I knew you would have a video!! Thank you!!!
Glad I could help!
I've been an hvac technician for 4 years, this video was a fun watch. I can tell you from experience that most systems (at least systems that I've worked on) can't handle a 1 inch filter with an 8 merv rating. In general an hvac system is designed to run at .5 overall static. Thats the filter, A/C coil, overall duct work friction, and even the furnace itself. When the system is initially designed it can be designed to handle a high merv rated filter. In reality systems aren't designed to handle a high merv filter. As of 2020 a new motor technology called constant torque comes standard with every furnace. The name speaks for itself but I will briefly explain why its a game changer. Before 2020 PSC motors were the industry standard motor for nearly all furnaces. PSC motors are great but their output CFM is determined by static pressure and the output can range wildly as static pressure changes. Filter get dirty, you get less air. Filter is brand new, you get more air. Constant torque is quite the opposite. A constant torque motor can maintain the same CFM all the way up to .8 static. The way this is done is too complex to explain for a TH-cam comment but the result of the technology is a system that is able to deliver a constant CFM even as static (resistance) changes. Additionally, in high altitude areas where the air is thinner, constant torque actually puts out more overall CFM to maintain a constant mass air flow. That means the system won't be at a deficit simply because of thinner air.
Once again, great video, very informative. Hope I was able to teach someone something with this lengthy comment.
Thanks so much! Thanks for the feedback.
@@ProjectFarm My pleasure. It was extra special to see you doing HVAC tests.
This is good information and now has me wondering about my setup. I'm using the 3m Filtrete 2200 (Merv 13). My furnace is about 16 years old although i just had the A/C side of it replaced last summer. We chose to run the 2200 filters because of bad allergies but its sounding like this may be a bad idea for functionality? What is the best possible solution to filter out the most debris and allergens while maintaining heath of a furnace? From what i'm reading maybe the 4" filter?
@@klay590 Thank you for the reply and great information. Ill look into this.
Additionally, installing a device like this combined with the healthy climate filtration system, you will have (at least in my opinion) the best IAQ solution available.
wonder who's going to be watching this with their Valentine's day date lol
Lol!!!!!!
The luckiest guy in the world
Just did! 😂😂😂
We are going on a romantic walk through HomeDepot!
I wish!!
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Thanks for reminding me.. gotta go shit out a heart shaped box of chocolate and find the best dandelion in the yard..
Excellent review. You reviewed all the concerns I have with furnace filters especially air flow and filtration that is best for furnace longevity.
Thanks Thanks for the suggestion.
Congrates amigo for many of your well laid out videos. Your specific setups show your amount of time involved and keeping to the accuracy of testing. To see up front your results compared to manufactures results. I once thought there was a little-known fact called "truth in advertising"?
Well done.
Thanks!
Man this channel is awesome. Every once in a while I have to stand back and appreciate how great these videos are. Not only are they a tremendous consumer resource (the best consumer resource anywhere, I won’t even say that’s an opinion, I consider it a fact,) but they are also just plain entertaining, at least to me. I could watch PF test products until there were no products left. There’s a ton of niche stuff that I hope he gets to someday but I can’t expect them, we already get so much from this man. Just think how much combined money he has saved people from these videos, it’s probably into the millions of dollars.
Thanks so much!
This is probably one of the most informative and impartial TH-cam channels In e ever subscribed to. Thanks for the fantastic content!
Thank you! Buying an air filter today, so glad you did testing on these!
You are welcome!
I use that Flanders as my summer filter. It helps move the cold air, and I'm not too worried about allergens when most of the time the windows are open anyway. Thanks for the test!
You are welcome!
One thing that would have been interesting would have been to use a 120V blower running through the Kill-a-Watt.
Do you know those commercials that tease you about turning into your dad?? That hit home lol I’m watching a video about home air filters and I made EVERYONE in the house pay attention and listen 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
lol Thanks for sharing.
Now follow up with a dad joke, like, "i like project farm, because he's good at filtering out the nonsense."
Most useful channel on TH-cam. No BS and stuffed with information. Thanks project farm for the years of great content
Thank you very much!
Agreed.
Loved it, good to know my 3M 1900 did pretty good. House is comfortable and it does a good job at filtering. Thanks for this!
You are welcome!
I use the 3M 1900 filters and their performance in these tests was quite surprising to me, better than i anticipated. That surface area really helps, and keeps my allergies at bay. I think the largest detriment is that people do not change the filters often enough in their home environment
Thanks for the feedback.
Have you considered a room air filtration system (air purifiers) - they work very well and after you change out the filter and charcoal filter you will be amazed at what they trapped and what did not go into your lungs. We have a few in our house and have basically no dust on the furniture, so they really must be working.
Same here. So worth it
After seeing the performance, I plan to switch to 3M 1900's as well. The static pressure dirty is less than half the result of the filter I currently use! That's worth a change.
Add an iwave into your system and you'll be set
Hearing "Made in USA" for the majority of the products tested is a breath of fresh air!
I'll show myself out
Literally!
As a European, I don't have the slightest clue what these filters are for.
Yes it is!
Probably has a lot to do with logistics costs - these things are super cheap to make but moving them around is costly due to how bulky they are (and hence how few you can fit on a truck/boat). So it makes the economics of manufacturing them locally more feasible.
@@Yora21 A lot of homes in North America have hot air heating. Each room has a hot air vent through which hot air flows out from the furnace, and a cold air vent through which cold air flows back into the furnace to be heated. A lot of the dust, pet dander, etc. created in the house gets caught up in this air circulation; it's can't help but end up there, unless you vacuum 30 times a day. The filter stops that dust from ending up in the furnace itself and gumming up the blower fan that creates the circulation, plus it stops the dust from being blown back into the house.
I'd love to see a rattle can clearcoat video, testing clarity, durability, cost, ease of operation etc
And compare to real automotive clear coat
Great suggestion! Thank you.
@@ProjectFarm also the same for polyurethane coatings for wood would be nice - especially for outdoor furniture!
If you do it please test yellowing during exposure to UV also.
wow that would make a great vid
Great comparison I love the effort you put into your content keep up the great work
Thanks, will do!
I know I’ve seen this one before, it’s always worth watching again, because I can’t always find the filters I want so need to pick the next best, thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Great video, with this crazy heat wave. I talked to my HVAC guy about this. He said it best. The point of the air filter is to keep dust out of your blower motor, not to clean the air for you. That is what HEPA filters systems are for.
Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks, probably well put………
That's exactly what my HVAC guy said to me.
Yes, it's a maintenance filter. Not there for the inhabitants of the building. I run 3 HEPA filters 24/7 in my home.
@@SilverFox01492 I tape the 4 inch filters to a box fan or floor fan as a cheap diy air cleaning system
I retired from the filter industry with over 35 years experience. I was a Certified Air Filtration Specialist with the National Air Filtration Association, Nuclear and Containment certified. I didn't talk to people when I traveled about air filtration because "everyone" has a problem. When you did the testing, you sealed the filters into the test duct. No one does except in clean room situations like hospital theaters. I think you should have tested some filters that have "self sealing" capabilities like ring panels or plastic frame filters that have built in vinyl blades that self seal in a track or frame. Do the same test but don't tape the other filters in. You will see that bypass is a big part of filtration. I use a TPS (Total Protection System) from Sanders Filter. The frame are plastic with vinyl seals on all sides. You can put any efficiency media in the frame all the way up to HEPA media. Check it out. I use Merv 8 polyester media pads and change mine every 3 months at my house.
Thanks for sharing.
Bill Hale, that was very interesting information thank you. I usually put duct tape over the opening where I insert my 1" furnace filter, I will take a closer look at that now!
Bill Hale thanks for your post. I currently use a 4” filter and change every 12 months since my hvac guy said it still looks very good after 6 months. I went to the Sanders site to find the price and order the TPS frame. I couldn’t find the price or see any way to order. Can you provide info regarding both?
Update: On Feb. 21 I sent a message at Sanders website asking how do I order the plastic frame, received an automatic reply thanking me for my inquiry and says someone will contact me. It’s now March 3, Never heard back from them. So much for customer service.
@@WaIIyMaven
Good job. Air finds the path of least resistance. Taping them in helps a lot by forcing the dust laden air thru the filter media.
@@halestorm5248
Good filtration isn’t just good for the IAQ (indoor air quality) it’s good for the equipment ( furnace or air handler). The modern blower motors that are ECM (electrically commutated motors) are actually rated up to .8” of water column (200 pascals) as the the older less efficient PSC motors should be ok up to .5” of water column (125 pascals). It’s hard to beat a good 4” or 5” filter media. I don’t like washable filters because people don’t wash them when needed and this causes HVAC problems and higher energy costs. Of course the failure of people and equipment does put food on my table because I am in the HVAC business (28 years). I personally run a Lennox PureAir filter which is a HVAC installed filter system that is fairly expensive to install and maintain. I think it’s worth the cost if you can afford it. It’s a Merv 16 media with a UV/Catalyst system that destroys VOC (volatile organic compounds) bacteria, odors and viruses. These days many people are seeing more value and importance in these kind of filter systems for their homes. I do have a true variable (ECM) motor to deal with the high merv 5” filter. More surface area helps air flow. The pleats in the merv 16 filter are only 1/2” apart which increases surface area. On a 20” x 25” x 5” thick filter that helps reduce the pressure drop.
my god i love your work... the info you give is priceless and your format/editing/what ever is great. keep it up man.
Thanks, will do!
Nice to know that it might be possible to use the higher rated 3M filters without worrying about airflow too much, since I had read about that caveat of getting more restrictive air filters before.
Allergies have been ridiculously bad this year so it definitely could help.
Thanks for sharing.
So, I am confused. Which filter is best overall ?
@@JeffFanning I don't know either. The cheaper ones don't filter out a whole lot but ample air goes through. The more expensive ones trap more contaminants but quickly plug up, not letting air through and burning up the fan. I use the cheapest ones but put 2 or 3 on together.
As an ac tech this is an amazing design and demonstration. It will help me recommend filters for my clients. Thank you project farm.
Wait a minute! Did you test using sifted or unsifted flour? LOL :-) Truly incredible testing as always! Loved the video. A++
What about polarized and statically charged flour? lol . I agree!
LOL
I was kinda expecting a lawnmower engine powered sifter to make its way into the video
Just sift it with that first filter...assuming it will be finely enough sifted...
Now that others have mentioned the lawnmower sifter, you could have used the lawnmower to run the fan too. 😂
I would have liked seeing an actual recommendation or ranking of the various filters.
Me too.
ditto!
Thank you for setting all this up and helping people out.
You are a damn angel
This man made furnace filters interesting for 13 minutes. Outstanding
Thanks!
Have you considered summing up with a “best bang for the buck” at the end of these tests?
Thanks for the suggestion.
Best bang for the buck is to see if it's possible to convert your filter to a 4", then choose the filtration capability depending on your needs. A 4" filter will last way more than 4x longer than a 1", as it can hold at least as much particulate as four 1" filters while still allowing adequate airflow. By the time the 4" has clogged up to the point that it's adversely affecting airflow, you've captured twice as much particulate or more as an identically rated 1" filter. It's also more cost effective, as a 4" filter generally isn't 4x as expensive as a 1". I believe the filter I use is about 75% of the cost of 4 pack of 1" filters (same brand, same rating), and instead of changing it out in 3-4 weeks I'm changing it out every 6-9 months. My ducting just past the filter has a section that oil cans when too much vacuum is on it, so when the filter is clogged I hear a loud THUNK every time it turns on and turns off...that's when I know to change my filter. It hasn't happened yet with a 4" filter, so I just change them out as more of a regular maintenance schedule than out of necessity.
@@ProjectFarm So...... what 1" filter would YOU choose should you need that size? I have gone with your recommendations frequently in the past and would like to in this case.
Thanks again for your efforts.
@@wharfrat53 From what I was able to see here, the 3m 1900 looks promising
I did a spreadsheet. Best value (cleans, low pressure loss, cost, life) is the 2"Honeywell Best air at $5.48. If you can only fit a 1", 3M Filtrete 1085 at $11.97 or Filtete 1900 at $19.97 for longer life. Cheap and not bad, 3M Filtrete Basic for $4.97
Many thanks for the test.
My unit has slots for two 1" filters. Came time to replace the filter(s) and I bought the Filtrete 3M 1900 to go into the slot right behind a spun fiberglass filter like the Flanders EZ Flow. First filter always has been the spun fiberglass to catch dog hair and big stuff, second a pleated of some sort for the small stuff. We have dogs and the dog hair will clog up any filter PDQ. So, I use the sacrificial spun and replace that monthly or bi-weekly. Have had filters clog up quickly and then the air gets around and all that trash clogs up the A-coil. NOT fun to clean up and A-coil. I could knock out the metal separator and use a 2" filter, but it would clog from dog hair tout suite.
Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely love these videos! I once asked a HVAC tech, that showed up to do a job for my employer, if he had any thoughts on MERV ratings. He looked at me like my head was on backwards and questioned what the hell MERV was? I advised my boss to send the guy home and was ignored. Not shockingly, my employer had to pay another tech to redo the job later.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Oh how cool is this. I literally was just at Home Depot getting furnace filters the other days and wondered if these were as good as they say they were. Todd is going test that, we the people are going to know and honest result.
Thanks!
Thanks, **interestingly my Landlord has used HOME DEPOT filters, in my Apartment 16x20x1: had **no Ratings on them two years ago: installed for approx. two years plus( a Landlord’s supposedly Maintenance Help: Annual Change,***!).....though another Worker changed to 3M PLEATED FILTERS TWO YEARS AGO... always interesting !
Put the high Merv ones in. Your HVAC contractor will love making money off you. I make a killing off of service calls and compressor replacements because of those filters.
@@Bryan-Hensley lol gtfoh. That's good to know tho. I 👍
This is a fantastic video. I'm an occupational and environmental physician; I'd like to share this with my colleagues and trainees for educational purposes. There is much confusion, even in the professional world, about tradeoffs for filter ratings and designs.
Please keep up this great work; I watch everything you put out!
Thanks so much, will do!
Thanks, interestingly my Electrostatic Set Filter ,a special set-up in 1975 Thermopride Forced Air Furnace ( from North JUDSON, INDIANA: Closed now,, was a **High End Special** Built Multi *Fuel Furnace)seemingly was extremely good air cleaner : I remember Electrostatic Filter was a *major brand Name ( HUGHES, HONEYWELL) and a 12 ++inches thick with two separate Modules, that could preferentially, be cleaned in Dish washer, etc. Incredible cleaning, though only lasted about ten Years, & I switched to Filtretes and 3M “ Allergy Applications 11 Merv plus?, as Electronic **awfully expensive to replace ( I was shocked back then), & easy -out -in non Electrostatic, OR use standard Furnace Filters : IN furnace .........( still in use 2016, when we relocated to HELENA Valley MT).....
Being in the HVAC field, I would like a test on all the high efficiency filters that are supposed to last 6 months to a year depending on how much dust and pet hair is in the air. A good example would be the Aprilaire HE (whole home air purifiers) filters. Would like a review on other similar products as well as the different ratings of each brand, Merv 11,13, etc. Love the videos and will always be a loyal viewer.
Thanks so much! Thanks for the suggestion.
Helpful info! One suggestion for future filter tests----add a small agitation prep box in which a fan stirs up the powder into a fog and then blow/suck that into your filter box. You should get much better dust distribution that will cover the entire filter instead of "blobbing" over the filter.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.