Reusable furnace filters

[bubinga]

Anyone know if this is a good filter?
Most reviews are good, but a few said it doesn't filter well.
The seller said it has better flow than the K&N

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRWR6GH/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or IS the K&N better.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PG5PDRQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'd really like to have a reusable filter because this quote on quote maintenance guy for this place I'm running he's too much of it PITA
To get him to do anything I've been waiting for 6 weeks for a new filter.

 

[bonneyman]

I never liked "permanent" filters. To get the efficiency they claim, they have to make the plastic media really thick, dense, and with very small openings. And that creates pressure drop and cleaning issue. It's nearly impossible to get out all the impacted dirt, allergens, skin cells, and bacteria out of there. I had some customers with those electrostatic permanent filters, and they were really diligent at cleaning it once a month. I'd come out, ask them if I could borrow a plastic bowl that they wouldn't mind me getting dirty, and I'd wash the filter out with my commercial cleaner. And catch all the brown water to show them! "This is what I got out - after you cleaned it"! Freaked them out. I always told them use disposable filters and once a month throw the bacteria and **** out!

I used pleated filters by Flanders, had an anti-microbial additive in the media to retard growth during the use cycle. Plus it had this "memory" so if it got bent during installation it would spring back into shape. Great for uneven filter tracks. Don't know if they still offer it, but this one seems close:

PerfectPleat® ULTRA

<p style="text-align: left">The PerfectPleat ULTRA is a high-capacity self-supported pleated filter with an added antimicrobial to preserve media integrity, especially in high-moisture environments. The low-pressure drop and high dust-holding capacity can help reduce energy use and overall...

www.aafintl.com

The dealer I bought from would make special sizes for me (add $1 per filer to the cost for that service), and deliver them to me if I bought by the dozen. Great deal!

 

[bubinga]

Thanks it was a whole big thing with the maintenance guy, and the landlord.
First she told me to buy the filter then he called up like a big shot wanting to collect the rent I said no I'm going to send it to her and I told him about the filter he made a big deal and said they were too much money, and he called her she said not to get it he finally brought two disposable filters today.
I guess I'll have to fight him and 6 months or whatever to bring me more.
I told the landlord too in the text he's not doing it what he's supposed to be doing I sent a copy of a text between him and I it was 6 weeks ago when I told him about the filters.
I hope the landlord jumps his ***.
Thanks for your thoughts though it makes sense what you said.

 

[bonneyman]

U R welcome.

I still remember a customer I went to for a spring service who did her own washable filter. As we walked out to her garage unit she said, "You don't have to worry about cleaning the filter cause I just did it before you arrived". I did the bowl demonstration. I sprayed my orange-colored cleaner on the filter, waited for a few minutes while it worked, and then I washed out a two quart bowlful of gray-colored, frothy liquid. I then had her come out and take a look. "This is what I got out of your filter AFTER you cleaned it - and even I can't get out all of the impacted dirt and bacteria!" She about fainted! Sold her a dozen of the Perfect Pleat disposables. Another convert!

 

[bubinga]

I never liked "permanent" filters. To get the efficiency they claim, they have to make the plastic media really thick, dense, and with very small openings. And that creates pressure drop and cleaning issue. It's nearly impossible to get out all the impacted dirt, allergens, skin cells, and bacteria out of there. I had some customers with those electrostatic permanent filters, and they were really diligent at cleaning it once a month. I'd come out, ask them if I could borrow a plastic bowl that they wouldn't mind me getting dirty, and I'd wash the filter out with my commercial cleaner. And catch all the brown water to show them! "This is what I got out - after you cleaned it"! Freaked them out. I always told them use disposable filters and once a month throw the bacteria and **** out!

I used pleated filters by Flanders, had an anti-microbial additive in the media to retard growth during the use cycle. Plus it had this "memory" so if it got bent during installation it would spring back into shape. Great for uneven filter tracks. Don't know if they still offer it, but this one seems close:

PerfectPleat® ULTRA

<p style="text-align: left">The PerfectPleat ULTRA is a high-capacity self-supported pleated filter with an added antimicrobial to preserve media integrity, especially in high-moisture environments. The low-pressure drop and high dust-holding capacity can help reduce energy use and overall...

www.aafintl.com

The dealer I bought from would make special sizes for me (add $1 per filer to the cost for that service), and deliver them to me if I bought by the dozen. Great deal!

This Jag-Off will never go for once a month. I'll be lucky to get more in 6 months.
It says on these "Do it best" hardware store filters, "Up to two months".
He said "he gets these for $2.00 each. Probably another LIE!
I'll get a picture up after a while. I'm ready to drop. Was doing some garage/yard saleing today, National road, (route 40)
Might try going east tomorrow.

 

[bonneyman]

Many times you'll find the phrase "lasts up to three months" on high end disposable filters (like 3M). It's a scam. They should still be changed monthly, but nobody would pay the $15+ retail for a monthly filter. So, they claim they last "up to" 3 months - customers then think "oh, $5 per month isn't so bad". But if they clog up at 30-45 days, you can't sue them or complain to the retailer because they'll say "it says UP TO 3 months - your house must just be very dusty".

Even though it's a rental and the LL should cover it, you should still get a box of good filters and change them monthly. Sure, you're protecting his equipment - but you're also protecting yourself! That's worth the unfair expense - your lungs and allergies will thank you.

 

[bubinga]

Many times you'll find the phrase "lasts up to three months" on high end disposable filters (like 3M). It's a scam. They should still be changed monthly, but nobody would pay the $15+ retail for a monthly filter. So, they claim they last "up to" 3 months - customers then think "oh, $5 per month isn't so bad". But if they clog up at 30-45 days, you can't sue them or complain to the retailer because they'll say "it says UP TO 3 months - your house must just be very dusty".

Even though it's a rental and the LL should cover it, you should still get a box of good filters and change them monthly. Sure, you're protecting his equipment - but you're also protecting yourself! That's worth the unfair expense - your lungs and allergies will thank you.

I know, you don't know how hard it is to get this guy to do what he's supposed to do.
There wasn't even a filter in it when I moved in. He told me so when he came to finally change it.
He said it like it was funny. Before I took this place, l asked him about changing the filters, "Aw yeah, I take care of all of that"
He don't "take care" of NOTHING!

 

[mervyn]

Paper air filters for the win. Reusable air filters are fine to filter out stuff like small animals. But. Guess they are better than nothing.

 

[larry4406]

Just remember “Up to…” includes zero.

I replace all my filters every month.

 

[bonneyman]

I told my customers to change their filters when the electric bill came in (which was typically monthly). That way, you don't have to work to remember, and you won't forget - because the power company won't forget to send you their bill!

And I told them all to change their T-stat batteries once a year - either on their birthday or (women) on their anniversary. Cause they don't forget! And I said make it a point to change ALL your batteries then. TV remote, smoke detector, thermostat, etc. Because I can't remember when I did the last battery change in my remote - and I think I'm just like everybody else. lol

 

[bubinga]

Paper air filters for the win. Reusable air filters are fine to filter out stuff like small animals. But. Guess they are better than nothing.

Small animals..........LOL

 

[bubinga]

Just remember “Up to…” includes zero.

I replace all my filters every month.

Again,
I know, you don't know how hard it is to get this guy to do what he's supposed to do.
There wasn't even a filter in it when I moved in. He told me so when he came to finally change it.
He said it like it was funny. Before I took this place, l asked him about changing the filters, "Aw yeah, I take care of all of that"
He don't "take care" of NOTHING! (I already had to fix the kitchen sink myself)
And I'm not paying for them.
He told me, I told him, "Not to worry about it" I told him straight out, "I said I told you NO SUCH THING"!!!

 

[bubinga]

I told my customers to change their filters when the electric bill came in (which was typically monthly) . That way, you don't have to work to remember, and you won't forget - because the power company won't forget to send you their bill!

And I told them all to change their T-stat batteries once a year - either on their birthday or (women) on their anniversary. Cause they don't forget! And I said make it a point to change ALL your batteries then. TV remote, smoke detector, thermostat, etc. Because I can't remember when I did the last battery change in my remote - and I think I'm just like everybody else. lol

Good deal, batteries I don't have to change though, It's a older style T-stat.