Perhaps the most used furnace filter in the United States, the pleated filter is cheap and readily available. It comes in all necessary sizes and is very cost effective. The panel simply needs replacing once it is noticeably clogged with dust.

The reason for the pleating is to increase the surface area of filtration. If the filter were smoothed flat, the decreased surface area would cause the filter to clog more rapidly, requiring frequent changes. With the pleats, the dust is distributed over more material, taking longer for it to load up with dust.

The increased air flow offered by pleating the filter comes from the fact that as it takes longer to clog, the air can pass more smoothly through it, for a longer period of time, than if it were flat. Increased air flow translates to improved efficiency from the furnace, as it does not have to work so hard to pass air through it.

While electrostatic air filters are all the rage, pleated air filters pale in comparison. At a usual rate of only 20-30% efficiency, pleated filters are fast becoming unpopular with homeowners.

On the other hand, some manufacturers have gotten wise to this situation and have combined the best of both worlds. Nordic Pure is a manufacturer that produces electrostatic furnace filters which are also pleated, bringing them to an efficiency rating of more than 97%.

What’s more is that the electrostatic pleated filters are also treated with antimicrobial properties, helping it combat fungi, mold, dust mites, viruses, and other tiny living organisms. But if you cannot afford the electrostatic pleated filter, the pleated filter still beats out the disposable fiberglass panel filters. Basically useless, these lead to reduced equipment function and poor air quality. So, pleating really does make a difference.

Media air filters are an option in for furnace filtration, but most consumers do not know about them. The majority of purchasers of the media air filter are commercial HVAC businesses, who get a great deal of use out of their media filters.

Harder to find than other types of furnace filters, the media air filters are often sold exclusively to licensed professionals in the HVAC business. However, consumers can purchase them online, from some suppliers.

The standard single-layer pleated furnace filter uses a material that cannot hold as much dust as the media air filter. Also, the pleated filter is easily clogged, with just the one layer, while the media filter has more than one layer to finely filter out passing particles.

In pleated furnace filters, the drag caused by blockage slows down the air flow, decreasing the capacity of the heater, while the media filters last longer, due to their increased capacity to filter and store dust.

Precut media filter pads are available, as are giant rolls of the material, which can be cut to size. These filters are less pricey and are easier to use than electrostatic filters, the ever popular choice. This is because electrostatic filters require rinsing every few months. Media air filters can just be pulled out and replaced with a new pad, when the first gets too dirty.

Media filters may be the most effective option for the smallest prices available in furnace filters. Only 10-15% of consumers purchase this type of pad, most likely because most people are not aware they exist. But, as awareness increases, so will sales of this effective and affordable furnace filter.

Hidden inside the 32,000 pints of air we each breathe every day are 1,120,000,000 tiny particles of dust and other tiny debris. The US Environmental Protection Agency warns that the air inside our homes is generally unhealthier than the air outside.

Dust, allergens, irritants, and other inhaled particles cause a lot of harm over time, especially for those who struggle with asthma and other related illnesses. Most people, however, do not realize that the threat is inside their homes more than outside it.

Furnace filters are a very important consideration when looking to reduce indoor air pollution. There are a variety of options available, in furnace filters, such as electrostatic filters and pleated filters.

Before you go to the store, however, you will need to consider the size of filter your furnace takes, although many filters only take custom size filters. The filter is measured by length, width, and thickness. Measure your old filter, but keep in mind that these measures are not precise, because allowances in size are usually left to ensure a fit for standard filter slots.

Custom-size pleated furnace filters are available online for consumers that cannot find a fit for their furnace. When considering furnace filters, brand name does not really make a difference as a generic HEPA air filter works as well as a name-brand one and costs notably less. Explore the different types of air filters to determine the one that is right for you.

Remove old filter. Replace with new. These instructions seem simple enough, but changing your furnace filter is more complicated than one might hope. For example, measurements are not precise, to ensure a fit in more furnaces, so that can be a frustration.

But perhaps the most confusing part about it is the variety of options in furnace filters. There are electrostatic filters, pleated filters, HEPA filters, and others. So what’s a homeowner to do? Start by learning the difference between furnace filter types and then make an educated decision on which is right for your needs.

One type of filter that is increasingly sought after is the electrostatic filter. The electrostatic filter combines two technologies of filtration, for an increased capacity to clean particles from the air.

In the electrostatic furnace filter, mechanical air filtration results from the weave of the fibers and static electricity helps draw and hold particles that might otherwise escape. This combination is effective in another way as well. Because it does not rely solely on a tight weave or layers of weaves to filter particles, the electrostatic function allows for larger weaves, resulting in better air flow.

Rather than allowing the particles that fit easily through the weave to get past it, the static electricity manages to hold much of the dust that passes by. This means that the heater or air conditioner you are using the filter for can operate to its full potential, saving you money and improving your ability to moderate the temperature in your home.