Hello,
Have been using the 3M (Red) Micro Allergen filter with the 1000 rating for many, many years.
Have develped Asthma, and would like to step up to a "better" one with the superior filter properties.
Furnace (hot air type) is fairly old, and can't find specs on it.
Do you think I have anything to worry about regarding the larger pressure drop these "better" ones have, and its impact on the blower fan performance, life, or safey ?
Thoughts ?
Thanks, Bob
Hi, It somewhat depends on what tpye blower motor you have.VS DC motor? old PSC AC motor, direct drive or belt drive? If you raise MERV rating high like 16, you'll notice. I am staying at MERV 10 or 11.
I'd agree with Tony -- if you don't go crazy with the filtration a better grade of filter should work with any well-functioning furnace. Personally I prefer the Glassfloss Merv 11 filters which I buy through Amazon. They come in a box of a dozen for $60 (in my 20X25 size) and seem to work better than any of the 3M filters I've tried at anything up to three times the cost.
From personal asthma history/experience, GET AN ELECTROSTATIC FILTER! Best are those very quiet portable, room types. If you can get built-in is ok, too.
Hi, I have a Honeywell built-in one. 16x25x5 filter fits perfect in lieu of pair of element. I often alternate between two filter. Electronic filter when element is clean it somewhat produces negative ion too plus sign of little Ozone. I clean the elements about 3x a year in the dish washer.
great details fo others, glad to hear your son fully recovered. Sharp of your family doctor to 'warn' you. Sure miss that kind of expertise in today's medicals.
The cure for the higher resistance of better filters is larger surface area. If you have something like a 16x20 filter mounted in the air handler, consider sealing that slot off and moving the filter to the return intake grill area and enlarging to a 24x24 or similar.
You can filter the furnace all you want, but rooms will accumulate dust and stuff, regardless. Might use a portable unit for more filtration.
Greg
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