How To Clean A Reusable Furnace Filter

When information technology comes to furnace filters, there are many on the market today. Withal, it can be a huge claiming to decide which kind to purchase. What kind is the best? Do the electrostatic kind of washable furnace filters actually work? Permit's examine these questions, and more.

Practise Washable Furnace Filters Actually Work?

a photo of an electrostatic air filter for a furnace The short answer to this question is a resounding "Yes". However, non everyone likes them. It does take a piffling chip of effort to remove, make clean and reinstall them. If you're tired of spending several hundred dollars per twelvemonth on high efficiency disposable air filters for your furnace, y'all may wish to explore washable air filters . You can readily find washable electrostatic furnace filters online for approximately $100. Keeping in mind that this is a 1x investment, giving you lot a least cost over useful life choice. If the air filter is made of high quality materials and workmanship, it should outlast the life of your HVAC system.

Imagine not having to buy a new one each month or store a stack of them in your closet or garage when you detect them on auction. Imagine simply washing your furnace filter monthly or fifty-fifty weekly if you lot wish depending on individual dust and dirt levels. Your home will be cleaner and you're going to have a lot improve health. Plus washable air filters are environmentally friendly, so you're not adding to the garbage landfill.

Anyone who suffers from severe allergies or asthma volition appreciate a clean furnace filter. Since these are washable you can clean them more than frequently. It'due south better than replacing them, you will be in full control of the chemicals that are used and you lot'll take a permanent filter that works well for your needs.

What Kind Of Washable Furnace Filters Are The Best?

In that location are a diverseness of furnace air filters on the market today. You'll capeesh the ease of installation of a permanent air filter for your furnace. You may have a hard time believing that a permanent furnace filter volition do the trick. However, these are designed to be easily installed, removed, washed and reinstalled.

Dust and debris will become caught up in the filter only as it does in whatever furnace filter. Instead of having to supersede these, you will but take them out and launder the grit out of them. You can hands wash these in the kitchen sink, shower tub, or a laundry sink, wherever you have water. It'south really simple and information technology doesn't accept whatsoever special skills. You lot can also wash them with the garden hose out in the yard. This blazon of washable air filter tin can also exist sprayed with a mild household cleaner to remove any grease or smoke rest. Rinse it well and shake off or bleed access h2o. Replace information technology into your HVAC system (following directional air menstruation guidelines if any) and the ventilation air period volition completely dry your clean air filter. You lot're in command of when, where and how frequently you launder your furnace filter.

How Practice Washable Electrostatic Air Filters Piece of work?

a drawing of how electrostatic furnace filters work A furnace filter is designed to work by filtering the air that circulates throughout your home. As the air is drawn into the return vents and ducts, information technology flows through the air filter to remove the dust, droppings and whatever other airborne particles earlier the air is conditioned past your HVAC system. The air filter is meant to protect both the mechanical components of your furnace and the indoor air quality of your home from airborne particles. Electrostatic air filters piece of work by relying on multiple layers of filtration media which clean the air as information technology passes through the filter. Here, the dust particles are charged by the activeness of friction between the air that is being taken into the furnace, and the woven polypropylene (manufactured with inherent electrostatic backdrop) air filter media.

Every bit these airborne particles pass through the media, they are positively charged and will quickly attach themselves to the next several layers of the electrostatic filter much like static can build upward on your stocking feet as you walk across a rug or iron filings would stick to a magnet. This activity helps to filter out the contaminants and clean the air before it is recirculated back into your home. This action will forbid these dust particles from entering your abode and give you lot cleaner air and a cleaner home.

The air quality volition be fresher and cleaner as will your dwelling house. Y'all'll have less dusting and vacuuming to do thanks to your furnace filter working difficult to filter such things out of your furnace before they ever reach your interior. For the all-time results, switch the recirculating fan on your thermostat to FAN ON for continuous cleaning versus FAN AUTO where information technology volition but run when your furnace or air-conditioning is running.

Pros And Cons Of Washable Furnace Filters

Pros

You don't have to purchase replacement filters.
Washable furnace filters are environmentally friendly.
You're in accuse of how often and when they are cleaned.
These electrostatic furnace filters are reasonably priced if you look at their useful life.
Nearly washable air filters come with a Lifetime Warranty.
These are readily bachelor online in custom and standard sizes.
Electrostatic air filters are much more effective than standard disposable filters.

Cons

You volition accept to pay more at the outset.
You lot'll gild them online and take to wait for them to get in.
They're non HEPA filters or electronic air cleaners, and don't work in the same fashion.
You'll accept to have the time (up to fifteen minutes) to properly wash them in lieu of swapping out disposable air filters.
Washable electrostatic air filters tin exist constructed differently with a variety of filter media, and may not permit for as much free air menstruation as standard disposable filters do which may cause your furnace to work harder.

How Practise I Know Washable Electrostatic Furnace Air Filters Work?

a photo of a residential furnace filter This will be dependent upon a few factors. It can depend on the dust levels outside of your home and how they affect your air quality. Every fourth dimension y'all open and close your forepart door, dust and debris will enter. You may have to wash them more frequently if you lot live on a dirt road, an area that has high grit levels or during times of home renovations. Pet owners find their homes incorporate more than dust and animal dander. Individual hobbies and lifestyle habits can also generate additional airborne contaminants. If you lot leave your recirculating fan set on AUTO, your HVAC organisation runs merely when your thermostat setting requires heat or air conditioning. If your ventilation system is not running, your furnace filter is not working. For best results your fan setting should be ON, for continuous whole firm air cleaning.

How Expensive Are Washable Furnace Filters?

Y'all can notice washable furnace filters online for anywhere from nigh $30 upwards to nigh $100. You lot'll also want to factor in aircraft and handling unless you find some that are shipped for gratis. Sometimes y'all can find a great sale equally well. Proceed in mind that this is a one-fourth dimension expense vs replacing your furnace filter on a monthly basis and so it'due south still a adept deal even if it does seem a bit high at the outset.

Are All Washable Furnace Filters Multi-Phase?

No, nearly of the washable filters are made up of stacked layers of various filtration media with metal or plastic back up. Every bit the air and contaminants pass through the media, dirt tin be collected in or on the woven electrostatic media, metal mesh and/or impingement style polyester or foam media. Higher quality electrostatic furnace filters are constructed with multi-phase filter panels that keep the air filter from face loading with clay, which tin restrict the air flow of the HVAC system. Multi-stage filter panels, with strategically placed drain holes in the frame, as well allow for thorough cleaning.

Will I Ever Have To Supervene upon My Filter?

Many people take had such washable filters for more than then ten years. The only reason you'll always have to supersede it is if you lot notice a ameliorate ane or if you choose to do so. Of course, there is normal wear and tear on anything. Almost washable filters last for at least ten years so you should exist but fine if you plan accordingly and accept gentle intendance of your washable filter when y'all wash it. Most washable electrostatic furnace filters come with a Lifetime Warranty against manufacturing defects.

Do I Demand Anything Special To Launder My New Filter?

No, you can use plain water, or if yous prefer, you can utilize a mild detergent such equally a grease-cutting dish soap or spray on cleaner on either side of your filter. Rinse well (until no detergent is coming out of your filter) and shake off excess water. You can permit it to air dry (turning your HVAC organization off during this time versus operating your system without an air filter) or reinstall information technology into the system and the air menstruation will dry out it. It's that uncomplicated. Yous don't demand any special equipment and you lot don't have to use any specialized chemicals to make clean your filter.

Where to Buy Washable Furnace Filters Online?

You tin become to an allergy supply or DIY site or you lot tin become to the typical online shopping networks and notice washable furnace filters. Pricing varies on all of the sites dependent on the type of furnace filter. Still, you lot'll want to look at a few of them before you buy as some will have better structure and warranties. Keep in listen that some volition besides have shipping charges and longer shipping times besides, so you'll want to make sure that you lot're factoring all of this into your order.

Do I Need Measurements Prior To Ordering?

Yes, y'all'll want to measure your old filter and find the one that will fit properly. Keep in heed that the manufacture standard for dispensable filters has historically been undercut past 1/4″ to 1/2″, making it a NOMINAL size. This means when you grab a 16″ Ten 25″ dispensable filter off the rack at your local hardware store, it could exist closer to 15.5″ X 24.five″. In most cases, yous should be able to use the closest standard size. Washable electrostatic furnace filters have a solid rigid metal or plastic frame. So yous may need to order an EXACT size to make sure it slides in and out of your filter runway smoothly. You may want to measure the duct opening using a flashlight and a strong tape measure. Expect within the section of the furnace where the filter should exist located. Yous should have a 1″ filter runway or opening where the filter slides into. Measure the height and width of the duct opening. You lot can also contact customer service or your local HVAC contractor, and they will help you to determine which filter size you lot should order for your specific furnace. Always double and triple check and then that you get the proper size of furnace filter when you social club. There's nothing worse than having to wait for the correct size when you lot've received a wrong size.