This will be a short post, but it is the most important one because it has to do with the health of my family and the security of the air my children breathe!
Is there a home furnace air filter that captures allergens, spores, and viruses without restricting airflow and stressing my furnace?
In a recent study by the California Energy Commission, the “3M Filtrete MPR 1900, Healthy Living Ultimate Allergen Air Filter” did not restrict airflow while filtering out allergens, bacteria, spores, mold, and viruses. It outperformed filters with lower MPR ratings.
When we moved into our current house, the home inspector gave us the usual advice about the home furnace filter: “Make sure you buy the cheapest air filter because it does a decent job filtering dust and it does not stress your furnace. If you buy the expensive filters for allergies and such, you will shorten the life of your furnace by many years. It will cost you thousands of dollars in repairs!”
I was sold! My children do not have allergies, and I did not want to pay hefty repair bills to replace my furnace every few years.
Then came March of 2020…
By April 2020, the air quality coming into my home became a top priority. If I, the mailman, or the pizza delivery person brought a virus into my house, I wanted it immediately filtered out and away from my children. I was willing to buy the best filter to protect the health of my family even if I had to sacrifice the longevity of my furnace.
Luckily, I ran across a study by the California Energy Commission that showed that the “3M Filtrete MPR 1900, Healthy Living Ultimate Allergen Air Filter” maintains high non-restrictive airflow while doing a great job cleaning the air from allergens, airborne bacteria, and viruses. It was reasonably priced and a highly rated filter (you can save an extra 5-10% on Amazon if subscribe for auto-delivery.)
I bought a pack of three and subscribed for a new delivery every six months (it is advised to replace your home air filter every other month.) I checked the filter already in my furnace to assure that I was ordering the proper size filter (mine was 25” X 16” X 1”) the filter size is usually clearly displayed along the edge.
The science behind the furnace air filter I chose for my home
A restrictive air filter (typically the ones that clear allergens) stresses your furnace and forces it to use more energy to heat or cool your home. The more restrictive the filter, the more stress and damage your furnace system sustains. Eventually, your furnace will fail.
Air filter manufactures make wild claims on their packaging. When it comes to my family’s health, I do not shop based on hype; instead, I like to shop based on evidence-backed science.
In 2018, the California Energy Commission conducted a well-controlled scientific study comparing fifteen MPR rated residential air filters and their effect on airflow in a typical residential furnace.
MPR (Micro-Particle Performance Rating) is a rating of the filter’s effectiveness in catching particles of varying sizes (from large dust to allergens, mold, bacteria, and viruses.) The higher the MPR number, the more effective a filter is. An MPR rating of 1500 or above is ideal for removing bacteria, mold, and viruses. The “3M Filtrete MPR 1900, Healthy Living Ultimate Allergen Air Filter” has an MPR rating of 1900, perfect for protecting my family!
I spent hours reading the study and researching. I will not bore you with the details. If you like a copy of the entire study, click here to download it. In my opinion, the following two graphs offer an excellent summary of the study:
Is there anything else I need to know about my home air filter?
YES! Please replace your filter every 6 weeks. The best filter out there will damage your furnace if it gets too dirty and clogged. It is an easy chore to forget, so take a moment right now and put it on your phone an 8-week reminder.
Now, your phone will remind you when to replace your filter, your pack of filters will be delivered every six months, your children will be safe, and your furnace will thank you!