Selecting the right furnace filter is one of the best things you can do to ensure you are breathing high-quality air inside your home or office. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent air filter options for you to choose from; unfortunately, there are many less-than-preferred options as well.

Because we have so many options, it can be challenging to figure out what to look for and what to avoid. In the past, you may have thought you had found the perfect air filter and later realized the exact opposite after installation. This left you feeling dissatisfied and frustrated that you wasted your time, money, and energy on something that didn’t make your life any easier.

We realize that choosing a new filter can feel overwhelming, so we’ve broken down the top three factors to consider when searching for your next furnace filter.

1) Size

The first thing you should note when choosing a furnace filter is finding one that fits your furnace. One of the most common problems with furnace filters is that they don’t fit the unit properly. Using a filter that doesn't fit properly will cause the filter to be underutilized, and, as a result, you won't receive the type of air filtration you desire. This can also lead to serious health implications and harm your AC unit as well.

A bigger challenge presents itself when you search for your correct size in the store, but it's nowhere to be found. You are then forced to purchase the wrong size and do some DIY magic to make it fit your unit properly. As mentioned above, if you are using a filter that doesn't fit like it needs to, this can cause some major issues further down the road.

If you can relate and you are getting tired of the neverending search for the correct sized AC filters, we have a solution that may help: custom-sized furnace filters. Specialized air filter manufacturers can create custom-sized, made-to-order air filters to ensure your filter fits correctly every time. This guarantees you never have to deal with improper-fitting filters ever again.

2) Materials

The efficiency level of your furnace filters will depend on what material they are made of. There are various materials to choose from, and each one offers a different type of filtration to address your specific needs.

For example, FilterFactory.com offers filters utilizing the BioSponge, BioSponge Plus, BioPleat, and MicroSponge materials. These filters range from MERV 7- MERV 14 and are effective at filtering out different types of indoor particle pollution. For example, BioSponge and BioSponge Plus are great for filtering mold, bacteria, pollen, dust, and mildew. On the other hand, if you choose to go with the pleated MicroSponge material, you will also be filtering smoke, along with the others mentioned above.

Your air filtration needs will help you determine which material you should choose.

3) Cost

Many people end up forgoing the furnace filters they really want because they need to be realistic with their budget. The last thing you want is to price yourself out of something you need for the rest of your life, right? The good news is that you can find air filters at almost any price point today. However, more times than not, as the price goes down, so does the quality of the air filter. This can cause issues for both you and your AC system.

For example, if you have a filter that doesn’t fit properly or is too restrictive to airflow, the dirty air will end up bypassing the filter altogether and will create build-up on your AC coils. This build-up will continue to increase over time and will eventually cause your AC unit to break down, costing you hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars.

Conclusion

There are a lot of furnace filter choices out there, so you must do your research. Many factors play a part in helping you determine which filter is best, but the three most important factors to consider are size, material, and cost. It may also be helpful to look online at different air filter reviews so that you can get insight from others in a similar boat.

When choosing your next AC filter, remember to take it slow. This tool can have one of the biggest impacts on your day-to-day and long-term health and wellbeing. Because of this, you want to make sure you choose a filter that is perfect for you and truly meets your needs.