Pleat Filters? Poly Filters?

My HVAC guy said that I was better off with a Poly filter in terms of restriction than the Merv 6 20x20x1 Pleat filters I have been using for years

I looked up what a Poly filter is like and it looks like a Fiberglass filter to me unless I am not understanding correctly.

Are they the same thing?

If not, where can I purchase these Poly filters?

How do I know if I am getting a Poly filter vs a Fiberglass filter unless they are the same thing.

If the Poly filters are so great, why is my variety so limited on Amazon?

Thanks.

 

All filters have the Merv ratings regardless of what they are made of so it;s really immaterial which one you use!

 

pleated filters, especially the 3m brands are too restrictive. This is all related o the static pressure of your HVAC equipment.

Most HVAC units are installed incorrectly from the start with duct work being too small. Starting out with high static pressure. then install a garbage pleated filter and static goes up even more. This reduces the life and performance of your equipment.

And who wants to breath in fiberglass?? Not me for sure.

So poly filters are the answer. Change monthly regardless. I use 20x20x1 also. I go down to the local HVAC company and buy a case of 12 for about 40 bucks..

I use the purolator P312 here...

https://www.purolatorairfilters.com/p312

https://www.purolatorairfilters.com/...gth=20&depth=1

 

Because the public are uneducated in air filtration and static pressure. Get a compleate static pressure test of your equipment. Static total after a filter is as dirty as it can get should not be more then .5"wc... My equiptment allows for up to .7"wc.

My static pressure with new filter rests at .4"wc.

 

Marq1....what you say sounds accurate on it's surface.

I am wondering if the problem is that they just don't do pleat filters below Merv 6? Could that be the problem?

Lawrosa, thanks for the info! I use the basic Filtrete Merv 5 they sell at Lowes

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Filtrete-3-...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

Are the polys you show less restrictive than these?

Thanks.

 

??? Does a poly make more sense than the ones I linked to? Dollar for dollar I don't think so? Merv rating is not much different.

I'd appreciate more thoughts.

Thank you.

 

the polys i linked are a .16" wc rating. They maintain thier flow and do not clog up like the pleats. Change once a month.

The pleats are junk IMO as they are restrictive. They clog fast and raise your static pressure dramatically.

do a google search

https://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread...tricts-Airflow

 

I like the pleated air filters that were posted. They are not very restrictive and less likely to let dirt pass through should you forget to change them religiously.

Regardless of your filter choice I recommend measuring the return air temperature and the supply air temperature in heat mode.

Do you have a heat pump, gas furnace or electric heat?

 

Pleated filters work just fine until they do not get too much dirty or else you are going to have allergies and skin rashes. Fiberglass ones do not have bad ranking and reviews as well. Just buy the ones you think is best for you.

 

Merv 6 should be fine unless you have a really bad install

 

lawrosa - Your discussion of air filters--and the recommendation of poly filters, like the Purolator P312 poly filters you linked--have really caught my attention. When I had my new AC/Furnace system (Am. Std.) installed about 10 months ago, the installer pointed out that my unit will accept both 1-in. and 2-in. thick filters. I've always used the popular 1-in. pleated 3M filters, buying them when on sale at Sam's Club. But I've been reading about the air flow restrictions of these 3M filters and am now ready to get a less-restrictive replacement.

I've looked at the Purloator P312 specs, and see that they are available in both 1 in. and 2 in. thicknesses (20x25x1 or 2). I'm thinking that the 2-in. version might filter more dust, etc. than the 1-in. version, without (seemingly) much greater increase in air flow resistance. Other than cost (both versions are cheaper than what I'm spending now), would you please compare the two thicknesses of the Purolator 312 polys and suggest which might be the better choice?

 

I have been using pleated MERV 9-10 furnace filters for a long time.

Would someone be able to describe to me what a poly filter looks like superficially?

... Like a thick tissue paper or stiff paper towel material?

... A batting of wavy thin filaments, like fiber glass building insulation batts?

... A fine sponge like material, air conditioner filters come to my mind?

... Like styrofoam?

... A fine fabric like a bed sheet?

...A thick fabric like a terry towel or flannel where the mat or fuzz catches the dust?

...A smooth semi-rigid plastic sheet thicker than Saran Wrap or foil, with thousands (millions?) of pinpricks in it?

Thanks.