Air Filter Quality: Is Buying A Discount Filter Worth It?

Have you ever walked inside your home, taken a deep breath, and wondered what exactly you are breathing? The reason for this question is that the pollution is rising quite rapidly. There are multiple reasons for outdoor air pollution, including heavy traffic, industries, factories, and even forest fires. All of these things release a massive amount of dangerous and harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. However, if you think that all of this air pollution is outdoors and you are safe indoors, then you are mistaken. There are some studies that say that air quality indoors is much worse than the air quality outdoors. The reasons for indoor air pollution are cooking, applying cleaning products, and dust in carpets and furniture.

The outdoor air quality is something that a person cannot control, but your indoor air quality can be improved by taking necessary steps. Having poor air quality can invite many health problems, such as respiratory problems like coughing, sneezing, lung function, and asthma. Other than that, it can also increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other kinds of cardiovascular diseases. It can also cause life-threatening diseases like lung cancer, breast cancer, and blood cancer. Using air filters is a simple way to keep your indoor space clean and healthy. There are many different types of air filters, like fiberglass filters, pleated filters, electrostatic filters, washable filters, HEPA filters, and activated carbon filters. However, many people focus on buying discount filters because of their low cost. This brings up the question of whether these filters are good enough.

In this blog, you will learn about the things that define the quality of an air filter, the major difference between discount air filters and high-quality ones, and the pros and cons of choosing discount filters that will help you to make the right decision. You will also get to discover the hidden cost that comes with purchasing low-quality furnace filters, and when buying a discount air filter can be the right choice for you. Lastly, you will also get valuable advice on air filters from the professionals. Whether you are looking to improve your indoor air quality, reduce allergies, or take better care of your HVAC system through regular AC maintenance, furnace maintenance, or even air duct cleaning, this blog will help you decide what works best. You will also learn how HVAC air purifiers, air purifiers, and even the best air purifier can be part of a smart plan that includes duct cleaning, HVAC maintenance, and even the repairs needed, such as HVAC repair, AC repair, or furnace repair.

What Defines The Quality Of An Air Filter?

The air filter quality depends on different things, like the ability to trap the harmful airborne particles like dust, pollen, pet dander, and many others. How long is the air filter going to last, and does the air filter support your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system? A good air filter will be able to improve your indoor air quality while protecting your equipment and supporting cleaner air through better particulate filtration.

MERV

MERV is short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This is a rating system that displays how well an air filter will be able to trap the small particles. The MERV ratings scale goes from 1 to 20. The higher the numbers are, the better the air filter will be able to provide particulate filtration. However, using a high-rating MERV filter can cause blockage in airflow. This may result in your furnace filters or HVAC system having to work harder. Most people choose air filters with a rating between MERV 8 and MERV 13. These air filters provide you with good airflow while capturing particles effectively.

HEPA

HEPA air filters are a different name for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. These air filters are used in places where they require clean air is required. HEPA air filters hold a high reputation because of their impressive ability to trap even the smallest of airborne particles that size as small as 0.3 microns. The efficiency percentage of trapping the particles is 99.97 percent. This quality makes it one of the best air filters. However, HEPA filter dimensions are quite thick and might not be able to fit in all kinds of HVAC systems. HEPA filters are often used along with air duct cleaning, duct cleaning, or during HVAC installation to boost air filter quality and reduce the need for frequent furnace repair, AC maintenance, and furnace maintenance.

Difference Between Discount Filters And High-Quality Filters

There are many differences between discount air filters and high-quality filters. Below, you will find a detailed table that shows how they compare in terms of air filtration, materials, cost, and more.

You can use this table to decide which air filter is best for your house or place of business. While discount filters may cost less at first, high-quality filters can support a cleaner environment, reduce the need for HVAC installation, and extend the life of your furnace filters and best air purifier systems.

The Pros And Cons Of Choosing Discount Air Filters

Choosing discount air filters can be a smart choice for some situations, but it also comes with downsides. Below, you can learn about the main pros and cons to help you decide if these filters are the right option for your needs.

- Pros: Reasons To Use Discount Air Filters

• Lower upfront cost makes them more budget-friendly.
• Easily available in most stores and online.
• Good for homes needing basic dust control.
• Can provide basic air purification for short-term use.
• Simple to install and replace without tools.
• Useful when filters need to be changed more often.
• It can help manage larger airborne particles in low-traffic areas.

- Cons: Reasons To Avoid Discount Air Filters

• May lower indoor air quality over time.
• Often need more frequent replacements.
• It may reduce HVAC system performance if clogged.
• It can cause dust to build up in the system.
• May make duct and air duct cleaning more necessary.
• Long-term AC or HVAC maintenance might not be supported.
• Can lead to more furnace maintenance, furnace repair, or HVAC repair.
• Not recommended for use with the best air purifier systems or with air purifiers.
• It may affect the overall life of your air filter, furnace filters, and HVAC air purifier.

Unexpected Costs Of Low-Quality Air Filters

Low-quality air filters may seem like a good deal at first, but they often bring hidden costs. These costs can affect your energy bills, system health, and even your personal well-being. Below, you can learn about the different ways cheap filters can cost more in the long run.

• Energy Use: Cheap filters often block airflow, which makes your HVAC system work harder. This leads to higher electricity bills and reduced energy efficiency. Over time, this adds a lot to your total cost.
• System Wear: Poor filtration allows more dust and dirt into your system. This puts extra strain on parts like the blower or motor and leads to more HVAC repair needs. It can even shorten your system’s life.
• Frequent Swaps: Low-cost filters clog up quickly and need to be replaced more often. This means you will spend more time and money changing filters than you would with better ones.
• Health Risks: Filters that cannot trap small allergens and dust can harm indoor air quality. This can make allergy or asthma symptoms worse and lead to more doctor visits or missed work.
• Airflow Strain: A blocked filter reduces how well air moves through your ducts. Poor airflow means less comfort and more stress on your HVAC system, which leads to even more repair costs.
• Dust Buildup: Ineffective filters cause more dust in your air ducts and on surfaces. This means you may need air duct cleaning more often, which adds to your home care costs.
• Downtime Loss: If a cheap filter causes system failure, you might face hours or days without heating or cooling. This can affect comfort, health, and even work if you are staying at home.

When A Discount Air Filter Is The Right Choice

A discount air filter can be a good option in certain cases where high filtration is not needed. These filters can help maintain indoor air quality in homes without pets or allergy problems. They are also useful in short-term living situations like rentals. While they are not the best for every home, discount filters may still work well when used with regular AC maintenance, HVAC repair, or furnace maintenance. Just make sure to stay on top of air filter replacements and consider extra help like an air purifier or regular duct cleaning to support your HVAC system.

• Low Dust: If your home does not collect much dust and has no pets, basic filters can work fine. They can help protect your HVAC without needing to filter out heavy allergens.
• Short Stays: For short-term homes or rentals, using a cheaper filter makes sense. You save money without making long-term changes to the HVAC system.
• Basic Setup: A simple HVAC setup without high-tech features does not need a top-grade filter. In this case, discount air filters can still do the job.
• Tight Budget: If saving money is a top need, a cheap filter is better than no filter at all. Just make sure to replace it often to avoid damage or the need for AC repair or furnace repair.
• Extra Tools: If you already use an HVAC air purifier or the best air purifier, you might not need a top-level filter. Together, they can still keep the air clean.
• Regular Checks: With regular HVAC maintenance, furnace filters, even cheap ones, can perform better. Routine care helps stop problems before they start.
• Clean Ducts: If you schedule air duct cleaning often, your home will have less buildup. This can help a basic air filter do its job more easily, even if it is a discount filter.

Professional Advice On Air Filters

Choosing the right air filter is important for keeping your home's indoor air quality clean and safe. If you have allergies, pets, or dust in your home, use HEPA filters or ones with a higher MERV rating to catch more small particles. These filters work better in health-conscious homes. Activated carbon filters are also a good choice if you want to reduce smells and fumes. Whether you are doing a new HVAC installation or basic AC maintenance, make sure your filter fits your system well. Using the best air purifier or a strong HVAC air purifier helps clean your air and protect your health.

Replace filters often, every 3 to 12 months, depending on how much you use them. Some furnace filters and discount air filters can be cleaned, but others must be thrown away. Good filter care, along with regular duct cleaning, air duct cleaning, and furnace maintenance, can stop problems before they grow. This can save you money on future, expensive furnace, AC, or HVAC repairs.

Conclusion

Choosing the correct air filter is essential to maintaining a clean home. Here, you have learned about the things that define the quality of an air filter. The difference between discount air filters and high-quality air filters, the pros and cons of choosing discount air filters, the unexpected costs of using low-quality air filters, and the times when choosing a discount air filter is the right thing to do. You also discovered the professional advice on air filters. Homes with pets, kids, and people with allergic reactions should not use discount filters. However, these filters can be a great option for people who are looking for temporary use. 

If you want top-quality air fitlers that will help you and your loved ones’ health while making sure that your HVAC system is working great and helping in improving indoor air quality, then you can trust us. We at Custom Filters Direct provide you with many different types of air filters that will support your HVAC system. Whether you are looking for filters for better air purification, regular AC maintenance, or effective duct cleaning, we have reliable options to fit your home and budget. We also have incredibly friendly staff members with years of experience, and they will be happy to guide you. To connect with us, you can give us a call at 877-958-5612 or send us an email at info@customfiltersdirect.com. Trust us to breathe easier.

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