What Kind of Furnace Filters Should You Use?

When it comes to home improvement equipment, furnace filters may not be the most exciting products, but they are essential for keeping your home clean and healthy. The best filters have an MPR (Micro-Particle Performance Rating) between 1,500 and 1,900, and the higher the number, the better it will be filtered. Available in more than a dozen sizes, the Filtrete AC oven air filter is presented as our best overall oven replacement filter. Its high-efficiency MERV-12 rating makes it a great choice for homeowners who want to trap as much debris as possible in the air. The size of the air filter is not the only important factor, but also its MERV rating, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.

This is a technical measure of how good an air filter is at trapping dust particles and preventing them from circulating back into your home. A MERV rating of 1 is the worst rating, while a MERV rating of 16 is the best. This means that a MERV 16 air filter will trap more dirt, dust particles, allergens, etc. than a MERV 1 air filter. For the best air quality, use this filter in conjunction with other allergen reduction measures, such as a vacuum with a HEPA filter and an air purifier to keep airborne allergens at bay.

While many picks are unable to filter smoke and bacteria, most of these options come in various sizes and thicknesses to be compatible with your oven. Protecting the oven is the main task of the filter, and a pleatless filter that provides sufficient airflow may be all you need. Compared to the cheaper basic filters available, medium-efficiency MERV filters such as the Nordic Pure MERV 12 can greatly reduce airborne dust, mold spores, pollen and even smoke, and doing so can help alleviate respiratory ailments, according to an NIH review. That's why it's important to change the air filter all year round, since both the heating and cooling units take advantage of that air filter. Models vary, but there will be access panels that you will need to open or remove to get to your oven filter (keep a screwdriver handy, you may need to loosen the screws to open a panel). This disposable pleated filter is available in a variety of 1 and 2 inch thick sizes to fit a wide range of ovens.

Look for the grill opening that draws air into it; this is the return duct and the oven filter will be somewhere nearby. It's best to confirm what your MERV rating converts to make sure you're using a safe filter for your oven. The MERV-12 high efficiency rating makes this air conditioner oven filter an excellent choice for homeowners who want to trap as much debris as possible in the air. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter blocks up to 99.7 percent of airborne particles of 0.3 microns or greater, but is not available in sizes that meet standard ovens. With a FilterBuy MERV 8 oven filter, you can choose from a variety of filter sizes and thicknesses ranging from one to four inches, making FilterBuy a versatile and economical option. Homeowners with no air quality issues who are more concerned with protecting the oven do not need a high-efficiency filter. When it comes to choosing furnace filters for your home improvement needs, it's important to consider both size and MERV rating.

The higher the MPR number and MERV rating, the better it will be at trapping dust particles and preventing them from circulating back into your home. Make sure you check if your oven manufacturer has a maximum MERV rating that your oven model can use before purchasing any filters.