The most expensive air filter on the shelf is not automatically the best choice for your HVAC system. Grant explains that price alone does not tell you how well a filter will balance particle capture, airflow, and maintenance needs.
Why Grant favors a four-inch media filter
When replacing or upgrading a system, Grant says his team tries to include a four-inch pleated media filter where possible. He describes this type of filter as a way to collect airborne particles with relatively low restriction and less frequent replacement than the restrictive alternatives he discusses.
This is a recommendation for a compatible filter arrangement, not an instruction to put a thicker filter into an existing one-inch slot. Ask which filter dimensions and performance characteristics your equipment is designed to use.
Higher filtration can come with an airflow tradeoff
Grant specifically cautions about high-MERV filters, such as MERV 13 or 15, in a one-inch format. His concern is that they can load up quickly and restrict airflow, creating operating problems in a system that is not suited to them.
His point is not that every high-MERV filter is unsuitable. The filter has to work with the equipment and its airflow requirements. Paying more does not remove that requirement.
Choose for the system, not the price tag
Before changing filter types, ask your HVAC technician which options are compatible with your system and how often they should be checked or replaced. Grant does not give a universal replacement interval in this video.
Darnold & Lyons can help you evaluate your current filter setup and discuss whether a media filter upgrade makes sense for your home.
