Which Furnace Filter Brand is Best? Let's find out!
Which Furnace Filter is Best? Let’s find out! HVAC filter brands tested: 3M Filtrete, Honeywell Bestair, AeroStar, Flanders, Nordic Pure and Aire Care. Most filters tested are MERV 8 but a variety of MERV, FPR and MPR filters compared for air flow and filtering capability.
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➡ An easy way to find past videos along with products tested: bit.ly/2FCrBpk A big thanks to Jim for putting this together.
➡ Merch: www.Project-Farm.com
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A lot of viewers have requested I provide Amazon affiliate links to help them find the products I test and as a way of supporting the channel through commission. If you purchase a product or service with the links I provide, there is no additional charge to you. I always recommend shopping around for a better price. Thank you for supporting the Project Farm Channel through affiliate links.
➡ Furnace Filters Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
Washable Furnace Filter by Aire Care: amzn.to/3pnhcPE
Flanders EZ-Flow: amzn.to/3qfFNam
HoneyWell BestAir MERV 8 2-Inch Filter: amzn.to/2MV6qmL
HoneyWell BestAir Merv 8 4-Inch Filter: amzn.to/3qm4MsB
Filtrete 3M MPR 600: amzn.to/3rV8F86
Nordic Pure MERV 8: amzn.to/2Zc16xG
AeroStar MERV 8: amzn.to/37cRwz0
Flanders MERV 8: amzn.to/3pjPDa7
Filtrete 3M 1085: amzn.to/3rP0WbO
Filtrete 3M Basic: amzn.to/3dcVzPM
Filtrete 3M 1900: amzn.to/3qnrVL8
Test Equipment:
Laser Air Quality Monitor: amzn.to/3rTtOQ6
Manometer: amzn.to/3pjRjQI
Videography Equipment:
Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera: amzn.to/2YdXvPw
Canon 70D Camera: amzn.to/31b5Gy0
Azden Microphone: amzn.to/34d3DLE
Go Pro Bundle: amzn.to/2SvwQdS
This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC
Have you done a witch oil filter is better video?
I’m just a normal human but I love your reviews. I would like to know which filter you think would work best when there’s no option for expanding from 1 inch. One of my three units is very tricky because it was installed in such a way that the filter hast to bend considerably to fit into the slot. It usually get mangled in the process of replacing. (My units are for air conditioning only. I live in an old house with radiator heat.) Any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Have you ever tested spray paint brands?
Thanks for the video idea.
Hey project could you test all the different type of coil packs for LS engine
Thanks for the video idea.
You should do MERV13 because they make some lofty claims.
Thanks for the video idea.
At first I thought this test was flawed due to some candidates being thicker than others, but really this sparks a conversation. 1 inch filters should be outlawed! Too much resistance. I will be upgrading to 2 inch or 4 inch filters, even if it requires modifying my HVAC unit.
Thanks for the feedback.
I'd like to see a grease gun comparison. I can't seem to find a good one.
Thanks for the video idea.
Project Farm could work or Consumer Guide or Consumer Guide can use his reviews for their magazine lol
Thanks for the nice comment.
Number of pleats is meaningless; total surface area of the filtration media is where it's at. Also should be noted that the primary job of a filter is to keep your equipment clean; if you don't change your filter regularly dust will break down to smaller sizes and "squeeze through the medium anyway, and/or the filter will become so clogged the air will start to be sucked around your filter bringing the dust with it.
Thanks for the feedback.
Nice work.... So it seems like the moral is to get a thicker filter. Is there a way to mess with the intake duct to make such a filter fit without restricting too much airflow?
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Hvac tech there isn't really any reason for anything more than a simple fiberglass filter unless you have severe allergies if changed correctly they keep the duct work and the coil clean and don't cause air restrictions causing your indoor fan motor to run harder and hotter everything your trying to catch in those other filters is just coming back into the house from outside unless you live in a hermetically sealed home there is no point in paying that extra money when it's pretty much pointless and if the merv 8 filters get built up and not changed they can cause your fan to over heat and you won't be moving enough air through the coil which results in the coil freezing stick to the fiberglass filters and change regularly and you won't have any problems
Thanks for the feedback.
I still don't know which air filter is best? (1 inch) Can somebody help?
I’ve seen merv 3 allowing dust to coat A coil and then clog condensate drain. Also seen a filter act like a parachute and cause a freeze up . Mines a Merv 11 and we get crazy amounts of dust in the house.
@Project Farm very confusing! Especially the one that made the a coil freeze up
Thanks for sharing.
Yup watched this video like 4 times. Lol. 3M 1900 for me for now on. 👍
Nice 👍
Thank you for your reviews. Please consider reviewing tap and die sets.
Thanks for the video idea.
Make it easier to donate money to you we all wanna see you make your dream garage those fan badges seem like a good idea
Glad to see the one I use near the top “BestAir 4 inch”. Note: it’s labeled Honeywell because it was designed to fit Honeywell F100/F200 media air cleaners. But it would obviously fit in any system that can accommodate the size. I don’t believe BestAir is affiliated with Honeywell in any way, at times that wasn’t exactly clear in the video.
Thanks for the feedback.
I would like to see tests of air cleaners, which are also expensive. The Dylos unit you used in this test would also work to measure how fast and how well various air cleaners work with a controlled release of dust in a confined space. I did that to test the Coway I eventually bought against another highly rated brand, which though more expensive did not perform nearly as well.
@Project Farm You are welcome, sir! A follow up to such an air cleaner test could be a test for their replaceable filters. Also pricey. Do generic replacement air cleaner brands work as well as the OEM brand? With Covid, interest in air cleaners has increased. Think of the impact in public places. Even my dentist’s office has one in their waiting room.
Thanks for the video idea.
Agree that Project Farm makes well thought out and useful videos. I’d like to see tests of those pricey water filters for refrigerators.
Thank you! Thanks for the video idea.
what an eye opener on all the different filters, thank you for sharing
You are welcome!
Just replaced my HVAC system and this came up. You need your own show seriously.
Thanks for the nice comment.
I just started watching this but had to stop to say this waa a great idea to test these filters.
Thanks so much!
Any chance you could put your measurement summary slides in the "Show More" area for download in future videos? In the present case it would provide data to take with me to the store so I can pick the best of what's available.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Hi, just a question about the flour test. I was just thinking.....Is it possible that while spreading the flour on the filters there could be many spots that are kind of left open or clean allowing vast differences in the airflow? I know that testing each filter in a furnace for 3 months is not feasible and this might not even matter just looking for an opinion on this. I agree that more material and more pleats with a thicker profile give greater surface area and that was cool to see when you opened them all up. My furnace only allows 1 inch filters. bummer. Thanks for the video!
Problem with the 2 and 4 inch comparison is the furnace filter socket must be changed or come that way to use those. Must compare thickness to thickness which is what most of the test was! I would be interested in a comparison of 4 inch thick filters since I find many new homes use these not only for long filter use but the low pressure draw from them. I actually am going to add a home made manometer to my setup to compare new to old filter and monitor its lifespan. A brass fitting, glue, clear hose and little food colored water should do the trick!
Thanks for sharing.
Can you compare the different charts side by side and slow down and compare each of the filters to show us which are the best filters overall.
Thanks for the suggestion.
have you done seafoam vs berrymans b12 and any other like products
Thanks for the video idea.
Ok I have a video idea should you choose to accept. I went down the rabbit hole of tourniquets and the one thing they always talk about in the “stop the bleed” videos is about getting a good one. I immediately thought of you because I wondered if the price hike was actually worth it vs having several cheaper ones laying around vehicles and multiple first aid kits. Any way you can test commonly available tourniquets (Amazon)? You could quite literally save a life.
Thanks for the video idea.
Just getting caught up on your videos, this one was very interesting. Thank you for your time making these test.
You are welcome!
In looking at the 3M Filtrete 1900 I noticed that some come with a bluetooth manometer built in to the air filter for an extra $5. The reviews on these are very mixed so I have a couple of questions. Does the sensor itself block airflow in any meaningful way and more importantly, how accurately does it reflect the state of the filter? You could use your existing test stand to do a calibration test of the smart air filters at different stages of load (filter life). Now I bet that will REALLY scare some marketing departments! As always, thanks for your hard work.
Thanks for the video idea.
Thanks for testing the Honeywell 4". We just switched to those ones from the 1" ones and I was worried they were going to be more restrictive for our old furnaces.
you made the right choice
You are welcome!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
You are so welcome!
Project Farm could you please evaluate prefilter at air vent inlets good or bad idea. thank you
Thanks for the video idea.
Could you test the K&N home air filters next round ?
Thanks for the video idea.
Wow, just very useful! Was considering the washable ones too after buying so many filters.
Thanks!
Great test......and at the right time of year, too. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, will do!
I have found lot a differences in size. My air handler takes a 20X20 but not all filters are true to size. Many are 1/4 inch or so larger in one dimension so they will not slide into place. I shop with a tape measure in hand.
Thanks for the feedback.
"Which Chihuahua performs the best?"
You pack a TON of info into 13 minutes.
Thanks for the feedback.
Another Great Video.
Thanks so much!
I got tired of spending money on replacement filters and purchased 2 reusable washable filters 6 years ago. They definitely flow better and catch the same amount of dust. I got 2 so when I change out the one to clean it, I can pop in the other in it's place while the other one dries after being washed. Easy to maintain and they paid for themselves many times over.
Thanks for sharing!
I own that same Chinese made manometer and a pair of Fieldpiece probes at my home to check pressure drop across filters. I also have the same 16x20x1 filter size. I am planning to have a Honeywell 4 inch merv 11 unit retrofitted at my air handler this spring. My filter is undersized for my 2.5 ton HP. I will install minimum 20x20x4, hopefully will be able to fit in a 20x25x4. Because of fpm velocity at 1000 cfm, the 1 inch pleated merv 8 filter is too high static for my 16x20x1 undersized filter. What cfm and/or fpm velocity were you pulling across those filters ? A filters sq inch surface area greatly affects static pressure.
Can you please make a video about HHO kits for cars?
Thanks for the suggestion.
Doh! Stupid Flanders! It's always a good bet to go with 3M. No matter what product it is.
Thanks for the feedback.
Love it. Thank you for doing this. A couple of years ago I went with MERV 11 filters and there was a difference but I am considering having my HVAC guy come out to widen the slot for two or four inch thick filters to increase efficiency and airflow. I might even go with a MERV 13. Buying filters by the case significantly reduces the cost. Thanks too for clearing up the 3M marketing plonk as well as the other one, FPR from Home Despot? Seriously, I used to spend way too much time at various stores trying to compare different brands and finally went with MERV in bulk. :-D Your channel is such a treasure. I'll visit Patreon soon.
You are welcome! Thanks for the sharing.
You need to do this with car air filters for a given model & all brands. Getting sick of the arguments that k&n filters are better or worse than paper. I just want answers. You could get some Japanese filters to attract the car people. A HKS filter or something
Thanks for the video idea.
I can't believe how good your videos are. Awesome video idea!
Thank you! 😊
Our HVAC maintenance man recommends EZ Flow for the longevity of the unit.
Thanks for sharing.
Good stuff , keep the videos and reviews coming , thanks
Thanks, will do!
Thank you for letting the consumer be informed with your tests!
You are welcome!
THANK YOU!
You're welcome!
We had a new AC duct system put in not long ago at our house. Works great, no complaints. Checked the filter media, it was sadly the $1 one. Immediately went out and bought a Honeywell FPR 10 based on your findings 👍
Thanks for sharing.
Viruses lol. People would have the wrapped around their faces lol
Use the filter recommended. You can blow the motor.
Thanks for the feedback.
People with allergies should cook their own food. Dumb asses always ask what are the ingredients. Dumb fucks.
Just use the fiberglass like the manufacturer recommends
Thanks for the feedback.
Where did you get the 2" Honeywell bestair 2" filter? Can't find it anywhere, not even Honeywells filter site.
While I think your testing methods are interesting, I don’t think your they are realistic for most cases of normal use. As dumping a cup of flour on the filter would be a edge case. Normally dust particles come in at a relatively constant pace and build up over a period of time or maybe a spike of particles here and there. Would rather seen a “normal” amount of dust particles over a period of time and the efficiency of each filter over that time period. But found your results interesting and appreciate your work. Thanks for the video.
You are welcome! Thanks for the constructive feedback.
Thanks for this testing. I live under an airport landing and take off pattern and my filter turns grey in a week and black in three weeks. I didn't really here a recommendation on this testing for a one inch filter. I guess I'll get the one inch filter with the most square inches of material.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
I'm only 18 years old and I normally would have no interest in air filters and other stuff on this channel, but the amount of effort you put into these tests are insane and I've watched a lot of your videos just because of how interesting your channel is
Great to hear! Thanks for watching!
I am an HVAC tech and unless you get a 4-5” filter on your air handler stay with cheaper filters with a lower merve rating. If your ac is not built to handle high static pressure don’t use high dollar filters. Use a common pleated filter and change regularly
Thanks for the feedback.
Also a media filter is usually blue or orange on one side and white sticky on the other. Pleated filters have a white pleated look, and have an accordion look, they are the best in when thiicker,4-5” and a lower merv rating unless you have an inverter airflow control system.
Yeah, we have a real problem with flour exploding in our furnace ducts. You might want to get opinions from HVAC repair people, most people don't change filter often enough & use to restrictive of a filter especially during cooling season.
The one to get for home is????????
I went out and bought the 3M 1900 1”x20”x25” at Home Depot here in Edmonton AB. I used screenshots from the results to help myself remember the one I wanted based on filtering and airflow.
Thanks for sharing.
Could you do a video testing shop dust collection systems? Or do a different style for you but make a dust collection system based on the data from your shop vac video and this one.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Have you tested car cabin filters (pollen filters). What is the difference between normal and carbon one?
Thank you for the video idea!
Great testing! You're the man! But MERV8? They let all kinds of really small particles through which is tough if you have asthma or dust allergies, like my wife does. I put 2" thick Nordic Pure MERV 12s on my furnace. $115 for 12. I once custom ordered their MERV14s, but they don't last too long on my relatively new 96% efficient Amana furnace before the DC variable speed fan motor starts to overheat as the filter gets clogged and shuts down. Seems to work OK with the MERV12s. I also found it's IMPOSSIBLE to find any neutral testing like you do on such a wide variety of things. Keep it up and may God bless you!
Thank you!
Having had to clean hvac coils although a weaker more flowing filter is cheaper and moves more air the problem is that the coils get dirty very fast and then no longer cool as well raising the electrical bill because it has to run longer. In the long run a better filter saves money because it keeps the coils clean and then you don't have to pay an h ac guy to come and clean it.
Thanks for the feedback.
Wonder how these compare to electric central air and heating unit filters commonly used in the south. They look similar but much smaller than the ones used for ACs.
Thank you for the video idea!
The permanent Air-Care "washable" electrostatic filter, works by airflow generating a static charge between the layers, much like an electro-static precipitator. Just dumping the flour on top and then starting airflow did not give the airflow any time to generate the static charge and thus the initial puff. Maybe all testing should have been run with airflow going prior to dumping the flour for more realistic tests.
Thank you!
Since a lot of home owners extend the life of their furnace filters by vacuuming them once in a while , I like to see you test a new filter , then dirty it up and retest it after vacuuming it . Do that on three types of filters , a cheap , then a moderate cost , and then an expensive filter .
@Project Farm I'm presently using a 3M merv 13 with 46 pleats in a gas Amana 95% efficient single speed fan . My concern is how much I'm impending the fan . My filter was new for last winter , and is still in use this winter . It started out as a bright white filter and is now light grey .
Thanks for the video suggestion!
Your parents raised a dang genius my friend.....it is very clear that you love what you do. Keep up your amazing contributions to this world
Thanks, will do!
Saw Your banana as engine oil vid, what if you try and use avocado as oil, or smooth peanut butter o_O
Thanks for the video suggestion!
Which engine oil stop leak is better? Also which radiator stop leak or coolant stop leak is better maybe if you have time
Good info thanks !
Can u do a video for taps and dies?
could you do a video on solar car battery maintainers?
Have you compared spray adhesives? They're pretty viral right now with the whole gorilla glue spray fiasco...
Every 30 days? says who? That's like saying every home is exactly the same
What about the 2500 air filter?
Anytime I am fixing to buy something I come see what project farm recommends! I would like to see a video on which windshield washing fluid is best.
Dear Projekt farm, can you try out cord locks? I need to see wich one is the best. thank you very much.
Can you do a test on differential gear oils please?
@project farm have you done testing with in home air purifiers? For allergies/cigar smoke/chemical fumes?
Thanks for the video idea..
I hope your making good money from NOworld. You do the most sensible testing at your cost. Maybe you could do a video on Texas politics? Wealthier Texans: "I want my freedoms". I want guns, low taxes and the Federal government out of my life, and voting interference for the poor. When their stupid Republican freedom laws finally hit them all. They want the Feds to bail them out. Stop voting for morons for federal office and I'd be happy to send my tax dollars to you. Sorry - I didn't mean to get political on your channel. Hypocrisy drives me nuts.
Could you do a video on clamps? There are so many out there in so many styles. Would be great if you could look at various types of spring clamps, bar clamps, C-clamps, etc and determine things like squeeze force, damage to surfaces, and how well they can stay in place when they get knocked around. Would love to know which styles work well, and which brand is best in each style
Thanks for the video idea.
I love your videos. You do a spectacular job doing thorough testing and comparisons of products. I watch your videos as they come out but I often find myself rewatching old videos when I am in the market for new products. I thought of an interesting video idea. It would be really cool to do an "Amazon Showdown". Take winning items from previous showdowns, and compare them to the cheapest (or best rated?) Amazon competitor available. For instance I recently bought some Flap discs on Amazon, they worked just as well as Diablo's, and were 93 cents per each. It would be interesting to see if Amazon can beat some of your other test winners.
Thanks so much! Thanks for the video idea.
Since Gorilla glue has been in news... how about Gorilla glue as engine oil.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Great video as always. Trail cams seem right up your alley as a way of monitoring animal activity on your property, considering features like effective range, shutter time, night vision quality, field of view, battery life, trigger sensitivity, mounting options, camouflage, image quality, video frame rate, and all the other relevant variables I'm sure you'll think of.
Thanks 👍Thanks for the suggestion.
Video suggestion: since you have 18V batteries for all the different tool brands, please review LED spotlights (torches). Seems the major tool brands offer a spotlight style torch.
Thanks for the video idea.
Would love to see a test on “Windshield Water Repellent Treatments”.
Thanks for the video idea.
"Filter is made of fiberglass" Fuck, might as well just made a filter out of asbestos.
@Yabman 1 Sorry if my cursing hurts your feelings you Sensitive Susan. I suggest you stay off the internet forever since there's no such thing as a "safe zone" on here.
Use of cursing diminishes your comment to me. I know lots of people talk that way but you have to make an extra effort at cursing when texting or typing. Not that helpful in my view but to each his own I guess
Does everyone use these in America, because of heated air house heating system? I've got some cheap air filter in my system that heat exchanges clean air from the outside but all heating is done with warm water and radiators and heater floors.
Yes, if they use a furnace heating and/or air conditioning system.
Which tap and die brand is the best? I'm sick of breaking them all the time..
Thanks for the video idea.
Could you try some testing with magnetic fuel savers ?
Thanks for the video idea.
I really liked your 2-stroke oil test. Can you do another one? Can you do an innexpensive generator test? I just bought a little 2 stroke generator and a a little inverter generator as backups for just in case and I like them both a lot so far. I live up and down michigan and generators are kinda imoprtant to have no matter who you are or where you live . Those poor people in texas lost all power for two days and it's colder there than it is here.
Great suggestion! Thank you.
Here’s another test; BOLTS! I know there are different qualities of bolts and some claim to be rated for a lot of weight. Would love to see you put some different hex bolts to the test.
Great suggestion! Thank you.
You should make a video of running a mower on natural gas vs gasoline and alcohol ect. Like if you guys agree
Thanks for the video idea.
Hey can you test which bug repellent is the best?
Great suggestion! Thank you.
It sure if you’ve tested out some of the best gas generators. Got hit bad in Texas and trying to prepare for when Mother Nature strikes again. Thanks, love all your videos.
Thanks! Thanks for the video idea.