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3M Electrostatic Furnace Filters
QUESTION:Last night we stopped by our local Revy (Think "just like Home Depot")
monster store to find a new furnace filter. They were out of stock
in our size, so we browsed up and down the aisle a bit and came across
these "3M Electrostatic Furnance Filters" for Can$20 each!
The label claims that these are much better than the other kinds of
furnace filters in filtering out small particles, due to their
"electrostatic coating(tm)" (something like that, anyways).
Does anyone know anything about these furnace filters? I've never
heard of them before, and don't recall any prior chatter in this group
about them. They seem quite expensive for just a regular furnace
filter (Visually, it just looks like your basic accordian-pleated
furnace filter) Do they make an obvious impact (ie: less dust) or is
the improvement a non-visual one of 'feeling/health'?
For completenes, here's all the possibilities:
Basic 20x25x1" furnace filter. $.83
- label says to replace it every month, the 'cotton batting'
type stuffing is so thin I can almost see through it.
Pleated furnace filter ~$5
- label says to replace it every 3 months. Claims to trap
many more particles (smaller ones also), claims to be
~10 times better than the above filter.
3M electrostatic furnace filter ~$20
- label says to replace it every 3 months. Claims to trap
even more stuff than the Pleated-type filters. I forget how
much better (as in 5 times better or some such) it claims to
be than the pleated filter)
The furnace in question is a regular efficiency (circa 1975) forced
air gas furnace. No electronic (or other plug-in type) air cleaner
is installed.
ANSWER: In the US they're labelled as 'Filtrete' filters. I've used them and have
been quite happy - the coating of dust after a few months is much thicker
than I had when I used the fiberglass/cottony ones. There has seemed to
be quite a bit less dust in the house since I started using them.
It is, however, really tough to spend $12 (US) on a filter when there are
ones next to it for less that $1, but I think it's worth it. At about $50
a year, it's worth it to me if it cuts down the dust.
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