While the upfront price of a disposable pleated air filter may be less, this type of filter will need to be replaced every 1-3 months depending on the manufacturer. The disposal of filters is harmful to the environment, and purchasing a reusable filter is actually more cost-effective. Over 100 million disposable air filters go into landfills each year so we hop you consider reducing that amount of filters that make it to landfills by purchasing a washable or reusable air filter for all of the filters in your home, business, or medical facility.
To help you visualize the long-term savings of washable home air filters, here is a cost savings calculator.
Top Disposable Air Filters
Top Washable Air Filters
Best Washable AC Filters | Airthreads | Aqua-Flow | Carter | K&N |
---|---|---|---|---|
MERV Rating | MERV 8 | MERV 6 | MERV 8 | MERV 11 |
Average Price | $23 - $60 | $11 - $180 | $50 - $60 | $23 - $50 |
Machine Washable? | Yes | No | No | No |
Size Options | 17 | Infinite | 26 | 15 |
Warranty | 1 Year | None | Lifetime | Lifetime |
Number of Filters this Replaces | 36 | Unknown | Lifetime | Lifetime |
Is Electrostatic? | No | No | Yes | No |
Is HEPA? | No | No | No | No |
MERV Ratings Explained
Below you will find the MERV rating chart. I fond the EPA website chart difficult to understand, so I made it easier for you.
Technically, MERV filters are less than the minimum for HEPA. HEPA filters are high efficiency particulate air filters that remove 99.97% of all particles .3 nanometers in size. MERV Filters use different tests than the HEPA filters, but typically MERV filters will not be HEPA filters as shown in the chart above.
MERV Rating | 3.0 - 10.0 Microns | 1.0 - 3.0 Microns | 0.3 - 1.0 Microns | .3 Microns | Is It HEPA? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1-4 | less than 20% | - | - | - | No |
6 | 20% - 49.9% | - | - | - | No |
8 | 50% - 84.9% | - | - | - | No |
10 | 85% + | 50% - 64.9% | - | - | No |
12 | 90% + | 80% - 89.9% | - | - | No |
14 | - | 90% + | 75% - 84% | - | No |
16 | - | - | 75% + | - | No |
HEPA | - | - | - | 99.97% | Yes |