Air Conditioning Furnace Filters

[784caroline]

WE have a Trane Air Conditioning /heat system and I have been checking the furnace filter as requied but to be honest with you it appears to NEVER get dirty. I am NOT using the (foam) filter that came with the unit but a pleated filter with a relatively high EER rating. I realize that not all filters cover the entire opening of air flow but this brand does.

Does anyone else have this condition and if so have you ever resolved the problem?? The house also appears to accumulate a higher than normal amount of dust.

Mums inspected it and said all is normal but something just does not seem right!!

[tom60]

I also have a train ac that is 9 years old. The origional filter never looked like it was getting dirty so i went and bought one of those filters that is supposed to last a lifetime . Its washable. Well the first one didnt look like it was getting dirty so i bought a different kind. I guess its just the way tranes work. I never have gotten a lot of dirt in any of the filters. I wash it out once a month when im using the heat pump with the air conditioning.

[Aceskaters]

I have noticed the same thing...the filter has been in there for months, I keep checking it and it is never dirty. My house does get dusty, but I am in an area of manic construction!

[784caroline]

Tom60/ Aceskaters

So we have the same problem...and Im sure others are having the samne problem but may not realize it. Have you ever brought it up with the AC guy when or if you have an annual maintenace check up?? If so what do they say!

I am wondering if a filter where the air intakes are located in the ceiling of each room would provide a better dust filter intake.

This cant be right......

[downeaster]

Tom60/ Aceskaters

So we have the same problem...and I'm sure others are having the same problem but may not realize it. Have you ever brought it up with the AC guy when or if you have an annual maintenance check up?? If so what do they say!

I am wondering if a filter where the air intakes are located in the ceiling of each room would provide a better dust filter intake.

This cant be right......
I personally retrofitted my filter to the ceiling intake. This helps prevent a build up of dust in the ducts. Bought a replacement grill at Home Depot and it was a simple job. My AC guy said it was a great idea and they had tried to convince the developer to make them standard but they wouldn't go for it.

Just because a filter looks clean doesn't necessarily mean it is. Hold a used filter up to light and compare it with a new one.

I replace my filter every three months.

[2Wheels]

Mine rare LOOKS dirty...now that the CATS are gone...

[JohnN]

I agree the filter doesn't get dirty. My theory is that Florida "dirt" is mostly sand, and that doesn't really get airborne, thus never gets into the filter.

Tears up a floor quick, but doesn't get into the furnace.

[ChattanoogaTn]

I too have wondered about when to change, what type to buy and other questions about an A/C filter.

After much research I found that A/C filters are measured by "MERV's". You can spend considerably more by buying a nice filter than a cheap one as having problems sometimes with asthma the better filter is better for your lungs and dust problems.

Also by not changing a high quality filter that collects many more foreign particles can cause the air not to circulate and make your A/C work twice as hard but will trap pollen, mold and not be like regular filters that let 90% of EVERYTHING pass thru it.

Bottom line..... How much are your lungs worth?

Found that buying "online" can save you money and in my opinion FILTRETE has the best filter. Hope this helps...

http://www.bestacfilter.com/faq.html

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q=filtrete&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=QfgXSs66LpGNtge1w-yADQ&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

[chuckinca]

$5.99 pleated filter at 441 Wal-Mart is $4.99 at 466 Wal-Mart!

[sgiamp1]

Has anyone found the 19" X 19" X 4" filters for the Carrier FX4DNF037 model? I tried Lowe's and Home Depot but no luck.
I have a Begonia but don't know if the FX4DNF037 is in other designer models. (House was built in 2010)

[mulligan]

Ace hardware in wildwood

[lightworker888]

We got our filters at a booth in Marion Market. They are cut to fit the furnace and he makes a custom frame that slides in to replace the original filter.We replace ours about every 3 months and they get dirty. He says they remove 87% of pollutants. It is on Isle E South #138 at the Marion Market.

LW888

[sgiamp1]

Ace Hardware in Wildwood had exactly what I needed - thanks for the tip.

[entemedor]

I always buy the top-of-the-line 3M filters. Expensive and yes, they show the dirt they filter out of the air.

I check it from time-to-time and replace when the white filter turns grey. Spring, middle of Summer, and Fall. As the heat don't go on much here in the Winter it's good from Fall to next Spring.

Walmart, Target, Home Depot...all carry them but may be out of the really good (read $$$) ones. Shop around, look for cupons, etc.

[petiteone]

Does anyone have an electrostatic air cleaner attached to their air handler? I have one in my home in New York and it works very well. My house down here is so dusty that I need to dust it every other day and it's driving me crazy! They are expensive and I don't want to buy one if they don't work.

[THE NEWCOMER]

We got our filters at a booth in Marion Market. They are cut to fit the furnace and he makes a custom frame that slides in to replace the original filter.We replace ours about every 3 months and they get dirty. He says they remove 87% of pollutants. It is on Isle E South #138 at the Marion Market.

LW888

Did you replace your four inch filter with a normal size filter (1" thick)? Can you explain more about this custom frame. Can you now buy filters from the big box store or normal retailer? Do you feel your system now is better than before? Thanks for your help!

[bob47]

I personally retrofitted my filter to the ceiling intake. This helps prevent a build up of dust in the ducts. Bought a replacement grill at Home Depot and it was a simple job. My AC guy said it was a great idea and they had tried to convince the developer to make them standard but they wouldn't go for it.

Just because a filter looks clean doesn't necessarily mean it is. Hold a used filter up to light and compare it with a new one.

I replace my filter every three months.

Can you provide a little detail in how you changed the air return grill? This sounds like a great thing to do.

Trane furnaces have a very poor design where the air filter is installed and it is very easy for air to bypass the filter. Especially an expensive one that can bend in toward the blower fan.

[lightworker888]

we haven't been down since June but the filter can't remember if the filter was changed. Going down again mid sept, so will check it then. I think we brought them back up here and they got changed when we got back. we have a frame up here, but needed one down inTV. it was awhile ago so can't remember the details but I know he was still there when's we were there in May. you m�y be able to get them from HD or Lowes. hope this helps.

LW888

[George Bieniaszek]

I went online to purchase my AC filters. The filters were delivered very quickly.

Try DiscountFilters.com | Home Filters With Free Shipping (http://www.discountfilters.com) and see if they have what you are looking for.