Are expensive furnace filters really worth the extra money?

The main duty of a furnace filter is to keep big stuff from getting into the furnace blower compartment. Yes, I have seen blogs out there, that would say it's duty is to keep “big stuff” from getting into your heat exchanger or the air conditioner air coil.

So now that we have that cleared up, the filter's main duty is to stop “big stuff” from clogging your blower compartment with dust, pet hair, Barbie doll heads, and other “big stuff”. They’re not intended to purify the air you breathe. Houses are contructed much differently today, than they were 20 years ago. Furnace filters protect the equipment in your home.

You can look at it this way, a steam engine use to run on a wood boiler, then it changed to coal, then the steam train was replaced by the diesel train.
Furnace filters have also changed with time, they had to as people spent more of their time indoors. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution levels can be 25 times, and on occasion, more than 100 time more polluted than outdoor air, because of the tight construction. With the change to tighter construction, the HRV system and better air filters came along; there was no choice, because aside from the windows and doors in home, the houses are essentially a bag, with very little ability to breathe.


Manufacturers like ..... came out and started making better filters.

So can the most expensive filters, like the ReservePro be any good?. These filters are marketed as being able to “capture at least 90% of large airborne particles like dust, pollen and pet dander from the air passing through the filter.”

The answer is yes, capturing 90% of large airborne particles is very good; this is same as purchasing a high efficient furnace that says 97% high efficient.

But let us be honest, the 90% rating is tested in a lab and is the best case scenario; even if a good filter is only catching 80% or even 70%, that is much better than 0%.

If you want to improve indoor air quality, can a furnace filter help you? Of course they can help, but many things are factors contributing to your air quality. Things such as smoking and pets, may also affect the quality of your indoor air. You would need to look at your home and evaluate possible factors. I am only going off of my experience as a TSSA licensed technician.
You can get more information on this topic from the EPA or the CMHC.

The only problem with expensive furnace filters is that air flow gets restricted when they get dirty.
Because these filters are not cheap, people don't like changing them, but you need to change them, as specified by the manufacturer.

I mentioned, in a blog, about the importance of changing your furnace filter, and that reduced air flow can actually lead to premature failure of your furnace, aside from costing you more in heating bills. This can also lead to costly service calls for your furnace. Furnaces come equipped with heat sensors that will shut the furnace down if the heat exchanger gets too hot, and the main cause of this is insufficient airflow. Of course, airflow will be restricted with any type of filter when it gets dirty.

My recommendation is simple, whether you pay for expensive filters or just purchase the inexpensive throw away filter, you need to remember to change them frequently.