Off brand air filters (home)

[Chapap]

I have a Winix air purifier and, like most home purifiers, has a filter size and shape that’s unique to home air purifiers… meaning it’s a pretty specialized filter. No-name filters are half the price of Winix filters. Yall reckon the off-brands are the exact same thing as the branded?… HEPA and all? It seems unlikely that a filter manufacturer would go out of their way to make a run of inferior filters.

 

[sgtsandman]

Air purifiers are notoriously bad about making their filters proprietary. Kinda like computer printers. They make their money on the replacement parts and sell the unit at a loss.

 

[19Walt93]

If you need an air purifier it out to be worth the right filter. If the filter doesn't fit properly it won't do it's job.
I've seen engines destroyed by poor fitting aftermarket air filters, the aftermarket tries to make multi-fit parts so they can cover more vehicles and proper fit suffers. The same applies to your unit.

 

[Chapap]

If you need an air purifier it out to be worth the right filter. If the filter doesn't fit properly it won't do it's job.
I've seen engines destroyed by poor fitting aftermarket air filters, the aftermarket tries to make multi-fit parts so they can cover more vehicles and proper fit suffers. The same applies to your unit.

It’s about time to order a new filter. The current one is a no name and fits perfectly. It looks like it could have just been repackaged… honestly couldn’t tell the difference side by side. I was about to order a brand name filter last night, but quickly remembered why I decided to go for off brand… $80 vs $25

 

[Curious Hound]

There should be efficiency ratings on the filters to help you compare. Otherwise, it's a tossup. As mentioned above, some of the off-brand are cheaper simply because they don't hold all the same dimensional and quality tolerances.

 

[Jazzer]

I’ve got two Holmes home air purifiers and got tired of the replacement filter costs. Aftermarket weren't much cheaper.

I buy activated carbon sheets on AMZ and cut them to size. Menards sells the 4” x 10” sheets of polyester filter material ( about1/8” thick) made to fit supply registers. Two layers of carbon and two layers of poly do as well as the original filters at ridiculously low cost.

-Jazzer

 

[Chapap]

One of these days I'm going to add a 20x26x5 or so MERV 16 filter + prefilters to the central AC. That way there's more air getting processed and I can buy from actual filter companies.

 

[19Walt93]

I don't like mud season and black flies but if I need clean air I open a window. I feel sorry for you city guys.

 

[Jazzer]

Read up on the air restriction high merv filters can put on your HVAC system. At merv 16 it can (depending on your unit) burn out your fan motor and raise your compressor pressures. If you have an ECM fan motor it’s less of a problem for that, but may still raise the high side pressures.

-Jazzer

 

[Chapap]

I don't like mud season and black flies but if I need clean air I open a window. I feel sorry for you city guys.

It’s more for pollen and allergy type stuff during the months when a window can’t be open.

Read up on the air restriction high merv filters can put on your HVAC system. At merv 16 it can (depending on your unit) burn out your fan motor and raise your compressor pressures. If you have an ECM fan motor it’s less of a problem for that, but may still raise the high side pressures.

-Jazzer

I definitely will be sizing it appropriately. I currently have the standard 1” filter and I only use fiberglass filters. I really hate how every store pushes merv filters in 1”. The 1” filter really is only to protect the machine, not the people. A 20x26x5 has something like 18sf of filter media.

 

[19Walt93]

It’s more for pollen and allergy type stuff during the months when a window can’t be open.

I definitely will be sizing it appropriately. I currently have the standard 1” filter and I only use fiberglass filters. I really hate how every store pushes merv filters in 1”. The 1” filter really is only to protect the machine, not the people. A 20x26x5 has something like 18sf of filter media.

That makes sense, for about a month every year my truck turns yellow from the pollen.
I have central air and use premium filters for my HVAC.
I'm not allergic to pollen, just grass and Maple but I still have a lawn and I built my house in what used to be my grandfather's maple orchard and pasture.