20x30x1 Air Filters – FAQ & Buyer’s Guide!

If you were to ask many people how often they change their filters, the chances are high that you would find that they do not replace them as often as they should. People either lose track of the frequencies to which they adhere, or they don’t give much thought to the changing, thinking that the filters will work great long after their durability lapses.

List of 20x30x1 Air Filters:

PhotoProductMERVPackDetails
1. Filtrete 20x30x1, AC Furnace Air Filter, MPR 300, Clean Living Basic Dust, 6-PackFiltrete 20x30x156View on Amazon
2. 20x30x1, Flanders Air Filter, MERV 6 (Pack of 12)Flanders 81555.012030612View on Amazon
3. Nordic Pure 20x30x1 MERV 10 Pleated AC Furnace Air Filter, Box of 6Nordic Pure 20x30x1106View on Amazon
4. 20x30x1 Merv 8 Furnace Filter (12 Pack)Glasfloss CECOMINOD071831812View on Amazon
5. 20x30x1, Percisionaire Ez Flow Merv 3, 10155.012030, Pack12
Percisionaire EZ Flow 10155.012030312View on Amazon

You will find that most filters require replacement every two to three months. The larger and pleated ones can last as much as twelve months, but in all these cases, the durability will depend on how much the filter gets used. An example would be a home where there are pets and children. In such a situation, the filter would require changing more often than in a home where there are few occupants.

Though most people are aware that the filters require changing every other month or so, they only get to it when they notice dust in the house or the vents. When an air filter stops working, the strain on the central and cooling system increases and this can overwhelm it to the point of breaking down, if left unchecked. You can end up incurring more expenses than you would have if you had kept to the recommended changes.

You can also change your filter as often as required, only to find that the air quality is not as good as you would like it to be or your utility bills are still higher than you would like. The best way to thus ensure that your air is clean is the use of a high-quality air filter and in this regard, let us look at the factors that you should consider when buying a filter and why:

Now that we have covered some of the aspects which you should consider, let’s look at some of the products which pass the above tests and what makes them stand out from most of the air filters in the market at present:

20x30x1 Air Filters Review:

1. Filtrete 20x30x1, AC Furnace Air Filter, MPR 300, Clean Living Basic Dust, 6-Pack

This air filter, with 3-in-1 technology, works to get rid of unwanted particles in the air such as pet dander and smoke. Additionally, it gets rid of bacteria and viruses, thus enabling you to enjoy clean air. Its MERV 5 rating is ideal for residential homes where there are children and pets and will serve you for a good 90 days.

You may have to replace the filter sooner than this where the usage is intense. If you need help remembering to change your filter, the filter change reminder program will sure come in handy.

Product Features

  • Features 3-in-1 technology
  • 300 micro-particle performance rating
  • MERV 5 rating
  • Lasts 90 days
  • Suited for residential use
  • Works for furnaces, ACs and HVACs
  • Weighs 4.2 pounds

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Frustration-free packaging
  • Value for your money
  • Long-lasting
  • Unrestricted airflow
  • Great construction
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • A bit thick

2. 20x30x1, Flanders Air Filter, MERV 6 (Pack of 12)

This 20x30x1 washable air filter has a steady construction that allows you to have an easy time during the installation process. Additionally, it remains stable during use, ensuring that your HVAC system remains efficient during operation and that your utility bills remain low.

The pleats in place are adequate to ensure that contaminants do not make their way into the vents and the rooms. With this air filter, you should be in a position to bid farewell to pet dander, lint, and other allergy triggers.

Product Features

  • Dimensions of 20*30*1
  • Pleated filter
  • Pinched frame
  • MERV rating of 6
  • Wire-backed media
  • Lasts 60 days

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Gives you value for your money
  • Steady construction
  • Easy to install
  • Effective in removing pollutants

Cons

  • Pricey

3. Nordic Pure 20x30x1 MERV 10 Pleated AC Furnace Air Filter, Box of 6

This ac filter 20x30x1 with a rating of MERV 10 is suitable for use in your home or your business. The electrostatic technology in place ensures that your space is free of airborne particles such as dust mites and mold spores, and you can thus look forward to enjoying clean air in your home. The synthetic material used in construction also assures you that there will be no mold or bacterial growth in your home.

Product Features

  • Actual dimensions of 19.75*29.75*0.75 inches
  • MERV 10 rating
  • Comparable to MPR 1000
  • Electrostatic charges
  • Made in the USA

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Sturdy storage box
  • Great for people with allergies
  • Reasonable price
  • Steady construction
  • Easy installation
  • Come in a box of six

Cons

  • Light airflow restriction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHJ53l4ipbo

4. 20x30x1 Merv 8 Furnace Filter (12 Pack)

This furnace filter 20x30x1 is excellent for anyone looking for a product that can work for many applications, including commercial, residential, and industrial. It features structural integrity owing to its double walls, and you should thus enjoy stability in your central heating and cooling system. Microbial growth in your filter will also be a thing of the past.

Product Features

  • Nominal dimensions of 20*30*1
  • MERV 8 rating
  • Made in the USA
  • Price guarantee
  • 100% performance

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Great value for your money
  • Long-lasting
  • Steady construction
  • Wide range of uses
  • Does not absorb moisture

Cons

  • A bit thick

5. 20x30x1, Percisionaire Ez Flow Merv 3, 10155.012030, Pack12

This EZ flow air filters 20x30x1 comes in a standard design that features spun glass and continuous chipboard in its make. The metal retainer in place enhances the structural integrity of the filter, and you should enjoy added energy efficiency in your system as a result. The filter works against dust, lint, debris and other kinds of contaminants, for as long as 30 days.

Product Features

  • Nominal dimensions of 20*30*1
  • Flat panel
  • MERV rating of 4
  • Metal retainer
  • Disposable

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Reasonable pricing
  • Unrestricted airflow
  • Sturdy construction
  • Easy to install
  • Efficient in removing pollutants

Cons

  • Require frequent changes

How to pick a 20x30x1 air filter?

Ratings

Air filters are in place to remove pollutants in the atmosphere, ranging from dust to pet dander, and this keeps the contaminants away from the air, thus keeping our lungs safe from them. For an air filter to keep you safe from asthma triggers, it should be active, which you should measure based on the minimum efficiency reporting value, abbreviated as MERV.

This MERV number serves as an indication of how powerful the filter is as well as how often the replacements will be necessary. Where the number is low, you will save some money on the initial purchase, but you will spend a considerable amount of money in getting replacements. Also, the effectiveness of the filter will be limited.

However, a low MERV rating ensures that your central heating and cooling system will run effectively and that airflow is unrestricted. People using filters for their homes should be okay with anything from MERV 4-10. Commercial and industrial spaces will call for a higher rating owing to the nature of activities in play as well as the high number of pollutants in the atmosphere.

Other than the MERV rating, here are some other things that you should know about air filters:

Types

Fiberglass

This kind of filter comes in a slim design with a flat surface that works to capture unwanted particles in the air. They work to protect your central heating and cooling system from these pollutants that can reduce the quality of your air. They are not a means to improve your indoor air quality, and you should thus not expect much from these gadgets.

The good thing about them is that you can purchase them at a reasonable price, allowing you to make some good savings. However, you should only expect about 10% removal of pollutants, which is not much for someone with children, pets, or someone who lives in a dusty region. Additionally, they feature ratings of ranges 1-4, which is quite limited.

Pleated

These filters are quite active and depending on the make; you should expect that they will get rid of at least 50% of unwanted particles in the air. When purchasing a pleated air filter, you should consider the number of pleats per foot as they will work better if the number is high. For the costs, you will find that you will use about five times as much as you would have on the fiberglass brands but considering that they have MERV ratings of 10-13, the investment will be worth it.

The higher the number of pleats per foot, the better the airflow in your home will be, and you should thus enjoy cleaner air as a result. You should get a brand that has at least eighteen pleats per foot as this will allow you to get the most out of your filter.

Where you find that the pleats are limited, you should avoid such a product as you will end up with dirty air moving through your vents, which will pose a risk to your HVAC system. It would be better if you were to get the fiberglass brands in such a situation.

High-Efficiency Filters

These air filters are ideal for dusty regions as well as places with a high number of occupants. They can get rid of at least 85% of the unwanted particles in the air thanks to their high MERV ratings which lie between 14 and 16. These filters can trap tiny particles in the sizes of microns, and they work great for people with allergies. Some brands come with coatings designed to kill microbes.

When using such a filter, you should notice an increase in efficiency in your central heating and cooling system, which will lower the amount of money that you spend on utility bills. You should also experience an improvement in air quality. They are well worth the investment.

True HEPA

With these filters, you are looking at an efficiency rating in the ranges of 17-20. They can get rid of up to 98% of the pollutants in your home. The only shortcoming with these filters is that you can only use them as standalone air purifiers or in a whole house filtration system. Remember that the higher the MERV rating, the higher the chances that the airflow will be restricted and you should expect that with these filters.

You will find that the restriction may be so much that you are unable to use this as a traditional filter for your home, owing to the lack of adequate pressure to move air through this filter. A conventional HVAC system cannot provide the force needed for such a filter and where you wish to have this in place, you should consider having a separate HEPA filtration system that will filter the air and push it back to the regular airflow.

The above choices are suggestions with consideration to MERV ratings and filter types, and they should help you in your quest for clean air. As long as you change your filter as per the manufacturer’s suggestions, you should be okay.

About the author

Lou Anderson

Lou Anderson

Lou Anderson is a keen home and garden innovator with over 25 years of hands-on experience in, home improvement, landscape gardening and all things appliance related to making life easier and more interesting.

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