Home-use, furnace / AC-based air filters

[rob-the-oil-nut]

I was quite certain that there was some postings on the "3M" style filters used on furnaces in winter and A/C's in summer. I see listings and when I try to look at them it says the message does not exist.
C'mon gang, donate to BITOG so we can afford more hard drive space and the topics won't have to be blown away!

Perhaps someone can refresh my memory, then. Which plug up too fast? Which are gimmicks? Which really remove smoke, pollen, allergens, dust, etc?
When our furnace was last looked at the techie removed our previous, expensive, comparison-shopped (not by me) filter, and they recommended (and installed) a permanently electrostaticly charged, (increasing-filtration as the air goes through) plastic-fiber-based filter. I believe it is a White-Rogers Part # A0401-16X. The dude said they had used them exclusively for years and no problems at all in thousands of furnaces.
Counter-point? Second thought?
BTW / FWIW the house had no AC when built, they were horrible costly back then. AC's are aftermarket fitted to furnaces and constitute "central air" for homes over 30 years old.
Perhaps digressing from my own topic, the fan motor checks out fine, is permanently lubed, and not ancient, but makes a whine when in constant use or use more than a minute. The sound is high-pitched and annoying, and if anyone has ideas of how to get rid of it before furnace season, it just might save a few headaches

THANKS!

 

[Not the Autorx Frank]

Rob,

You need to lengthen your intake hose. Sounds like the intake is right under or near the blower. Also, I installed a 5" thick pleated media filter from Honeywell and man does it help the allergies. Goes 1 year between changing and only costs $26.

 

[rob-the-oil-nut]

Intake hose? I'm unsure if you are referring to the "cold air intake" or the one within the house. There is a CAI insulated hose that is a good 10 feet long, but it might be closed for summer. Then there are floor registers within the house that take air to the blower unit, they have been there since the 1960's.
A filter with 5 inches of pleated material? Wow, I gotta check that out!
Thanks
Rob

 

[Al]

Those electrostatic (plastic) filters do a darn good Job. You take them to a car wash and you are good to go. I don't know the efficiencies compared to 3M. But my gut feeling is that they are the way to go.

 

[seotaji]

quote:

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they recommended (and installed) a permanently electrostaticly charged, (increasing-filtration as the air goes through) plastic-fiber-based filter. I believe it is a White-Rogers Part # A0401-16X.

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Of course they did, they sell them.

What are your goals with a new air filter?

The 3M and Dupont electrostatic filters do their job admirably, at the expense of your pocketbook and airflow depending on how much filtering efficiency you want, but they DO work.

The permanent/washable filters can't compare at all. They don't filter as well (only the larger particles). The only benefit would be increased flow. Once they clog up, they are the same as everyone else.

I'd reccomend a replaceable filter replaced at 1 to 3 month intervals depending on environmental conditions and useage. Check them every so often.

Could the whine you hear be the motor or some other part vibrating? I know some t.v.'s will do it when one bad part resonates. Maybe the bearings are at the end of their life?