Derek ColeGM, Simmons One Hour Heating & Air · AI HVAC Answers

Homeowners: Don't Buy the Most Expensive Air Filter! #shorts

5 Oct 2026 · 1 min

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0:59

In this short, Derek Cole warns homeowners against assuming that the most expensive air filter is the best choice. He explains that air filters are rated by MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value), where higher numbers indicate finer particle capture but also greater restriction of airflow. While a high‑MERV filter can trap smaller particles, it can also impede airflow and strain an HVAC system if the system isn’t designed for it. Cole advises that homeowners consider their specific HVAC equipment and balance filtration efficiency with proper airflow rather than simply opting for the costliest filter.

Chapters

Now here's another mistake I see homeowners make. They go to the store and think, well, I'll just buy the most expensive filter they have. That's the best one, right? That's the better one. I need the best for my home. Not necessarily. Higher efficiency filters, higher MERV ratings— they're rated on a scale called MERV. M-E-R-V, MERV rating. The higher the number, the more restrictive it is, the better at collecting those smaller particles it is. But that could be great for your system, but— and it can be great for your filter setup to collect those particles, but the higher the number You get the more restrictive it gets on that airflow of some of