Is a Washable AC Filter Better Than a Disposable One?

Your AC air filter keeps dirt, dust and pollen from coming into your home. Changing the air filter regularly is essential to the safe and efficient operation of your air conditioner. A dirty air filter reduces the air flow in your AC unit and, if left long enough, can become a source of indoor air pollution. While disposable air filters are relatively inexpensive, the cost of a continual stream of throwaway air filters can become considerable. A washable AC filter is one solution to the cost and inconvenience of replacing your AC air filter every few months.

Benefits of Reusable Air Filters

The cost of replacing the air filter in your AC is only one of the benefits you’ll get when you switch to a washable AC filter. Here are a few of the others.

The Greener Solution

We live in a disposable world, and the world is paying the price for it. When you choose reusable air filters over a standard disposable filter, you’re using fewer resources in manufacturing and keeping dozens of AC filters out of the landfill. One washable AC filter can last you up to five years. If you replace your AC filter 4 times a year – which is a fairly standard recommendation – you’ll be keeping 20 air conditioner filters out of the waste stream.

Convenience

At first glance, it may seem more convenient to simply toss a dirty air filter in the trash. In reality, when you have a washable AC filter, you never run out of air filters, never have to make an emergency run to the home improvement store and always have a spare AC filter on hand when the air filter is dirty. You can add the gas savings to the environmental savings listed above, too.

Cost

While the cost of disposable air filters varies depending on size and quality, you can expect to pay about $10 per filter every time you change the air filter. Compare the cost to an average of about $35 for a washable AC filter that will last up to 5 years. At five changes a year, the disposables will cost you as much as $250 as compared to the $35 for a washable AC filter.

Why throw away good money into the landfill? Switch to reusable air filters for your furnace and air conditioner and save.