Currently have Trion Air-Bear filters in the system in the attic. I need two of these 20x25x5 filters. Going to order and DIY rather than pay someone, and it looks like there are a TON of diff filter companies. Looking on Amazon, etc.

Are they all the same?

Does it matter as long as the dimensions and MERV are similar? Have a couple pets, tight home, non smokers.

TIA!

I use the Lennox MERV 16. I am not sure if anyone sells them cheaper than Amazon.
https://a.co/d/hC4dSfQ

Honeywell merv 10 at Home Depot. 2 pack for $50.

Be careful going too high on merv. 8-13 is fine. Too much restriction will harm your HVAC if not properly designed/tuned for it

How often do y'all replace these? I have the same size

It's way more often this year, but generally once a quarter.

Ouch okay. I've been doing it twice a year. I'll
Step it up

Our a/c guy that installed our system recommended Koch filters.

El_duderino said:

---

Be careful going too high on merv. 8-13 is fine. Too much restriction will harm your HVAC if not properly designed/tuned for it

---

All true. Run return air and pressure drop calculations before using a high efficiency filter.

I was told to let your system breathe, don't choke it with something that will restrict airflow, get the cheapest lightest they make

Trion AirBear are about as good as it gets. I change mine once annually and use cheap fiberglass filters in all return grates to catch the big stuff. Buy the box filters online from any number of filter suppliers that drop ship.

I had a big filter on my old unit up in the attic and my AC guy said to not use a filter in my house intake in the hall. Like you guys said, choking more air flow. We used Honeywell filters when I had that system.

I've been getting my in system 5" filters from
https://www.airfiltersdelivered.com/

These have been ~$55 for 20x25 and 16x25
Change yearly.

For the return air I run Filtrete MERV 5 from Amazon. Seems these are about $40 for 6. Change monthly.

this is not necessary for the 5" filters at the blower unit.

This is what I have been buying, they are great.

Aerostar 20x25x5 Air Filter MERV 13

https://a.co/d/cLq5Qw8

Edit to add that I replace between every 3-4 months and I only have this filter and not smaller ones.

I don't run filters at the return grills like you do. Only one right at the air handler. Once a quarter is generally time to replace for me.

El_duderino said:

---

I don't run filters at the return grills like you do. Only one right at the air handler. Once a quarter is generally time to replace for me.

---

If you toss in CHEAP loose fiberglass filters in your returns, you can catch all the big particles with it and extend the life of the box filter a little more. This is what I do but we have a lot of pets and loosely built historic home so I have to filter out a lot of what's inside and outside my house. Lol.

it seems like everybody has a filter at the air handle except me, OR I don't realize that I do have one. If so, it hasn't been replaced in 10 yrs since we moved in. Which units have them and which dont?

Honestly just depends on how the system is built, our last house only had filters at the return grates where our current home only has a big filter before the blower.