3M Filtrete MicroParticle Reduction Filter (all sizes) Review

I bought a new home in August 03 and moved in October 03. Well, I didn't actually buy.  I assumed a 15 year mortgage with the hopes of someday owning my second home.  Anyway, after the final walk thru, signing of papers, etc. I was given a checklist of things that would be done up to my expectations.  One was to have the company that installed the central heat and air unit to come out and show me how to change the filters and instruct me on proper maintenance of the system.  You like me, might wonder why this was a big deal.  Well, when the technician arrived I soon discovered the importance of that visit.

My unit, the interior part, is a triangular shaped thing and required two filters.  Say what?  Yep, two filters and what complicates matters worse is that these filters are not a standard size.  My unit takes 14x14; which I could never find until last month.  I searched high and low for the right size.  The technician even told me that they do the in-home demonstration to show the homeowners how to install filters that are actually larger than the system.  I would have to get a 16x18 and sometimes a 16x20 and then I would have to tape it with packing tape to the sides of the unit because with the overhang the air tended to push it away from the unit.  This went on for almost five years.

Each trip to the store I would look for smaller sizes with the hopes that one day I would actually find a 14x14.  It seemed to reason that if a company could manufacture the unit with that size that the filters would be out there, right?  Well, last month I was at Walmart and I was getting my filters.  Then out of the blue I saw a shelf tag that said 14x14.  I thought my mind was playing tricks on me so I got closer and sure enough there was a stack of 14x14 filters made by 3M.  The 3M Filtrete MicroParticle Reduction Filter was the perfect size!

3M makes a lot of filters for various things (allergens are a biggie).  Well, they didn't have a 14x14 in the micro-allergen so I got the micro-particle ones.  The filters are $8.88 each and it is recommended that you change them out every 3 months so I'm investing approxmiately $80 a year for clean air.  I say it's worth it.

I was beside myself when I got home and tore out the other filters that were rather bulky on my unit.  The 14x14 fit so beautifully on the unit, like a hand slides into a glove.  Out of habit I pulled out the packaging tape and secured the filters to the unit.

3M says this about the Filtrete Microparticle filters:

Filtrete Air Cleaning 1" filters outperform all non-electrostatic (three-month pleated, washable and fiberglass 1") filters. These filters carry a microparticle performance rating range of 700 - 1000. They attract and capture microscopic allergens like dust, smoke, and smog particles and large allergens like mold spores and pet dander.

So for a little more money I get a higher quality filter.  I suffer from a lot of allergies and indoors a lot of them are remedied by eliminating dust.  In comparison, I believe the micro-particle is a step up from the micro-allergen. These filters are just what I have been looking for.  They have little labels on the side so that you can write the date that you installed them or the date that you need to replace them.  My search is over for an air filter.  I'll just be happy if Walmart continues to stock them.