Customer Reviews
Overpriced and Misleading Product Description/Pricing - Product itself is great! 
2008-08-08
The product detail doesn't just give a false impression, it actually states that you will receive a pack of 6 filters for the price of $9.26. You don't. You get one filter for that price.
After it arrived, I got the same exact filter product number at Walmart for $2.50 less and bought several of them.
The product itself works great. I had to change my HVAC filters 3 times in the months of June and July due to all the smoke in the air here from all the California fires surrounding the Sacramento Valley. These filters helped me keep my windows closed and air conditioning on during the 100 degree weather we also endured during that time. I do not have asthma but the polluted, smoky air was causing me to wheeze and it was getting worse as each day progressed. I installed these filters and was able to keep the apartment cool while cleaning the air so I could breathe easier.
Imagine what they'll do during normal circumstances!
Try the Advanced Allergen filter if you have allergies or pets 2008-02-11
My house uses forced air for heating. The disadvantage of such a system is that it distributes the dust in the air everywhere in the house. However, it is supposed to be possible to filter out the dust. Over the years, I have steadily increased the quality of the filter that I use for my forced air heating system. However, until now I have not noticed any obvious difference in my allergic reactions that seem to start with the heating season.
There are two cats in my house. I have read that cat dander, tiny flakes of cat skin shed by the cats, is five times smaller than household dust particles. It stays in the air much longer than ordinary dust before it settles. Because of its small size it requires a more efficient filter to get it out of the air.
Until this year, I have used of variety of filters with mixed results. However, this year, I started using the 3M Advanced Allergen Filters, the ones in the blue wrapper. These have a 3M Microparticle Performance Rating of 1500, but do not have a MERV rating listed. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and is a number from 1 to 12, produced from a test designed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). A higher MERV rating indicates better filter performance. 3M uses particle data between 0.3 and 1.0 micron size to calculate a Microparticle Performance Rating or MPR. The higher the MPR, the better the filter. However, higher rated filters cost more.
Here are some of the Filtrete filters offered by 3M:
Dust & Pollen Filter, Microparticle Performance Rating 600,
MERV rating of 8
Micro Allergen Filter, Microparticle Performance Rating 1000,
MERV rating of 11
Ultra Allergen Filter, Microparticle Performance Rating 1250,
MERV rating of 11
Advanced Allegen Filter, Microparticle Performance Rating 1500,
MERV rating not available
The difference made by the Advanced filter was immediately obvious. My running nose stopped running. I assume that the new Advanced filters must be taking out more of the dust in the air including the cat dander. I have not noticed a change in the speed of the circulated air. The additional cost of the Advanced filter is worth it if you have allergies or pets. However, if you are happy with a lower-rated and lower-cost filter, then you can continue using that one I suggest that you check Amazon and vendors on the web to get the best price.
