Waterfurnace Filters

[dpwct]

I just installed 2 new waterfurnace Envision systems

NS036 Horizontal Filter 20x37x2
NSZ022 - split filter - 20x24x1

Interested to know if anyone has found a good source for reasonably priced filters (especially for the odd size 20x37x2). And any advice on filter types and Merv ratings would be appreciated too.

[teetech]

NS036 Horizontal Filter 20x37x2

You can go to waterfurnace or try online filter sources.

NSZ022 - split filter - 20x24x1

Try Lowes or above

You might want to measure actual filter size when you look and sometimes 2 filters can be taped together to make one.

[geome]

I am not an expert (IANAE just to confuse everyone in my future posts!) Not sure what you consider to be a reasonably priced filter. To us, reasonable meant a good quality permanent washable electrostatic filter with a lifetime warranty for about $80 to $100 each.

I believe they work as follows: The newer electrostatic filters are not powered (unlike the 40+ year old system in my father's house). Air flow creates friction as it passes through the filter media and this creates a static charge that attracts particles.

We installed our 2 Envision units in April and purchased 2 filters from this company (this link also shows the model of filter that we purchased):
http://www.theairfilterstore.com/dust-fighter-95

I am not affiliated with them in any way (just a happy customer). The manufacturer of the filter suggested that we buy from this outfit because they have good pricing and the fact that no one in our area carried them. One filter that we purchased was a standard size, and the other was a custom size. If you want to buy it I suggest calling them instead of placing an online order so you can give them the EXACT dimensions you want for a non-standard size filter since they didn't charge me extra for exact sizing, and they were also able to save us a little on shipping by combining the 2 filters in one shipment (the web site was not able to do this automatically).

This filter is more than sufficient for us since we have no allergies and are non-smokers, (we do have a long-haired dog though.)

I believe the resistance for this filter was no higher than the WF electrostatic filter and at the same time it is more efficient (removes more particles) than the WF electrostatic filter. The only catch is that you need to regularly clean the filter to keep it effective and to keep dirt from becoming embedded in the filter making it difficult to clean.

This sounds like marketing hype, but I just confirmed with my wife - dust in our house is drastically reduced since installing electrostatic filters. Most noticeable in the area of the tube tv and black stereo rack and components. For reference, in our old HVAC equipment we used the blue spun washable filter that maybe trapped 5% of particles. Guess anything would have been an improvement over that From what I now understand, good filters make for cleaner coils and thus better efficiency (compared to dirty coils.)

Also, 1" thick electrostatic filters seem to be good. From what I have been told, 2" thick electrostatic filters may not be any better than 1" electrostatic filters since they will surface load with dirt before any benefit of the 2" filter will be reached.

[Mark Custis]

They are an issue with the chassis manufacturer. Did you ever notice that ALL geo units look like they are the same size?

That is because they all are the same size.

Why is that?

They are mostly all made by the same guys, and sold as a chassis to everyone else. The everyone else's add blowers and controls with sensors, and panels painted their colors, but they are all the same.

I try to break the filtration in the installs we do into sections that allow "NORMAL" sized filters.

The guys that make the chassis know what size the coils need to be so they make them that size, so they get the "Energy Star" stuff they need.

As a whole system supplier/designer/installation contractor I try to make it easy for my customer and provide easy to get sizes. Water Furnace sells Dynamic Air Cleaners re branded a lot so try Dynamic, directly.

I hate odd sized filtration as the filters never get changed, just discarded when they get full of filtrate. Joe homeowner has no clue and lets the coil act as a filter for awhile.

[geome]

I forgot to mention that our WF all-in-one unit came with an adapter for a 1" thick filter. Without the adapter, 2" filters are used.

[engineer]

There are a couple internet sellers of the big 2" filters needed in WF package units. I favor the MERV 11 Accumulaire brand.

One of the sellers is 'Filtersnow' if memory serves