Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q: Why can’t I choose to receive filters less often than quarterly (every 3 months)?
   A: This is the most common question and there are numerous reasons:
• The more efficient the filter, the more dirt and debris it removes from the air. After three months, the filter if full and unable to retain anymore. At that point, the filter restricts air flow creating backpressure causing the blower to work harder and use more energy. Any money you would save by changing the filter less often is consumed in energy usage and wear-and-tear on the blower motor.
• The manufacturer recommends changing the filter no less than every three months.
• Numerous third parties (see What Industry Experts Say) recommend changing air filters at least quarterly, and more often during the heavy-use season (Winter and Summer) of the HVAC system.
• You will want to change your filter every three months when you see what it looks like. People are astounded to see how dirty a three-month old filter looks when compared to a new filter. In spite of keeping your house clean, and the doors and windows mostly closed, you will be amazed at what your filter captures from the after only three months. We promise!
2. Q: Why do you bill for the entire year at one time?
   A: In order for us to keep our prices low, we order in large quantities to receive volume pricing. Since you only need one filter at a time, we allow you to receive the pricing benefits of volume buying without keeping a year’s worth of filters in your garage. However, you may cancel at anytime and receive a full refund for any filters not yet delivered. Please see our Policies page for more information on our guarantee and cancellation policy.
3. Q: What if I just want to buy a filter one-time to try?
   A: No problem. The order form will allow you to do this. However, please note that our cancellation policy is such that if you cancel a yearly subscription within the first 90 days, you are entitled to 100% refund of all monies paid so there’s no risk to sign up for one of our scheduled delivery packages.
4. Q: Why do you offer a 100% refund within the first 90 days? Are you nuts?
   A: Maybe, but the real reason is that we feel very strongly about our product and our service. The owners’ of the company tested several filters in their own homes before we decided to offer DuPont™. Besides being amazed by what the filter looked like after 90 days, we noticed our houses were less dusty, allergy symptoms were improved and odors from cooking quickly disappeared when the HVAC system was running. If these things are important to you, we think you will continue as a happy customer. Plus, our prices including delivery and tax are very comparable to the big-box stores, and you don’t ever need to remember your size or when you last changed your filter. That’s our job!
5. Q: Why is Microban® product protection so important on air filters?
   A: Today's high performance filters are capable of trapping micro particles, including some as small as bacteria and fungi, and are designed to last up to 90 days. Unlike some inert particles, which may be trapped in your furnace/air conditioner filter, bacteria and fungi are living organisms. Under certain conditions these microorganisms can multiply on unprotected surfaces, potentially resulting in odors and adversely affecting the filter media. The presence of Microban® product protection in the filter materials is not intended to affect airborne micro organisms, but can help reduce the uncontrolled growth of odor causing microbes on the surface of the filter material itself, where you need it the most.
6. Q: Other brands of air filters without Microban® claim to not promote the growth of bacteria and mold on their filters. Can this be true?
   A: This is only partially true. Many high performance filters today are made from synthetic fibers. Filters that are made from synthetic fibers are generally made from materials that bacteria and other microorganisms cannot process as a food. However, filters with synthetic media can still have bacteria and other microbes growing on the media. That’s because any bacteria or microbes trapped on a filter will be able to feed off of other matter that is also trapped on the filter – things like pet dander, and pollen for example.
7. Q: Why are DuPont™ Air Filters superior to other air filters?
   A: Rigid frame construction, state-of-the-art filter media, Oguard™ Odor Reduction Technology and Microban® antimicrobial product protection provide you with an air filter for your home’s heating and or cooling system that is unequaled by any other 1” residential air filter on the market today. It is the “science inside” that makes our filters so special.
8. Q: What are MERV ratings?
   A: MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. The rating is derived from a test method developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Use the MERV rating as a comparison tool for evaluating the effectiveness of air filters. The higher the MERV rating the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles.
   
   MERV ratings range from 1-16 and measurements are in microns. A rating of 12 indicates that a filter is 80% – 90% effective at removing micros between 1 and 3 in size. A MERV rating of 11 indicates that a filter is 60%-70% at removing the same microns. At first glance you might say, “just give me a MERV 16 to go, please,” since that is the most efficient filter. However, the most efficient 1” residential air filter made is currently a MERV 12 that few manufacturers make and of those who do, sizes are very limited. A filter with a rating between 13-16 is usually part of a separate complete filtration system because residential air conditioning and heating systems are not designed to pull air through a filter with a rating higher than 12.