Filtrete 20x30x1 Basic Filter FPL22-2PK-24 Pack of 24

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I've always wanted a decent filter that allowed for superior air flow after pleated filters pushed the old fiberglass filters out of the market. These excellent, inexpensive, free-flowing filters are perfect. Several reviews here are complaining about the airflow arrow being backwards. Just follow the installation instructions, don't second guess the engineers, and you'll be fine. I've been using these for years in my own home (two air handlers, four filters) and two rental units (one air handler each). Never had a problem. They work well, they're light but durable. And they definitely improve heating/cooling efficiency over the restrictive filters most people use now. Worth noting that studies done on HVAC air filtration show that no matter what kind of filter you use, you don't get most of the dust in your house anyway because it's resting on surfaces and embedded in carpets and pillows. So no matter how high a MERV rating you use, you end up breathing all the dust as you move around the house stirring it up before it ever gets near your filter.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Air Flow direction has been changed (redesigned maybe) with the a stronger stretched wires first and the pleated material second. In addition, the paper each is reversed. I installed them (I have two AC systems) and could see they worked just fine. My question is was this redesigned to improve performance or was this a mistake in the manufacturing process? Can you explain this new design?

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Installed this filter two weeks ago and have seen a definite improvement over the better rated ones, seems like my a/c has shorter run cycles and my house is as cool as before. I will use this level of filter from now on. Also the last two weeks we have had record setting temperatures almost each day.

I have been buying these filters for 10 years and have loved the quality, what they catch and the cost for a 3 pack. I always get two packs to have 3 changes. I change them between 2 to 3 months apart regularly. However; since the change that was made in their actual "1" inch width NOT so satisfied with the 3 Pack anymore. They are so thin they whistle ALL the time and it is so annoying when trying to sleep. I haven't given up on Filtrete yet, I returned the unopen packs I had and purchased a 2 pack 1085 Micro Allergen Extra with a true "1" inch edge/rim. I sure hope they are quiet like the other filters used to be when they were thicker. Unfortunately they are twice as expensive. Love to see you change the thickness back and even you had to raise the cost just a little.

I was hoping that I'd just bought a bad package of these but after reading reviews of other long time users, it looks like the quality has really dropped on these. I've been using this product for about 10 years and have been very happy with them. This last package contained filters that are too small to fit up in my ceiling intake. They drop down onto the grill and the air can be pulled up around the filter instead of going through it. If this is what I find in the store again, I'll be shopping for a different filter.

I bought two of these about Lamont ago so I would have them on hand and ready to go. Just got them out and noticed the air flow arrow. Others have commented it looks like it's going the wrong way. The other problem is because the cardboard frame is beveled or slanting out it does not go in the furnace easily and i think it would kink if forced. I am not going to take the chance of installing these and have one sucked into my fan. Money wasted and I won't buy again. I hope no one lost their job because of the air flow. Maybe they are working from home and are making them on the kitchen table. Seriously 3M should change back.

I used to really like the Filtrete basic filters. The ones that had a full box (not tapered) cardboard frame, with the metal wiring in a criss-cross pattern across the back. They were sturdy and held together well over 3 months of use. With the full box frame, they also fit tightly in my vent grills, which was especially important for my upstairs ones in the ceiling. They new design has a tapered frame and got rid of the wire mesh support and now uses a flimsy plastic support that is on the front-facing side -- NOT on the back facing the furnace, where the support should be in order to keep pieces of filter material from flowing into the furnace. Another problem with the new design is the plastic support material creates a super annoying whistling sound in some of my air intake vents. If 3M does not go back to the former design and quality, I will be finding a new brand of filter to use in my home and all of my rental properties.

I bought these filters at Lowes looking at them and seeing the air flow arrows they look backwards because the air filter supports are facing intake, never seen that before.This AM WOKE TO A whistling sound coming from intake, not happy. I AM taking them back.

Bought the same ones I have been for years, or so I thought. Went to install them only to find they shrunk them another 1/8" all the way around. The last ones the perimeter was very sturdy, these are junk. Had bend retaining tabs so they would stay in frame. The smaller size now allows more air the chance to bypass the filter. Hum didn't see the price of the new smaller package drop. Will have to find another brand now. Father has been a 3M stockholder since 1965, he was very disappointed to hear the change in quality.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Conventional reinforcements are found on the outgoing side of the filter where any element failures are likely to be held in place by the reinforcement. Filtrete basic has "plastic" reinforcement on the incoming side of the filter element. This may have worked okay in the lab but I am concerned my furnace will pull the paper element right out of the cardboard frame. If I had noticed this in the store I would have bought something else. Although the basic filter is low-cost I still expected it to work without failure for one month. Because the filter has a 3M label on it, I'll give it a trial run in my furnace. I am not comfortable with this product. Even if it works, the look and feel of this filter is testing the limits of flimsy.