• Who is 4QualityAir.com?
• Can you send my order to a PO box?
• Can I order by phone?
• What payment methods are accepted by 4QualityAir.com?
• How soon can I expect my order to be shipped?
• How often should I replace my filter?
• What about allergies?
• What kind of filter should I buy?
• What is the sweet spot?
• What air filter varieties are available?
• What is a MERV rating?
• What is the difference between Nominal and Actual filter sizes?
• What size filter do I need?
• I know the model number of my furnace, can you tell me what size filter I need?
• What if I can't find the size I need?
• What if I'm dissatisfied?

Who is 4QualityAir.com?
4QualityAir.com is a division of Techniques (4techniques.com) established to market filters online to residential customers. Techniques has been a supplier of filtration products to the manufacturing industry for almost 25 years. We have applied our extensive expertise of meeting the demands of industrial customers to the residential market. The products we have selected to offer homeowners at 4QualityAir.com have been proven effective in the production of pharmaceuticals, food processing, windows, airplanes, and a wide range of high-end consumer products. They have also been used extensively in hospitals, universities, and office buildings. Our filters are the best products from the best manufacturers in the world. You and your family deserve nothing less.
 

Can you send my order to a PO box?
To ensure reliable delivery to all of our customers, we ship most orders via UPS or Spee-Dee Delivery Service. However, they are not authorized to deliver to Post Office boxes. If you require delivery to a PO Box, your order will be shipped via the US Postal Service.
 

Can I order by phone?
We gladly accept phone orders at (218) 463-3635. Our friendly customer service staff is available to take your order Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST (Central Standard Time). In addition to taking orders, our knowledgeable staff is also able to answer technical questions about products or order status.
 

What payment methods are accepted by 4QualityAir.com?
We can process your payment securely and safely using your Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express cards. You can also pay for your order using your PayPal account. For more details, please call our customer service line at (218) 463-3635.
 

How soon can I expect my order to be shipped?
We strive to ship every order on the day it is placed. However, certain products may require additional lead time for custom or very large orders. To confirm same-day shipping, please call our customer service line at (218) 463-3635. To view a map of UPS ground delivery times, please click here.
 

How often should I replace my filter?
Your filters should be replaced when they become loaded with crud, of course. However, it is usually difficult to determine exactly when an air filter needs to be changed solely by its visual appearance. The filter may appear to be completely full of icky looking gook but it may still be doing its job...maybe. If you are like most people, and you probably are, you lose track of the little details in life like changing your filters.
 
The environmental conditions that affect filter life differ in various parts of the country. The life of a filter can also vary with the change of seasons. The bottom line is, we just don't know how long they will last in your home. That's as straight forward an answer as we can give. The best idea is to replace your filters on a pre-determined and regularly scheduled basis vs. trying to squeeze an extra week or month out of it. Even "top-of-the-line" filters are inexpensive compared to the investment you have made in your heating & cooling system. So, don't be "a penny wide and a dollar foolish". Replace those filters and don't worry about running out...we have plenty.
 
Life is busy and filters tend to be an "out of sight - out of mind" kind of a thing. So, the best method for determining when to change your filter is simply to replace them every 3 months and mark on your calendar when it needs to be done so you don't lose track. It's helpful to write the date on the filter when you replaced it. If you aren't that organized, a simple schedule to keep in mind is New Years Day, Easter, Memorial Day and Labor Day. This schedule coincides pretty well with the seasonal demands for air filtration in most climates. It also gives you just one more fun and exciting activity to do to celebrate the holidays.
 

What about allergies?
Are you or any members of your household allergic to airborne contaminates such as dust, mold, mildew, pollen, pet dander, etc? If so, a filter that captures the dust and also incorporates an anti-microbial biocide is best. Why? Because air is humid (to one degree or another, depending on the time of the year and where you live). As air passes through the filter, much of that moisture is absorbed in the filter media. Take into consideration that inside of your furnace, where the filter goes, it is typically hot and dark. Mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria thrive in hot, dark and damp environments. So, a filter that incorporates an antimicrobial agent to keep those nasty things from breeding and growing in your filter can be very beneficial for allergy sufferers. Our DustLok and Kleen-Pleat filters include an anti-microbial agent called "Spor-Ax".
 
Spor-Ax is an antimicrobial agent available exclusively on Fiberbond brand air filter products. Spor-Ax antimicrobial is registered for use in adhesives and binders in air filters (the EPA registration number is 464-676-68603). Fiberbond adds Spor-Ax to the adhesives and binders that bind otherwise loose fibers together into filter media. This process thoroughly incorporates Spor-Ax into the individual fibers so it becomes an integral part of the media as it is manufactured. This enables the antimicrobial characteristics of the filter to remain in the media throughout the service-life of the filter. This is distinctly superior to treating the surface with other antimicrobial agents after the filter is made.
 
Spor-Ax has the very best safety profile. Spor-Ax has the effectiveness and safety that gives beverage manufacturers the confidence to use the same material in the sealants of their soft-drink cans. It is also used in personal care products, cosmetics and children's finger paint.
 

What kind of filter should I buy?
It depends. How's that for an answer? All the filters we sell are effective at removing dust from the air. Some, however, are more effective than others. Generally speaking, the higher the "MERV Rating", the more effective the filter is at removing dust particles. Read more about MERV Ratings in the "MERV Rating" FAQ section below.

• General Purpose
  Are you looking for a filter that does a much better job than the cheapo filters available at the local hardware store or home improvement center? If so, our MERV 8 DP MAX40 or our DustLok filters are a smart choice. We like the DustLok filters because we think they do the best job for the price for most customers. The DustLok filters provide a perimeter seal between the filter and the frame which requires all the dirty air to go through the filter instead of around it. Think about that for a second...makes sense doesn't it? What good is a filter if the dirty air goes around it instead of through it? The DustLok filters fit well regardless of the thickness of the filter you are currently using. Give them a try, we guarantee you will love them (you really will - we're serious).
   
• High Efficiency
  Are you a fussy housekeeper? Do you hate to do housekeeping? Are you too busy to do housekeeping? Do you live downwind from a grain elevator, a saw-mill or a crematorium? If so, you may want to consider our MERV 11 PowerGuard or our MERV 13 DP Green 13 filter. They are a bit more expensive, but if you want to keep the ashes of someone's old uncle off your dining room table, they're the ones to use.
   
• Allergies
  In addition to dust, are you or any members of your household also allergic to airborne contaminates such as mold, mildew, pollen, pet dander, etc? If so, a filter that captures the dust and also incorporates an anti-microbial biocide is best. Why? Because air is humid (to one degree or another, depending on the time of the year and where you live). As air passes through the filter, much of that moisture is absorbed in the filter media. Take into consideration that inside of your furnace, where the filter goes, it is typically hot and dark. Mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria thrive in hot, dark and damp environments. So, a filter that incorporates an antimicrobial agent to keep these nasty things from breeding and growing in your filter can be very beneficial for allergy sufferers. Our DustLok and Kleen-Pleat filters include an anti-microbial agent called "Spor-Ax". Read more about Spor-Ax and its benefits in the "Allergies" FAQ section above.
   
• Odors
  Our MERV 8 Fresh Air filter incorporates activated carbon to reduce or remove most odors. If you want to improve the way your home smells, this is the filter for you!
   
• Brand Specific Applications
  Some home air handling systems require a very specific size and style of filter. We carry the filters you may need if you have a Honeywell or Trion Air Bear system. Your choices may be a bit more limited but that will just make your decision that much easier. No thanks necessary.
   

What is the sweet spot?
All air filters battle the same three forces of nature...

• Resistance to Air Flow
• Dust Holding Capacity
• Dust Removal Efficiency

What air filter varieties are available?

• Fiberglass Pinch-Frame Filter
  These filters utilize 1950's technology and are designed to remove only the larger particles from the air, like cat hair, and they really don't do that very well anyway. They are typically the kind of filters you find on the shelf at the local hardware store or home improvement center. We don't sell these.
   
• Pleated Filters
  These filters utilize 1970's technology and achieve more filter surface area by folding the media into pleats like an accordion. These filters are very common and are available in a wide variety of MERV Rating efficiencies. Our MERV 7 Kleen-Pleat, MERV 8 DP MAX40 and Fresh Air, MERV 11 PowerGuard and MERV 13 DP Green 13 filters all fall into this category. Significant advancements have been made in the performance of pleated filters since they were first introduced. They can use a higher efficiency media without adversely affecting the resistance to air flow...to a point. Homeowners need to be aware that some of these filters (usually in the MERV 11 and higher) may create low airflow problems in their system.
   
• Graduated Density Filters
  These filters utilize the most modern technology. They achieve greater dust holding capacity by utilizing various densities of polyester media beginning with a coarse layer where the air and dust enters the filter and progressing to a fine layer where the air exits the filter. The construction of our DustLok filter falls into this category.
   
  The DustLok filter is a 3-ply (layer) configuration utilizing a coarse layer, a medium layer, and a fine layer which incorporates a tackifier on the downstream side. The tackifier captures the finest particulates and keeps them from "sifting" out of the filter as the fan cycles on and off or during filter replacement. The three layers cause the dust particles to "stack" within the filter according to the size of the particles.
   
  The smallest particle of dust you can see with your naked eye in direct sunlight is approximately 10 microns in size. A MERV 8 filter is 35% efficient at capturing particles that size. If a 10 micron dust particle is magnified to the size of a marble, you are probably wondering what happens with the particles the relative size of a golf-ball or baseball. Glad you asked...the baseball size particles are caught in the first layer, the golf-ball size particles are caught in the middle layer, and the marble size particles are caught in the final layer. The tackifier keeps you from "losing your marbles".
   
  The stacking effect allows air to continue to pass between the layers as the filter loads. This design is why a graduated density filter holds so much more dust before they reach their maximum air flow restriction point and require replacement (we really like these filters!). The media of a pleated filter is so thin that the baseballs, golf-balls and marbles are all crowded together on the surface of the same layer, which causes them to "plug up" faster.
   

What is a MERV rating?
Air filter MERV or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is an expression of the filtering efficiency of an air filter that has been evaluated using the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 52.2 Test Procedure. An air filter's performance is determined by comparing airborne particle counts upstream and downstream of the air filter (or other air cleaning device) under test.
 
The process involves injection of an aerosol challenge (containing particles in 12 different known size ranges) into an air stream that passes through the air filter under test. Airborne particle counts are then recorded for each particle size, both upstream and downstream of the air filter in order to determine how efficiently the air filter filters out the particles.
 
This test is repeated 6 times for each particle size, with the results stated as a filtration efficiency ratio of the downstream to upstream particle count. The lowest values over the six test cycles are then used to determine the Composite Minimum Efficiency Curve for that air filter.
 
Once these values are compiled, the 12 size ranges are distributed into 3 larger groups called E-1, E-2 and E-3. Averaging the Composite Minimum Efficiency for each group will calculate the average Particle Size Efficiency (PSE) of the air filter, and the resulting percentages are used to determine the MERV rating.
 
The MERV rating is a number from 1-16, stated along with air velocity at which the test was performed, to simplify the evaluation of an air filter using this test method. Higher MERV rating equates to higher air filtration efficiency.
 

What is the difference between Nominal and Actual filter sizes?
Generally speaking, filters are smaller in size than the size that is printed on them. Typically they are anywhere from ¼" to ¾" undersized. The dimensions printed on the filter is known as its Nominal size. The real physical size of the filter that you would find if you measured it with a tape measure is known as its Actual size.
 
The reason for this discrepancy is that when a particular system calls for a certain size, say 16 x 20 x 1, they are stating the size of the slot that the filter needs to go into. However, it would prove to be quite difficult to slide in a filter the exact size of the slot. The solution is quite simple, make the filter slightly smaller than the slot. Now the filter slides in with ease. The appropriate Actual size for this example is 15½ x 19½ x ¾.
 
Unfortunately, this discrepancy confuses things a bit when you are ordering filters. Most filters are marketed using their Nominal dimensions. For your convenience we also list the Actual dimensions for each of our filters. There are sometimes multiple Actual sizes for a Nominal size, making it hard to know which one you need. When this happens, we will tell you and automatically show you the Actual size that is most common for that Nominal size.
 

What size filter do I need?
There are four situations that you will likely find yourself in:

• You have an old filter and it has its size printed on it
  Easy enough, just use that printed size when you are searching for new filters.
   
• You have an old filter but it has no size markings on it
  Use a tape measure to measure its size. The size you get will be its Actual size. You will likely have to round up to the next whole number to get its Nominal size. If your search returns zero results, we will show you sizes that are close. Review those close matches and find the size that is close enough to what you have.
   
• You do not have an old filter
  Use a tape measure to measure the filter slot on your furnace. The size you get will be the Nominal size. Note that some furnaces take two filters at a time, so, for example, a slot measuring 16 x 40 is for two 16 x 20 filters.
   
• The filter you need is for an air cleaner that is between the furnace and the return duct
  In this case, you are not looking for a traditional furnace filter, you need a media type filter. These filters are much thicker than a typical furnace filter, usually between 3 inches and 6 inches. It is often possible to find the filters you need based on the air cleaners model number. If you cannot find a model number on your air cleaner, then you will have to resort to one of the above three methods.
   

I know the model number of my furnace, can you tell me what size filter I need?
Unfortunately, we are not able to look up what size filter you need based on the model number of your furnace. Some units do come with standard size slots for filters, but many HVAC contractors modify this slot to fit the return duct. Many units do not come with a place to put a filter at all and it is up to the HVAC contractor to custom build one. The same furnace could end up with a different sized filter slot on each installation. Because of this, we are unable to tell you what size you need. The only way to know what size you need is to get out a tape measure and measure. Sorry.
 
The only exception to this is if you have an air cleaner on your furnace. Such units require specific types of filters and usually can be looked up by model number. An air cleaner is typically installed between the furnace and the return duct and uses a large filter that is commonly 3 inches to 6 inches thick.
 

What if I can't find the size I need?
If you can't find the size you need when searching on our site, don't worry, we can custom build almost any size you need. Note, however, that all custom size filters are made to your exact dimensions and are non-refundable.
 

What if I'm dissatisfied?
Our policy is simple...If you aren't happy, we aren't happy. If you are dissatisfied for any reason, please email us at info@4QualityAir.com or call us at (218) 463-3635 and we will make it right.

• If you ordered the wrong filters
• If we shipped the wrong filters
• If the shipment is lost
• If one or more filters arrives damaged
• If the filters don't meet your expectations
• If you are unhappy for any other filter related reason