Does anyone use reusable furnace filters?

**frugal.lass** · 10-31-2011, 01:32 PM

I am due to replace my furnace filter and have been thinking about switching to a reusable furnace filter instead of continuing to buy disposable filters. I don't know anyone who uses a reusable filter and most people look at me funny for even considering it (I'd like to try and reduce the number of disposable items I use in my home).

I share my home with my 2 cats, my roommate and his dog. There are no allergy concerns to consider but I don't want to buy a $40 reusable filter if its not going to work well or will damage my furnace.

Thanks in advance!!

**zakity** · 10-31-2011, 02:02 PM

We bought reuseables when we bought the house. We bought two (one to be in the furnace, one to be out being washed and dried). They were $20 each back in 1999. We have never had to buy another filter.

The filters are really easy to clean. We just hose them off with the shower sprayer.

**shp1055** · 10-31-2011, 02:27 PM

We had one in the mobile home we used to live in and it was wonderful. Did the job and we never bought any more disposables in the following 9 years we lived in it.

**nodmicks** · 10-31-2011, 02:36 PM

We have a reusable. That is what came with the furnace when it was replaced.

**brennasmom** · 10-31-2011, 02:51 PM

We have reusable here... it's nice to not have to buy replacement filters and they are pretty easy to clean.

**Ponderer** · 10-31-2011, 06:35 PM

My parents had a reusable filter. We also made sure to keep one of their disposable style filters too so that we could have something in the furnace while the other was drying.

**zakity** · 10-31-2011, 07:27 PM

That is why we bought two.

One thing we did was figure up how much the disposables ones were and times that by how many months in a year that we use the furnace to get the cost for a year.

I think we used 5 months at a dollar per filter (that is what the cheap ones were back then). So, it took four years to pay off one filter (since we bought them for $20 a filter). After living here for eight years, we have paid for the filters. We have been using the filters for 12 years. So, we have enjoyed four years of free furnace filters. And, we didn't have to shop for them, remember to shop for them, or store extras (other than the clean one).

**frugal.lass** · 11-01-2011, 10:13 PM

Thanks to everyone who responded!!

I was at my local hardware store today (which doesn't carry the reusable filters) and ended up just buying a disposable filter 2-pack instead of driving an hour to get to and from the store which does carry the reusable filters. I'll keep my eyes open for a sale and get a reusable one before the filter needs to be changed again.