FAQs

For maximum effectiveness, we recommend you change your filter once every 1-3 months for best results.. However, the life of a filter can depend on the individual conditions in your home. You may need to change your filter more often if your home has:

• · Construction work in progress
• · Furniture or drywall sanding in progress
• · Pets
• · Smokers
• · A fan running continuously

In these cases, you may want to change the filter more frequently.

Surprisingly, even expensive washable/reusable filters can’t capture microparticles as well as electrostatic 3M Filtrete™ Air Filters can. The real difference is the electrostatic charge found in most Filtrete Filters.

3M Filtrete™ Air Filters that are electrostatically charged have both positive and negative charges on the fibers. The charge helps pull more particles from the air passing through the filter than a filter without a charge.

The 3M Filtrete™ Odor Reduction filter contains activated carbon and starts working in minutes to reduce odors throughout your home. In the case of tobacco and wood smoke, removing smoke particles can help reduce the odor, and high efficiency 3M Filtrete™ Air Filters readily capture these particle types.

3M Filtrete™ Air Filters are engineered and tested to last three months under a wide range of typical operating conditions. Some of the reasons you may need to change your filter more often include: construction work in progress, furniture or drywall sanding in progress, pets, smokers, or a fan running continuously. If you use any filter for longer than the recommended lifetime, it may begin to restrict airflow or cause your heating/cooling system to malfunction. When in doubt, change the filter more frequently.

Atmospheric dust consists of a wide variety of particulates ranging in size from 0.001 micron to a relatively large 100 microns. Because of the weight of the large particles, they will settle on your furniture long before they could reach your filter. The filter will capture some dust, but it will not eliminate the need for dusting.