HVAC For Beginners

Media Air Cleaner Ratings

A Repairman Reviews The Brands

With our media air cleaner ratings, you can cut through all the sales hype and find the best value. These reviews are for units that are integrated into a home's air duct system and are typically called whole house units. Our simple rating system gives each brand a color code and a star rating. If the card is green, then, that is one of the top picks from HvacRepairGuy. If the card is yellow, then, that would be a budget pick from HvacRepairgGuy. If the card is red, then, the brand is not recommended by HvacRepairGuy. It truly is like you were taking a repairman shopping with you!

ALPINEPURE


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is from WATER FURNACE INTERNATIONAL. They only offer basic MERV 11 filters in 2 or 4 inch sizes. geostar-geo.com

APRILAIRE


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers four models and are only sold through dealers. Their website is not much help.

BRAEBURN


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These air cleaners only have a MERV 10 effectiveness which is not much of an improvement over the much cheaper standard pleated filters. braeburnonline.com

CI


★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Their PERMA-CELL box filters are replacement cartridges for other brands. They are available with either MERV 13 or 15 ratings but are only sold through dealers which does not make much sense. colind.com

CLEAN COMFORT


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is from DAIKIN GLOBAL. The AM11 media air cleaner only has a MERV 11 efficiency which is not much better than standard pleated filters. cleancomfort.com

COLEMAN


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is a part of UNITARY PRODUCTS GROUP which is a part of JOHNSON CONTROLS. They offer both MERV 11 and 13 units that are backed by a good guarantee. colemanac.com

DIRECT AIR


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers basic MERV 11 units in standard as well as right angle models. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated warranty policy. directairhvac.com

FIVE SEASONS


★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

These air cleaners are available in MERV 11 or 14 efficiencies. They offer the standard models as well as right angle units to fit in those tight spaces. fiveseasonsaircleaners.com

FLANDERS


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Their "high efficiency air cleaner" filters only have MERV 8 or 11 efficiencies. They have a self-sealing gasket to eliminate bypassing the filters but they only provide the replacement filters. flandersfilters.com

FRIGIDAIRE


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is from NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC. They only offer units with MERV 11 filter media which is not that much better than standard pleated air filters. The guarantee on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. frigidaire.net

GIBSON


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This is another brand from NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC. They only offer units with MERV 11 filter media which is not that much better than standard pleated air filters. The guarantee on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. gibsonhvac.com

HONEYWELL


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The TRUE CLEAN media air filters use three stage air filtration but only have a MERV 8 efficiency. They are not really worth the added expense over standard pleated air filters. yourhome.honeywell.com

KELVINATOR


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This is another brand from NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC. They only offer units with MERV 11 filter media which is not that much better than standard pleated air filters. The guarantee on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. kelvinatorhvac.com

LENNOX


★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The PUREAIR units combine MERV 16 carbon media filters with UV lights and a good warranty. The CARBON CLEAN 16 units are the same but do not have the UV light. The HC11 media air cleaners are not recommended as they are not much of a step up from traditional pleated air filters. lennox.com

LUXAIRE


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is a part of UNITARY PRODUCTS GROUP which is a part of JOHNSON CONTROLS. They offer filters with MERV 11 or 13 efficiencies and they are backed by a good warranty. luxaire.com

MAXXAIR


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is from VENTAMATIC LTD. and offers the three most common sizes of cabinets for forced air heating and cooling systems. The cabinets are backed by a lifetime warranty but they only come with a MERV 8 filter which is not very good when compared to other brands. bvc.com

MAYTAG


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This is another brand from NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC. They only offer units with MERV 11 filter media which is not that much better than standard pleated air filters. The guarantee on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. maytaghvac.com

NUTONE


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This is another brand from NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC. They only offer units with MERV 11 filter media which is not that much better than standard pleated air filters. The guarantee on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. nutonehvac.com

PHILCO


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This is another brand from NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC. They only offer units with MERV 11 filter media which is not that much better than standard pleated air filters. The guarantee on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. philcohvac.com

RHEEM


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The EXACT FIT media air cleaners are designed for a really tight fit to prevent air from bypassing the filter. They only have a MERV 8 efficiency which is not any better than a standard pleated filter and so is not really worth the added expense. rheem.com

RUUD


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This is another brand from RHEEM MANUFACTURING. The EXACT FIT media air cleaners are designed for a really tight fit to prevent air from bypassing the filter. They only have a MERV 8 efficiency which is not any better than a standard pleated filter and so is not really worth the added expense. ruud.com

SKUTTLE


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These air cleaners are available in four sizes and have a six month dial to remind you to change the filter media. They only offer media with either MERV 8 or 11 efficiencies and so are not really worth the expense. skuttle.com

TAPPAN


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This is another brand from NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC. They only offer units with MERV 11 filter media which is not that much better than standard pleated air filters. The guarantee on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. tappan.net

TOTALINE


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers retrofit air cleaners in standard as well as oversized and right angle models. They offer a lifetime warranty on the cabinet but they only have MERV 11 efficiencies. totaline.com

TRANE


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The PERFECT FIT media air cleaners are designed to seal and prevent air from bypassing the units. The brand is a part of INGERSOLL RAND and offers a good guarantee on the cabinet but the media only has a MERV 8 efficiency. trane.com

TRION


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The AIR BEAR cleaners are made by AIR SYSTEM COMPONENTS INC which is a subsidiary of JOHNSON CONTROLS. The cabinets are backed by a lifetime warranty but the filter media only has a MERV 8 efficiency and so is not worth the money. trioniaq.com

ULTRAVATION


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The PROGRESSIVE MEDIA filters are available in MERV 11 or 13 efficiencies and the cabinet is backed by a good guarantee. ultravation.com

WESTINGHOUSE


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This is another brand from NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC. They only offer units with MERV 11 filter media which is not that much better than standard pleated air filters. The guarantee on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. westinghousehvac.com

WHITE RODGERS


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆;

This brand is a part of EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES and offers MERV 8 or 11 filters. Their website is not much help. emersonclimate.com

YORK


★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These media air cleaners have efficiencies up to MERV 13 and are backed by a good warranty. The brand is a part of JOHNSON CONTROLS. york.com