FAQ

Shipping Policy:

• We offer $1.99 flat rate FedEx Ground or UPS shipping within the contiguous 48 States on all orders. Carrier choice will be determined based on products ordered and delivery location.
• Standard size air filters ship within 3 business days.
• Custom and non-standard sizes leave within 5 business days.
• Delivery time after shipment ranges between 1-8 business days in the contiguous United States based on location and carrier choice. Outside the contiguous United States is controlled by the carrier and time in transit varies.
• Any changes to delivery addresses after packages have shipped will be charged a FedEx $10 rerouting fee.

Return Policy:

To be eligible for credit on returned goods, the customer must comply with the following requirements:

1. All materials to be returned must be in unused, resealable condition. Custom, obsolete and discontinued merchandise may not be returned.
2. Written authorization to return any materials must be obtained through the Customer Service Department. This includes contacting us to receive a Return Authorization Number. Unauthorized returns will be automatically refused.
3. Returned goods must be received in boxes that are clearly marked with your valid RMA number or they will be refused.
4. Goods are eligible to return for a period of 30 days from date of purchase.
5. There will be a 25% charge to cover the cost of inspection, repackaging, handling and restocking fees.
6. After we receive the product and deduct the 25% charge, we will refund your method of purchase.

Confidentiality Policy:

At Factory Direct Filters, as our customers we would like to help you understand what information is gathered and what it is used for.

When you choose to order our products online or request a quote for a custom size filter, you will need to provide the following information:

Quote-

• Name: first and last
• E-mail address
• Contact number(s)

Ordering Online-

• Name: first and last
• E-mail address
• Contact number(s)
• Shipping address/billing address
• Credit card account information

The information that is given to Factory Direct Filters will be solely used to fulfilling your order. We will not sell or distribute any personal information to anyone. Phone numbers are requested in case a sales representative would need to contact you to schedule a delivery time. E-mail addresses will only be used to acknowledge receipt of your order and send you newsletters if you requested. Reminders will also be sent when it is time to change your air filter or reorder. You always have the option of opting-out of this type of correspondence. Credit card numbers are only stored when you choose a recurring billing option, and if that is the case, they are stored at our payment processor's secure server.

At Factory Direct Filters, we give our customers the satisfaction of knowing that their identity is safe and secure on our website. We want you to shop here with confidence.

Methods of Payment:

We accept all major credit cards which are processed through Authorize.net, our secure payment processor. We also accept payments through Paypal.

Credit cards will be approved and charged at time of purchase.

Essentially your air conditioner filter is a collector of dust, dirt, grime and other nasty microscopic things that float around your home. When your heating or cooling system is turned on, it collects these particles to protect your system and clean your home's air. Like the lint trap in your dryer, it accumulates a thick layer of these air borne particles as it circulates air throughout your home.

Once it has trapped a certain amount, it becomes full and ineffective and gradually restricts the air flow moving through your system. This requires your system to work harder to keep you cool or warm, wasting energy and increasing your monthly bill. As air filters get dirtier, they also become less effective at capturing the airborne germs and pollutants that can irritate your family’s breathing. Stuffy noses, sneezing, allergies and even asthma are triggered. Your family inhales what your filter can’t handle any longer.

An old and forgotten filter can eventually accumulate so much dirt and grime that it can totally choke off the air flow to the system causing a myriad of problems. In the worst case, the filter will be sucked into the blower motor and cause thousands of dollars in damage to your system.

Location:

Modern central heating and air conditioning systems generally have the filter located as close to the blower unit as possible, in the cold air return duct. Remove the grill or box cover holding your filter in place.

Remove the dirty filter:

Dispose of the dirty filter in a bag to contain the dirt.

Install:

Install the new or cleaned and dried air filter with the air flow arrow pointing toward the blower. Record the date and wash or change the filter within the recommended period. If you experience higher dust levels in your home due to changes in outside air, construction or dry weather, you may need to change or wash your filter more frequently than the recommended period. For questions or concerns about the location or installation of the filter contact the HVAC manufacturer or a reputable HVAC contractor.

The life of your filter depends on your environment and the type of filter you have installed. To put it simply, there really is no concrete answer to this question. Certain things such as:

• the number of people who live in your home
• if there are pets in the house
• if there is a smoker in the house
• if you leave the windows open
• if you have pollen bearing trees or plants in the neighborhood
• if you live in an area with a lot of dampness
• if you live in an area that is dry or arid
• plus many others

If several of these factors sound familiar, you’ll likely experience a quicker loading of particles on your filters and will consequently have to change it more often. A good rule of thumb is to check every month. If you can hold the filter up to a light and not see through it, it is time to change your filter.

At an absolute minimum, you should change your filter every three months. A clean air filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system, which could lead to expensive maintenance and utility bills.

There is more than one problem that can arise from not regularly changing your air filter. These problems can be broken down into three major categories: mechanical, energy consumption and health.

Energy Consumption:

It’s simple really, the harder your HVAC system works, the more energy it will consume. The more energy it consumes, the higher your energy bills. A basic filter maintenance program like the Clean Air Club can save you hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars a year.

Mechanical:

A dirty air filter of any type may result in extensive damage to the fan blower motor or compressor in your air handler. Dirt and grime accumulate on crucial moving parts causing them to fail much quicker than expected. This can be very costly and sometimes leads to a total system replacement. At the very least, your system life expectancy will be reduced significantly.

Health:

Most importantly, not regularly changing your air filter can cause potential health problems for your family. Consider these facts from the EPA:

• Each person inhales over 3,500 gallons of air each day. Children inhale more particles for their size than adolescents or adults
• Polluted air causes 94% of all respiratory problems
• An estimated 10-15% of the entire population may be allergic to cat or dog dander
• More than 31 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma, about 1/3 are children under 18
• About 40,000 dust mites, a common household allergen, can live in one ounce of dust
• A person sheds up to 700,000 skin flakes per day

Your air conditioner filter is the primary defense to reduce and hold these health issues at bay. A quality home air filter changed on a regular schedule is a small investment for your family’s health.

Fiberglass filters last up to 30 days. Pleated filters can last up to 90 days. Washable filters should be washed every 30 days and last up to 5 years. Mini-pleated filters should be vacuumed every 60 days and will last up to one year. There is no "standard expectancy" for an air filter. It all depends on each home's characteristics, how many people live there, if there are pets, if there are smokers, how much air pollution and pollen is in your town, etc... The best way to make sure you are changing your air filter on time is to be proactive and regularly check it. Mark it on your calendar, schedule it in your phone, or put a note on the refrigerator.

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV for short, is a filter rating system devised by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to standardize and simplify filter efficiency ratings for the public. The higher the MERV rating, the higher the efficiency of the air filter. Simply stated, a MERV 12 filter will remove smaller particles from the air than a MERV 8 filter.

For the consumer this means that you now have the ability to effectively compare one filterd to another. In general, any MERV 8 or 11 filter will perform about the same as any other MERV 8 or 11 filter, respectively. The MERV rating only applies to efficiency. Additions such as carbon, Lysol anti-bacterial treatment and Arm & Hammer baking soda are value-added benefits and are not an expression of the MERV rating system.

If allergies or asthma are your concern, we suggest you choose a MERV 8 filter or higher.

A MERV rating of 13 means the filter is 89-90% minimum efficient at capturing measured particles such as bacteria, tobacco smoke, and particles that make you sneeze.

A MERV rating of 11 means the filter is 80-85% minimum efficient at capturing measured particles such as humidifier dust, lead dust, milled flour, auto emissions and other fumes.

A MERV rating of 8 means the filter is 60% minimum efficient at capturing measured particles such as mold spores, hair spray, fabric protector, dusting aids, cement dust and pet dander.

Typical fiberglass throw-away filters are rated at a MERV 4 and below with a 6% minimum efficiency at capturing the measured particles like pollen, sanding dust and larger dust particles.

See the chart below for more detailed information about each MERV rating and the things those filters will trap. The table also shows the efficiency of trapping different sized particles.