AIRx HEALTH 18x20x1 MERV 13 Pleated Air Filter - Made in the USA - Box of 6

AIRx was a great brand that sold quality filters for a good price. A great alternative to the established brands that you know are overcharging. Unfortunately that seems to have changed. I imagine they got successful and decided they could join in on gouging people.Bought these filters for years when they were $35 for a box of 6. I understand things get more expensive over time, and I'd pay $50-$60 for a box now, but jumping to $90 for 6 in a couple of years is ludicrous and these filters just aren't worth it.

These filters are great quality. The MERV 13 filtration has been a huge improvement over the previous filters I've used.The attached picture shows how much dust and contaminants were pulled out of the air from May 2023 through mid November 2023.I would definitely recommend these high quality filters to anyone looking to improve the air quality in their home.

Very nice filter work well. Quick to Ship and Nicely Packaged.

Ok, but not convinced these are merv13.I'm not an aero engineer, but these just seem flimsier than the more expensive merv13's bought at the local big box store. I've added a photo of the two kinds, the dirty one is the more expensive filter. Things I do notice are: less pleats in these cheaper filters (this means less surface area) and wire grid only on one side (probably doesn't matter). I can't say that these are lower performance, but they seem like it.

To be fair, I am not a filter expert or molecular engineer. And, the 3M 1500-rated Filtrete filter I am comparing the AirX filter to is so old, it doesn't have a MERV rating on it. However, I have done my research, and this Filtrete filter would now be classified as MERV 12, whereas the AirX brand is supposed to be MERV 13.I do not know if there have been any changes to the type of fabric used to filter out contaminants, but you can plainly see on the Filtrete filter, the folds are much closer together. This means there is much more area filtering out contaminants, and should mean the filter would last longer. Filtrete states 3 months. Unless I have forgotten something, AirX does not state any specific time frame their filters will last. Perhaps these AirX filters are supposed to be 1-month MERV 13 filters?Also, the Filtrete filter has the metal mesh on both the back and front to allow for a sturdier product. On the AirX filter, the metal mesh is just on one side. At 4x and 5x the price, 3M had better have some "perks."I am not sure I am going to get three months use out of these filters, but they fit well, and are definitely better than those cheap green MERV 0 filters. I can't afford expensive filters, so I am going to count my blessings and give these four stars. Not a bad price at all for 6 filters with free shipping, even if they aren't MERV 13 and/or need to be changed before three months.