OEM Air Filter vs. Knockoffs: What’s a Better Choice?

Changing the filters in your air filtration or heating and cooling systems is one of the largest components to keeping a safe and clean home or office environment. Especially in today’s world, breathing clean air shouldn’t be taken lightly. Changing your air filters on schedule is particularly significant, but 1 out of every 5 people believe it’s not important to do. 

The damage that can be caused by a lack of regular filter replacement reaches beyond just dirty air, and heavily into your wallet. Your HVAC system can suffer and require costly repairs if it’s frequently trying to operate with dirty air filters, and many people experience health problems due to breathing impure air in their homes or workplace.

It’s not only imperative to replace your filters at the right times and frequencies, but with the right type: OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) filters are a far better option than “knockoff” brands.

The Differences Between OEM and Aftermarket Air Filters

Unfortunately, there are a lot of “knockoff” brand air filters available to homeowners or business owners that claim to be the right match for your respective heating or cooling system and are advertised for a lower price than OEM filters. Why are these typically priced lower? The answer is simple: The quality and reliability of these filters are nowhere close to the ones that come from the manufacturer of the HVAC system altogether. 

Here are a few ways these two categories of filters set themselves apart:

Isn’t “High-Efficiency” Always Best?

Not necessarily. Some knockoff filters that are labeled as extremely high-efficiency can actually be dangerous to the health of your heating or cooling system. These can create an airflow restriction, leading to hidden damage to your system and premature repair or replacement costs. Again, the best option out there for your replacement filters is the one that comes directly from the manufacturer, as it’s designed to help the overall system perform exactly how it’s promised.

In a World of Knockoffs, HEPA Filter Sales Emerged

The growing problem of unqualified replacement filters on the market is actually one of the main reasons HEPA Filter Sales got started in 2006. After hearing horror story upon horror story regarding knockoff filters, we set out to be a trusted supplier of OEM filters for homeowners and business owners. Even though you might find a filter elsewhere that may save you a few dollars initially, the lack of quality and performance will lead to much higher costs in the long run. Our philosophy is that it’s simply not worth the gamble!