Cheaper filters allow particulate buildup on evaporator coils
The moniker of ‘you get what you pay for’ is true for many things in life.
I have friends that drive beater-cars for years at a time and end up spending hundreds of dollars in repairs every month just to keep these old cars on the road.
Getting a car loan is a privilege that not everyone can afford, let alone obtain if one has bad credit. But if you can get a better car and you’re already paying the same amount to keep an old car alive, it makes sense to go after a better vehicle that will last for years to come. Granted, there are cases of good electronics at cheaper prices, but the rule is roughly the same. You buy a cheap cell phone and you can expect to see less use on the device before it breaks completely compared to a better cell phone. Some people buy the cheapest air filters available for their air conditioners. They don’t think that the advanced filters that cost twice as much or more are worth the cost. I’ve had some friends tell me that their cheap filters accomplish the same goal as the expensive ones. They couldn’t be any farther from the truth. So much airborne particulate is caught in a good air filter, things from dust and pollen to mold spores and soot from burning candles. Not only does a better filter prevent these contaminants from staying airborne and reaching your lungs, but they also prevent those contaminants from reaching the evaporator coil inside your air handler. You often find lots of gunk and buildup on evaporator coils inside air handlers where the owners were using cheap and flimsy air filters. This buildup on the evaporator coil shortens its lifetime, leading to costly repairs in less time than usual.