When shopping for filters for your air cleaner, you may notice there are many options available in the HVAC market, all selling at different price points. The reason for this price disparity, is because there are many knock-off or after-market filters being sold, which means they were made by a third party (not the original manufacturer of the system) and are designed to fit as many systems as possible.
The alternative to knock-off/aftermarket is OEM. OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer". This means OEM filters are the official, genuine filters produced directly for your air cleaner. To complete your understanding of OEM vs aftermarket consider this example:
You are looking to buy a suit or a dress. You go to many stores and you notice that everything you try on fits you, but not perfectly (aftermarket). You go to a tailor and they measure the exact dimensions of you body and design a dress/suit that perfectly fits you (OEM).
When possible, we urge homeowners to purchase genuine OEM filters from authorized manufacturer distributors (like us!). This is because OEM filters are:
- Higher quality – OEM filters are not assembled with toxic glues or chemicals
- More effective – OEM filters contain more pleats (particle capturing fabric) and are designed for your system, meaning no gaps where unfiltered air passes
- Safer – OEM filters are made the with hydrophobic materials that resist mold
Although OEM filters are initially more expensive, OEM will save you money in the long run, as they help you avoid expensive repair costs and high utility bills.
At Discounted Furnace Filters, we sell OEM (original equipment manufacturer) furnace filters. As an authorized manufacturer distributor, you will never get an inferior knock off replacement filter from us. After all, nothing is more important to us than protecting and improving the air quality of you home, the right way.