3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen Filter

Furnace filter

• Treats whole house
• Good for capturing dust and pet dander
• Inexpensive

• Won't help much with smoke or odors
• Can affect airflow

February 2009. Experts say 3M Filtrete furnace filters may be an inexpensive, common-sense way of improving the air quality in your home, rather than buying an expensive air purifier that may or may not do much good anyway. Consumer Reports suggests that simply replacing your furnace filter four times per year and other easy lifestyle changes may be all you need to do. User reviews indicate the 3M Filtrete works as it is supposed to, with some owners expressing surprise about how much dust and pet dander it caught. But if you have smoke or odor issues, merely changing your furnace filter is unlikely to solve the problem, and furnace filters can reduce airflow in your system.

There are fewer professional reviews for allergen-reduction furnace filters than for air purifiers themselves. Consumer Reports has good coverage that suggests you may not need to spring for an air purifier if you first try some no-cost or low-cost solutions. You'll need to look past the overall score in owner reviews at Amazon.com because all low scores concern pricing or vendor issues rather performance.