If you or someone you love lives with asthma, we don’t need to tell you the importance of air quality. While many people do their best to limit risk factors, their home air filters are often less than ideal for creating a comfortable environment for those with asthma.
We’ve been on plenty of calls in Los Angeles County that require a little extra attention to ensure customers are breathing easy. One of the easiest ways to ensure customer comfort is by recommending an air filter that suits their needs.
Today, we’ll talk about our top 5 picks for the best air filters for asthma and what makes them standout options.
Let’s get moving so you can find an air filter that will ensure the people living with asthma in your home can breathe easier. Some of our picks require a standalone air purifier, which can add some extra muscle to your filtration system.
5 Best Air Filters for Asthma
1. Filtrete Ultimate Allergen Healthy Living 1900 Air Filter
Starting off the list with an asthma and allergy-friendly certified option, Filtretes Ultime Allergen Healthy Living 1900 Air Filter makes a strong case for itself.
With many core features you’d expect from a MERV 13 air filter, this option gets the job done and offers peace of mind to people living with asthma.
The electrostatically-charged material and pleated design combine to make the best use of the filter’s surface area when attracting and catching particles. You’ll net protection from pollen, pet dander, smoke, bacteria, and viruses.
This filter runs around $41 in a 2-pack and is available in multiple sizes for convenience.
Pros
- MERV 13
- Asthma and allergy-friendly certified
- Pleated design and increased surface area
- Electrostatically charged
- Variety of sizes
- Second cheapest option listed
Cons
- May restrict airflow
2. AprilAire Allergy + Pet True HEPA Air Purifier Replacement Filter
If you’re not willing to sacrifice airflow for a higher MERV-rated filter, then a standalone air purifier may be the way forward. AprilAire makes air filters targeting specific issues like pets and allergens.
There are plenty of solid AprilAire air filters, but the Allergy + Pet True HEPA Air Purifier Replacement Filter is a great place to start exploring. This filter will do well in homes where asthma flare-ups are a concern.
You’ll get protection against gaseous allergens and a specialized pet filter to help with any issues caused by pet dander and odor.
AprilAire’s filter is available for $99.99, making it one of the most expensive options. But the filter should last up to a year, so there is a bit of a balancing act going on.
Pros
- HEPA filter (MERV 17 or higher)
- Pet filter
- 99.97% effective in removing allergens
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires separate air purifier
- Limited compatibility
3. Filtrete Ultra Allergen Healthy Living 1500 Air Filter
Another asthma and allergy-friendly certified option from Filtrete that does things a little differently is the Ultra Allergen Healthy Living 1500 Air Filter. This model features a lower MERV 12 rating.
While a MERV 12 rating isn’t as ideal for people living with asthma, it provides a better balance between filtration and airflow, making all the difference in preserving your HVAC system’s health.
You’ll still get an electrostatically charged filter with a pleated design to trap all sorts of particles, but you’re not as covered when it comes to fine particles and candle soot.
Along with a lower MERV rating, you can also count on this filter to be cheaper than its counterparts. At $35 per 2-pack, this is the cheapest filter option on the list. Like the other Filtrete options, this one comes in multiple sizes.
Pros
- MERV 12
- Asthma and allergy-friendly certified
- Affordable
- Pleated design and increased surface area
- Electrostatically charged
- Variety of sizes
- Increased airflow
Cons
- Less protection against certain particles
4. Honeywell HRF-ARVP300 HEPA Filter & Pre-Filter Combo Pack
If you’re interested in doubling up on filtration, a standalone air purifier from Honeywell will be a great asset in protecting your loved ones who suffer from asthma. This specific option fits the lauded HPA300 series of air purifiers.
This package includes a year’s worth of filters and pre-filters to ensure you’re covered year-round. You can purchase pre-filters and filters individually, but the convenience of a combo pack makes a difference when it comes to ensuring your loved ones consistently get the best air quality.
You can count on the carbon pre-filter to nab larger things like pet hair, dust, and other fibers. It also reduces odor, thanks to the carbon material. On the more important side, the HEPA filter catches 99.97% of particles and allergens that can cause flare-ups.
Like the AprilAire option, you’ll need a specific air purifier to run these filters.
You can pick this filter pack up for $139.95, making it the most expensive option listed. Still, the year-round supply is helpful for those with busy lives and a family to protect.
Pros
- HEPA filter (MERV 17 or higher)
- Carbon pre-filter
- 99.97% effective in removing allergens
Cons
- Most expensive option listed
- Requires separate air purifier
- Limited compatibility
5. Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Healthy Living 2200 Air Filter
Rounding out the 5 best air filters for asthma is the Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Healthy Living 2200 Air Filter. This Filtrete option offers the best protection of the bunch despite also carrying a MERV 13 rating.
Like the other Filtrete options listed, this option also achieves an asthma and allergy-friendly certification. Part of what earned this filter the certification is its expanded protection against fine particles and car exhaust. The other Filtrete options don’t stand up to car exhaust and fine particles as well.
The filter’s design is the same as its siblings, though. You can bank on the tried-and-true electrostatically charged material and pleated design to trap particles like dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, bacteria, and viruses.
You can nab a 2-pack of these filters for about $47, depending on where you shop. Similar to the rest of the Filtrete options, these come in multiple sizes and purchasing options.
Pros
- MERV 13
- Asthma and allergy-friendly certified
- Pleated design and increased surface area
- Electrostatically charged
- Variety of sizes
- Better filtration of finer particles and exhaust
Cons
- May restrict airflow
- Most expensive HVAC filter listed
What Makes a Good Air Filter for Asthma?
Air filters are measured on the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) scale. Filters are rated between 1 and 20 to note their filtration efficiency.
A higher MERV rating means better filtration but at a cost. Filters with higher MERV ratings offer less airflow, which may cause your HVAC system efficiency to dip. Be sure to check your owner’s manual to see what your system’s limit is.
Doing great. Keep it up!
MERV 13 filters offer great protection for sensitive groups such as asthma sufferers. While continuing up the ladder of MERV ratings sounds like a good idea to net more filtration, most home systems can’t handle anything higher than a MERV 13.
You can also entertain the idea of adding more filtration with a standalone air purifier loaded with a HEPA filter. HEPA filters are often equated to a MERV 17 or higher and filter out 99.97% of particles.
It’s important to note that these filters only work when the system is on and the fan is on. The filters can only catch particles that are actively trying to pass through them.
Standalone air purifiers can add to the total investment but may be worth it if someone in your home has difficulty breathing easily.
Which Air Filter for Asthma Will You Run?
We’ve talked about 5 of the best air filters for asthma on the market and what makes the ideal air filter for people living with asthma. Now, with a clear picture in mind and plenty of options to jump-start your research, you can go out and confidently decide which is right for your household.
After servicing many homes in Los Angeles County and the surrounding area, we’ve had more than a few questions about which filter is best for people with asthma. While the answer is pretty simple, it doesn’t hurt to explore your options further.
If you need help swapping out your air filter or need a consultation on what your next HVAC move should be, call us at (310) 853- 8690 or visit us on our HVAC services page to book a consultation with a technician.
Before you give us a ring, brush up on what a MERV rating is so that you have a better idea of your needs ahead of the consultation. Knowing what type of air filter you have before calling in will also help us get you the assistance you need.
