Filters can be confusing with all the terminology that gets tossed around. Pleated is something you will hear often when referring to a furnace, ac or HVAC filter. You might also hear the term pre-pleat or pre-filter.
Pleated filters are most commonly made from either polyester or cotton paper. Most of the pleated filters we sell are made with 100% synthetic non-woven, proprietary media, with low initial resistance and high dust-holding capacity which combine to provide an extended life cycle and energy-efficient performance. Pleated filters are the most popular option for removing small particles and improving air quality. Pleated filters have MERV ratings that range from MERV 8, MERV 10, MERV 11 and MERV 13. They should be replaced every 90 days on average.
So what is a pre-pleat filter or pre-filter? This term is commonly used in commercial applications where there might be a pre-filter that acts as a first line of defense before another filter like a commercial HEPA filter commonly found in hospitals and other commercial applications where air quality is of extreme importance. A pleated filter and a pre-pleat are the same thing it's just more common to use the term pre-pleat or pre-filter in a commercial application.
AAF Flanders one of the largest air filtration manufacturers has a filter model that is available in MERV 8, MERV 11 and MERV 13 ratings called the PREpleat filter which is great for both residential and commercial HVAC systems.
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