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The Real Cost of Media Air Filters: Total Ownership Costs in 2025

  • Writer: Thomas Dearden
    Thomas Dearden
  • 2 days ago
  • 1 min read

By Dan Dearden, Founder


When comparing products that require regular replacement parts—think batteries, ink cartridges, printer paper, or tires—it’s not enough to look at the upfront price. You also need to factor in the long-term cost of those ongoing replacements.

Take printers, for example. You may have picked one up for a bargain, only to discover that replacing the toner ends up costing more than the printer itself. The same logic applies to heating and cooling products.


As a contractor with over 47 years in the HVAC industry, I’ve seen this play out time and again—especially with humidifiers. Steam humidifiers produce the most moisture but are also the most expensive to install and operate. Their annual canister replacements and higher electricity use can make them 20 to 30 times more expensive to own than a simple bypass humidifier. That’s why I always made sure customers understood the total cost of ownership before they bought.


The same principle applies to media air filters. These filters need to be replaced regularly, but how often—and at what cost—varies widely:

  • 1-inch pleated filters typically need replacing every month.

  • 4-inch media filters usually last about six months.

  • Extended surface filters like the NovusAer and IQAir Perfect 16 only need replacement about once every three years.


The chart below breaks down the estimated long-term ownership costs of the most popular media filters available in 2025. It’s a helpful way to see the real value—not just the price tag on the box.


Ownership cost of media filters for North American homeowners
Total Cost of Media Filters Compared

 
 
 

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