Louisiana HVAC expert says “premium” AC filters could make your AC work harder. Then he warns what not to buy at Lowe’s
A fancy filter might come with a price your wallet won't like.
A more expensive air filter should mean better protection for your air conditioner, right? Not according to one Louisiana HVAC expert. He warns that some of the premium options at Lowe’s could leave homeowners paying for repairs instead.
The problem isn’t necessarily the price. It’s what happens when a filter makes it harder for air to move through the system. And for people with older AC units, the wrong purchase could become an expensive mistake.
In a TikTok video with 1.8 million views, HVAC expert Zack Stephens (@zdeddy) shares what he noticed while shopping at Lowe’s. After watching several customers make the same choice, he decided to explain why he wouldn’t recommend those products.
He had a lot to say about those filters
Stephens opens the video by explaining that three customers have already picked up one of two filters he considers problematic. “That’s killing your unit,” he warns.
He alleges that air conditioning companies designed these products to encourage more equipment sales. According to Stephens, the filters restrict airflow by at least 10%, causing systems to run longer than necessary.
“Your units running more causes more motor failures, more compressor failures,” he explains. He adds that the equipment can also freeze up faster. His recommendation is straightforward: buy inexpensive filters that allow air to pass through more easily.
Stephens then offers a simple comparison. Imagine placing thick material over your mouth and trying to breathe through it. The denser the material, the more difficult breathing becomes. “Your air conditioner got to breathe, too,” he concludes.
His warning also touches on the financial consequences of choosing the wrong equipment. Homeowners already dealing with costly HVAC repair bills may find themselves facing additional expenses if restricted airflow contributes to a system failure.
In the video’s caption, Stephens specifically criticizes using MERV 8 filters in 20-year-old, 12 SEER air conditioning units.
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, which measures how effectively a filter captures airborne particles. Higher ratings generally mean better particle filtration, but they can also introduce greater airflow resistance depending on the filter’s design.
A MERV 8 filter isn’t automatically harmful to an older system. Whether it creates problems depends on the equipment’s airflow capacity, the filter’s construction, and how regularly it is replaced.
Still, restricted airflow can reduce cooling performance and contribute to frozen evaporator coils. And when an air conditioning unit stops working, homeowners may face an uncomfortable choice between repairs and replacement.
The warning quickly caught viewers’ attention, particularly those who had been buying inexpensive filters all along. “My cheapness saves me again,” one commenter joked.
Another shared advice from an HVAC technician: “My heating/air guy told me to buy the cheapest one and change every 30 days.” Someone claiming three decades of HVAC experience agreed, writing, “30 years in HVAC I only use the cheap ones.”
However, not everyone was convinced that cheaper filters were the answer. “Ok but what if someone in the house has bad allergies?!?” one viewer asked.
“He’s right, your A/C unit isn’t an air purifier. If you have bad allergies or pets buy a stand alone air purifier,” another commenter suggested.
Others pointed out potential problems with inexpensive filters. “I got a cheap one like that and my ac literally sucked it in cus it had no formation,” one commenter wrote. “Good way to have your evap clog up then pay a company to come clean it,” another commenter warned.
Stephens’ warning raises a useful question about whether premium filters are worth their price. But the right choice ultimately depends on the system’s requirements, not simply whether a filter is cheap or expensive.
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