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Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about Filtrete™ Home Filtration Products.

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Traditional Air Filters

Helpful Terms to Know

The following are definitions commonly associated with indoor air quality.

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  • For maximum effectiveness, we recommend you change filters at least every three months. However, the life of a filter can depend on the individual conditions in your home. You may need to change your filter more often if your home has: construction work in progress, furniture or drywall sanding in progress, pets, smokers, or a fan running continuously. In these cases, you may want to change the filter more frequently.
  • Fibreglass filters were originally developed to protect your furnace and/or air conditioning system. They were not intended to improve your indoor air quality. Filtrete™ Filters were created to both help protect your furnace equipment and clean the air passing through your filter. Our filters help improve your indoor air quality by attracting and capturing allergy-aggravating microparticles. Your air is cleaned each time it re-circulates through the filter.
  • Surprisingly, even expensive washable/reusable filters can’t capture microparticles as well as electrostatic Filtrete™ Filters can. The real difference is the electrostatic charge found in most Filtrete™ Filters.
  • Filtrete™ Filters that are electrostatically charged have both positive and negative charges on the fibers. The charge helps pull more particles from the air passing through the filter than a filter without a charge.
  • The Filtrete™ Odour Reduction Filter contains activated carbon and starts working in minutes to help reduce odours throughout your home. In the case of tobacco and wood smoke, removing smoke particles can help reduce the odour, and high efficiency Filtrete™ Filters readily capture these particle types.
  • Filtrete™ Filters are engineered and tested to last three months under a wide range of typical operating conditions. Some of the reasons you may need to change your filter more often include: construction work in progress, furniture or drywall sanding in progress, pets, smokers, or a fan running continuously. If you use any filter for longer than the recommended lifetime, it may begin to restrict airflow or cause your heating/cooling system to malfunction. When in doubt, change the filter more frequently.
  • Atmospheric dust consists of a wide variety of particulates ranging in size from 0.001 micron to a relatively large 100 microns. Because of the weight of the large particles, they will settle on your furniture long before they could reach your filter. The filter will capture some dust, but it will not eliminate the need for dusting.

Smart Air Filters

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  • Filtrete™ Smart Air Filters are most easily recognized by a gold disc-shaped sensor enclosure permanently affixed to your air filter, and are currently only available in the following MPRs: 1500, 1900, 2200, 2500. If you do not see a gold disc attached to your filter, it is likely you do not have a Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter.
  • Yes, you will need to download the Filtrete™ Smart App, which is available for free for iOS and Android on the App Store and Google Play. Once downloaded, follow the instructions on the setup screens after creating your account.
  • Follow the instructions provided in the packaging.

    Download and open Filtrete™ Smart App, available for free on the App Store and Google Play. Enable Bluetooth® on your mobile device. Follow instructions on screens to pair. Remove tab on filter’s sensor.

    Please be patient, for certain mobile devices Bluetooth® pairing may take up to 4 minutes.
  • Yes, you will buy a new Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter, which will have a new sensor attached. Once a filter has been used, you may dispose of the sensor (per your local electronics disposal guidelines). The sensor is not reusable.
  • Step 1: Place the filter on a flat surface with the sensor-side facing up
    Step 2: Wear cut-resistant gloves when removing the yellow sensor. Please note, the wire on the filter is sharp
    Step 3: Place one gloved hand on the filter near the senor to hold the filter in place
    Step 4: With a pair of pliers, grasp the edge of the sensor and carefully twist from side to side to separate the sensor enclosure from the used filter
    Step 5: Dispose of the sensor in accordance with your local electronics disposal guidelines (The sensor does contain a coin cell battery)
    Step 6: Dispose of the filter immediately after sensor removal
  • The Filtrete™ Smart Air Filters are available in MPR 1500, 1900, 2200, and 2500.
  • The Filtrete™ Smart Air Filters are available online and in-store with select retailers.
  • No. There are many sizes of air filter slots, but the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter line covers the top sizes, depending on performance level.

  • This happens when the app is open or in the background. Sensor data is not uploaded if the app is deliberately closed. The sensor collects data throughout the day but uploads this data to your mobile device as soon as you are home and within range of the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter (maximum 50 feet/15.24 metres). If you are not noticing any updates, ensure your Bluetooth® is enabled and your phone and Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter are within range.


    Tip: for automatic sensor and app data uploads, enabling your mobile phone’s location services can allow the app to ‘wake-up’ when you arrive home via geo-fencing.

  • Once the app connects to your Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter, it starts collecting the data stored in the sensor. This data includes changes in air pressure and temperature, and it has been collected and stored by the sensor since the last time a connection occurred. After sensor data is collected, the app uploads this information to the cloud where proprietary algorithms will then calculate your filter life.


    If your app hasn’t connected to your filter for a while, it’s likely that a significant amount of sensor data has been accumulated. For that reason, it might take up to two hours to complete full data upload, especially in cases where the app hasn’t connected with the sensor for over two weeks.


    It is recommended that you allow the app to access your device’s location “Always”, so that a connection can be triggered when open in the background and in close proximity to your filter.

  • You can add additional filters by pressing the blue “+” button on the bottom of the main screen within the app and following the same filter pairing instructions completed with your previous filter. From there, you’ll be able to see your newly added filter data by swiping ‘left’ to view additional filter detail cards.

  • Filter ‘replacement’ is defined as a current filter’s information being removed from the app and a new one added in its place. Upon replacement, all previous filter data and filter life for the previous filter will be removed, with the exception of the name you gave to the old filter (i.e. Home Hallway). We only recommend following this step when you plan on physically taking a filter out of your home and discarding it when a new one is installed in its place. To replace a filter, click the blue “+” button on the home screen and following the pairing steps after clicking “Replace Existing Filter”.


    If you have multiple filters in your household, to add another new filter, simply press the blue “+” button and follow filter pairing steps after clicking “Add Additional Filter”.

  • Although physical appearance may be a good indicator in determining the best time to change your filter, Filtrete™ Air Filters are designed to capture even microscopic particles that are not visible. Your Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter life is determined by changes in air pressure in order to help deliver sufficient air flow for your home’s HVAC system. We do not recommend leaving your Filtrete™ Smart Air filter installed beyond 0% filter life, regardless of its physical appearance.
  • Filtrete™ Smart Air Filters were designed to help take the guesswork out of filter change and to do so at a time that is best for your home’s environment and heating & cooling system – not too early, and not too late. If the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter is sensing changes in air pressure that indicate rapidly declining filter life, it is possible that it is capturing unwanted particles at a rate higher than normal due to increased HVAC fan usage (extreme hot or cold outdoor temperatures), increased particles in your home’s air (construction, smoke/candle soot, pet dander), or with spikes in poor outdoor air quality (pollution, wild fires, etc.).
  • When you remove your filter from the app, all previous filter information and data will be lost. For security measures, you will not be able to pair that same filter again in the app.

  • The sensor on Filtrete™ Smart Air Filters tracks air filter life by detecting changes in air pressure over time. Filtrete™ Brand then determines your filter life based on air flow and usage, not just time – allowing you to know the right time to change your air filter – not too early and not too late.


    For all other Filtrete™ Air Filters, the barcode scan function creates a simple and easy-to-use daily countdown timer, based solely on install date and your preferred change frequency. For 1” air filters, the three change options are 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days – and for deep pleat filters (4” depths and larger), the timing options are 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. If you’d like to change the timing frequency after initially selected, you are able to “Edit Filter Timer” by pressing the “Edit” button on your preferred filter in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

  • You can add any Filtrete™ Air Filter to the Filtrete™ Smart app by clicking on the blue “+” button at the bottom center of the app’s main home screen. If you have a Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter, you will follow the pairing steps. If you have a traditional Filtrete™ Air Filter, you will need to scan the barcode from the product packaging to add to the app and set up a “timer” to remind you when to change your filter.
  • The coin cell battery in the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter sensor is designed to last close to 1 year after the ‘Pull tab’ has been removed – which is much longer than the expected life of the filter.
  • No. Filter life is determined by measuring changes in pressure that the sensor on the filter detects inside your home, and filter life is based on actual air flow and usage of your heating and cooling system.

Filtrete™ Smart App

General

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Smart Home Compatibility

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  • Yes, the Filtrete™ Smart App is currently is currently compatible with the Filtrete™ Smart Alexa Skill and works with Google Assistant as well – start by saying, “Hey Google, talk to Filtrete.”
  • Open the Alexa app on your mobile device. Press the menu bar on the top left of the home screen, and then select “Skills & Games.” Type “Filtrete Smart” in the search bar at the top of the screen and enable the skill. The Alexa app will prompt you to take steps to verify your Filtrete Smart account. Once verified, you will be able to make voice commands such as, “Alexa, ask Filtrete Smart for the status of my filter.”
  • The Google Assistant will begin working with Filtrete by simply stating, “Hey Google, talk to Filtrete.”
  • Yes, you can enable Siri Shortcuts within the ‘My Profile’ section of the App. You’ll find suggestions like, “Hey Siri, do my filters need to be replaced?” or “Hey Siri, check the status of my filters”, which you can add by recording a personalized phrase.
  • As we continue to build out the features of the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter product line and Filtrete™ Smart App, we’re interested in any and all ways to enhance the user experience. Integrating with major smart home solutions and ecosystems is something we are currently pursuing and will continue to do on an ongoing basis. Today, we integrate with Speck Air Quality Monitors, feature a Filtrete™ Smart Alexa Skill, work with Google Assistant, and will soon release Siri Shortcuts. If you have any preferred smart home integrations you might suggest, please feel free to let us know FiltreteBrand@3M.com.

Location-specific

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  • For iOS, click on your device “Settings” (outside of the Filtrete™ Smart App), scroll down and choose “Filtrete Smart” within your app menu, and click on “Location” to adjust your settings.

    For Android devices: Pixel and Android 9: Press on device “Settings” (outside of the Filtrete Smart App), Scroll down to “Apps and Permissions”, choose “Filtrete Smart”, press on “Permissions” and then turn on “Location”

    Samsung and Android 8: Press on device “Settings” (outside of the Filtrete Smart App), Scroll down to “Apps”, choose “All Apps” at the top of the screen, scroll down to “Filtrete Smart”, scroll down to “App Settings” and press on “Permissions” then turn on “Location”.

    Samsung and Android 6.0.1: Press on device “Settings” (outside of the Filtrete Smart App), activate the “DEVICE” tab, press on “Applications”, press on “Application manager”, choose “All Apps” at the top of the screen, scroll down to “Filtrete Smart”, press on “Permissions” then turn on “Location”.
  • Allowing location services helps improve the user experience.

    For iOS: Location services are used to connect with your Smart Air Filter when within close proximity (while the app is in the background) and to display outdoor air quality (when the app is open). By enabling location services and choosing “Always Allow”, the app will know when you’re within the geo-fence proximity and will automatically trigger a connection with the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter sensor without requiring additional steps for the user.

    For Android: It allows you to view outdoor air quality for your current location. The app DOES NOT use your location while it is running in the background. It only accesses your current location to display outdoor air quality when the app is open. The Filtrete™ Smart App needs access to Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) in order to connect and pair with the Smart Air Filter sensor. It's a requirement from the Android operating system to allow location services in order to access Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity. If you would like to learn more about these Android requirements, you can view the information below:

    https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/bluetooth-le.html#permissions


    https://developer.android.com/reference/android/bluetooth/le/BluetoothLeScanner.html#startScan(android.bluetooth.le.ScanCallback)


    For that reason, the Filtrete™ Smart App asks for location access type “Allow all the time” so that it can access Bluetooth®, even when it’s open in the background. This allows the app to gather data from the sensor without requiring additional steps (like opening the app).

  • For iOS: If the Filtrete™ Smart App does not have access to your location, we are not able to trigger a connection with your filter when you’re in close proximity (at home, for example). Without location access to the app, you will need to manually open the app when you’re close to your filter in order to collect sensor data to calculate filter life.

    If your app has not connected to your filter’s sensor in over 7 days, we use our backup system to estimate your filter life based on outdoor weather information available from your filter’s location. This backup calculation estimates your HVAC run-time by using outdoor weather data, such as temperature, so the filter life is reduced based on the estimate HVAC run-time of your home location’s weather trends.

    For Android: It is a requirement from the Android operating system that location services is granted for the Filtrete™ Smart App to use Bluetooth®. If you deny access to location services “while using the app” or “all the time”, the app will not be able to pair and connect with your Smart Air Filter to collect the data needed to calculate filter life. If you choose to grant access to location services, but not “all the time”, “only while using the app”, this means that the Filtrete™ Smart App will only be able to connect to your filter when the app is open and you are within close proximity to your filter (at home, for example). If you choose to grant access to location services “all of the time”, a connection will automatically be triggered to collect data when you are in close proximity to your filter, even if the app is in the background.

    If your app has not connected to your filter’s sensor in over 7 days, we use our backup system to estimate your filter life based on outdoor weather information available from your filter’s location. This backup calculation estimates your HVAC run-time by using outdoor weather data, such as temperature, so the filter life is reduced based on the estimate HVAC run-time of your home location’s weather trends.
  • The outdoor air quality information is pulled from the closest EPA Weather Station, which shows current and historical information based on your selected location. This reflects outdoor air quality only. To view indoor air quality, a separate compatible indoor air quality monitor needs to be purchased and paired.
  • You can add additional outdoor air quality locations by pressing the “+” icon on the bottom of your app screen. From there, you’ll see the option to add “Outdoor Air Location” and you can search by city or zip code. To view your additional locations, simply swipe left on the Outdoor Air Quality tile.

Troubleshooting

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    • Make sure Bluetooth® is enabled on your phone.
    • Make sure the “battery tab” has been removed from the sensor. A signal won’t be sent out to your phone until this battery tab has been removed.
    • Make sure your phone and your Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter are in close proximity to one another.
  • This could mean there is a slight delay from the connection (data upload cloud). The process may go faster if the mobile device is within good cellular signal range or connected to a strong wi-fi signal. Don’t worry, as long as all instruction steps are followed, the connection should be made with another try or two. Let our support team know if it doesn’t. The customer support team can be reached at 1-800-388-3458.
  • Follow the instructions provided in the packaging.

    Download and open Filtrete™ Smart App, available for free on the App Store and Google Play Enable Bluetooth® on your mobile device Follow instructions on screens to pair Remove tab on filter’s sensor Please be patient, for certain mobile devices Bluetooth® pairing may take up to 4 minutes I’m Having Issues Connecting to My Filter

    For iOS devices:

    If you’re trying to pull down in the filter details to connect to your filter but you see the message that connection failed, there are a few reasons why this could be happening.

    You need to be within range (approximately 50 feet/15.24 metres) for the Bluetooth® connection to be made between the Filtrete™ Smart App and the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. If the app doesn’t have access to ‘location services’, make sure to open the app when in close proximity with the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. If you want the app to automatically connect and update, allow access to location ‘always’ on the iOS settings screen. Please don’t try to connect to your Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter through the Bluetooth® settings on your phone or other third-party applications, as it could hinder the app from connecting to the filter. Too many walls between you and your filter can also prevent the app from finding and connecting to your Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. You will want to be within closer range of the filter for the app to update. If none of the above helps, you might have a defective sensor on your Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. Please contact our support team at 1-800-388-3458 for additional assistance.

    For Android devices:

    If you’re trying to pull down on the Filter Details page to connect to your filter and you see the message that ‘the connection failed’, there are a few reasons why this could be happening.

    You need to be within range (approximately 50 feet/15.24 metres) for the Bluetooth® connection to be made between the Filtrete™ Smart App and the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. On Android devices, the operating system requires ‘location access’ for the Bluetooth® connection to work. Make sure you have granted access to location on the ‘My Profile’ screen. For more information, see section ‘Location-Specific Questions’ below. If you have granted access to location “Only while using the app”, make sure you keep the app open during the connection process. That allows the app to trigger a connection with the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. Allowing the app to access your location “all the time” removes the need to keep the app open, since the app can trigger a connection when you are within range of your filter. Please don’t try to connect to your Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter through the Android Bluetooth® settings on your phone or other third-party applications, as it could hinder the app from connecting to the filter. Too many walls between you and your filter can also prevent the app from finding and connecting to your Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. You will want to be within closer range of the filter for the app to update.

    If none of the above helps, you might have a defective sensor on your Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. Please contact our support team at 1-800-388-3458 for additional assistance.
  • After extensive testing, Filtrete™ Brand found the Bluetooth® sensor and could connect to a phone throughout most areas of large homes. Typical range for Bluetooth® is approximately 50ft/15.24 metres. Additionally, a connection to the sensor does not need to be constant for data to flow; the sensor only needs to be connected for a minimal amount of time to upload about a week’s worth of stored sensor data.
  • Ensure that the Filtrete™ Smart App is open on your mobile device, your Bluetooth® is enabled, and your phone is within range (approx. 50 ft) of the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. Once these factors are met, your Filtrete™ Smart App is designed to upload sensor data automatically, and a new filter life percentage will be calculated and shown accordingly. If your filter has not received updates in some time, it may take a few hours for all of the data to fully upload to the app and the cloud. If that is the case, please leave the Filtrete™ Smart App open in the background on your phone.
  • This could occur for a variety of reasons. Oftentimes, if your phone hasn’t had a chance to upload information from the Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter for a number of days, it might need up to an hour’s worth of upload time to fully receive all pressure data stored on the sensor. This time to upload can also be affected by how strong your cell phone service or wi-fi signal might be, as the sensor data needs time to upload to the cloud for filter life calculation. You will know if your filter sensor is uploading by the word “Updating…” to the right of the (i) icon on the filter detail page.
  • Filtrete™ Smart App relies on a web crawling service to identify available retailers that carry your specific Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter. If no retailer is showing up, try finding your filter from the product catalog within the app and select your type and size to see a potentially broader view of retailers.
  • It is common to wait several minutes before receiving a verification email. But, if more than ten minutes has passed, it’s recommended to check your SPAM or Junk folder as some email programs handle incoming emails differently. If no email shows up in these folders, it’s possible the email sign-up was written differently than your actual email address. Please feel free to write to FiltreteBrand@3M.com or call 1-800-388-3458 for any account creation issues or challenges.
  • You may call our team toll-free at 1-800-388-3458.

    New customer support team hours:

    Weekdays, Monday-Friday: 7am-7pm (CST) Weekends, Saturday & Sunday: 9am-6pm (CST)

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