Cotton filters are soft and easy to clean, but they don’t hold as much dust as other types of filter media. They also tend to come with more allergy-inducing elements like mold spores than synthetic ones do—but if you only need your furnace filter operating for short periods of time each winter (like if you use supplemental heat from a fireplace, for example), this might not be an issue for you!

Wool filters are more durable than those made with cotton because wool can withstand higher temperatures without degrading over time. They also trap fine particles better than any other type of fiber filter does; however, this means they require more frequent cleaning than other types may need every year or two depending on how often they're used throughout entire seasons (not just during major changes). Whew! We've covered a lot so far here today about why knowing about different kinds of furnace filters could benefit us all - let's take a quick break before we move onto ways in which knowing about these differences could help save money too!

First and foremost: make sure it's actually an air filter! If you have animals or pets who shed hair like crazy or if there is dust in your home because of construction work going on nearby, then you'll want something more heavy-duty than just a basic paper-element air cleaner.

Second: check how many square feet of coverage area your particular type of HVAC system has been designed for (check your owner's manual, or look it up online). If your unit was made before 1979 then chances are good that it's not hooked up directly to your central heating system, but instead utilizes some sort of "whole house" ventilation system which draws in fresh air through vents located throughout each room rather than through one centralized ductwork system like modern units do today; this means less efficiency overall but also fewer parts needed so less maintenance required down line too!

Cotton filters are soft and easy to clean, but they don’t hold as much dust as other types of filter media. They also tend to come with more allergy-inducing elements like mold spores than synthetic ones do—but if you only need your furnace filter operating for short periods of time each winter (like if you use supplemental heat from a fireplace, for example), this might not be an issue for you!

Wool filters are more durable than those made with cotton because wool can withstand higher temperatures without degrading over time. They also trap fine particles better than any other type of fiber filter does; however, this means they require more frequent cleaning than other types may need every year or two depending on how often they're used throughout entire seasons (not just during major changes). Whew! We've covered a lot so far here today about why knowing about different kinds of furnace filters could benefit us all - let's take a quick break before we move onto ways in which knowing about these differences could help save money too!

First and foremost: make sure it's actually an air filter! If you have animals or pets who shed hair like crazy or if there is dust in your home because of construction work going on nearby, then you'll want something more heavy-duty than just a basic paper-element air cleaner.

Second: check how many square feet of coverage area your particular type of HVAC system has been designed for (check your owner's manual, or look it up online). If your unit was made before 1979 then chances are good that it's not hooked up directly to your central heating system, but instead utilizes some sort of "whole house" ventilation system which draws in fresh air through vents located throughout each room rather than through one centralized ductwork system like modern units do today; this means less efficiency overall but also fewer parts needed so less maintenance required down line too!