Hog Hair Filter Alternatives: Better Pads for Your Frame
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Hog hair filters have been a fixture in rooftop units, older furnaces and shop air systems for decades. They are cheap and easy to cut to size. They are also loose, fiber-shedding and often hard to fit without gaps. If you are looking for something better that still works in a frame, here are the options and how they compare.
What a hog hair filter is
Despite the name, most hog hair filters today are not made from animal hair. They are thick, coarse pads of synthetic or natural fibers bonded with a resin, often coated with a tacky adhesive so dust sticks to them. They are sold in rolls or pre-cut pads and usually sit in a wire grid or a frame inside the unit.
People like them because they:
- Cost little per pad
- Can be cut to almost any size from a roll
- Have a very open structure that is easy on airflow
Where hog hair falls short
- Low efficiency. That open structure lets a lot through. Many hog hair pads carry a low MERV rating or none at all, so check the label before you assume.
- Gaps and bypass. A hand-cut pad in a wire grid rarely seals at the edges. Air takes the easy path around it.
- Sagging and shedding. Loose pads can sag, fold or shed fibers into the airstream as they age.
- Messy changes. Cutting from a roll on a rooftop in the wind is nobody's favorite job.
Better alternatives that still use a frame
1. A reusable aluminum frame with MERV 8 pads
This is the closest upgrade. You keep the idea of a pad in a frame, but the pad is a rated, pre-cut MERV 8 tackified polyester and the frame holds it flat and sealed. The EverFilter Starter Kit is exactly that: one aluminum frame plus six MERV 8 pads, with Refill Packs when you run out.
- MERV 8 rated media, tackified on the air-exit side
- Published initial resistance of 0.12 inches of water gauge at 295 feet per minute, so airflow stays close to a standard 1 inch filter
- Pre-cut pads, no roll and no scissors
- Used in homes, light commercial HVAC and as an intake prefilter in multi-stage setups such as spray booths
2. A washable media filter
If the appeal of hog hair is low cost over time, a washable filter removes the pad purchase entirely. The EverFilter Washable MERV 6 pairs a reusable aluminum frame with washable MERV 6 media you rinse and reuse.
3. A washable electrostatic filter
The EverFilter Electrostatic Washable is a complete, rigid filter with layered electrostatic media. Rinse it about every 30 days and put it back. It is a good fit for residential returns. See how electrostatic filters work.
4. Deep-bed commercial filters
For commercial air handlers that need MERV 11 to 15, a hog hair pad is the wrong tool. Rigid cell, V-bank, bag and mini-pleat filters are built for that job. See our commercial filters.
Side by side
| Hog hair pad | EverFilter frame + MERV 8 pad | Washable MERV 6 or electrostatic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | Often low or unrated | MERV 8 | MERV 6 (washable media); electrostatic not MERV rated |
| Fit | Hand cut, gaps common | Pre-cut, held flat in a frame | Rigid frame, sized to the slot |
| Upkeep | Replace pad | Replace pad every 30 to 90 days | Rinse about every 30 days |
| Odd sizes | Cut from a roll | Custom sizes made to order | Custom sizes made to order |
Odd size? That is the normal case here
Hog hair often ends up in units with non-standard slots. EverFilter frames and washable filters are made to order in custom sizes. Measure the slot, not the old pad, and use our size guide if you are unsure.
Common questions
Is hog hair filter media washable?
Some is sold as washable, but resin-bonded, tackified pads tend to lose their tack and shape when washed. Most are treated as disposable.
Is hog hair the same as a polyester pad?
They overlap. Both are fiber pads, and both are often tackified. The difference is mostly density and rating: a MERV 8 polyester pad is denser and tested to a standard, while hog hair is typically coarser and more open.
Will a MERV 8 pad restrict my airflow compared to hog hair?
Somewhat more than a very open hog hair pad, but the EverFilter MERV 8 media is in line with a standard 1 inch filter. If your unit was designed for very low resistance, check with your technician.
Upgrade the pad, keep the frame. Shop the EverFilter Starter Kit or order a custom size. Made in the USA in Sarasota, FL. ★ 4.8 · 10,000+ satisfied customers.
Sources: U.S. EPA, What is a MERV rating?; EverFilter MERV 8 media specifications.