Are you wondering what size air filter you need for your forced air heating and cooling system? You're not alone! It's a common question, and the answer is not always straightforward. In this article, we'll explain how to measure your current air filter and what type of filter is best for your home. The first step is to measure the length and width of your current air filter. If the filter is not square, the smallest measurement goes first.
Air filters for domestic refrigeration systems are listed with height, width, and depth dimensions. The size and style you need depends on the manufacturer of your equipment. Checking the dimensions of your current air filter is the easiest way to determine the size you will need. If the filter is not the correct size, either too small or too large, air will flow around the filter instead of through it and, as a result, not all of the air will be filtered out.
However, it has to fit snugly into the air cleaner compartment with a little space around the edges. Basically, when you take measurements of an air filter, you just need to round the nearest inch to find the dimensions of the filter you need to buy. If the filter is too large, it won't fit into the filter slot and you won't be able to replace the cover. Once you know what size air filter you need, it's time to consider what type of filter is best for your home. Start by determining the specific needs of the occupants of your home, which should be directly correlated with the CADR or MERV ratings of your air filters.
This is important because the concentration of air pollutants inside your home can be two to five times higher than the concentrations normally found outdoors. Its ability to improve indoor air quality makes it tempting to buy the tallest MERV pleated filter you can find. This is a technical talk about how good an air filter is at trapping dust particles and preventing them from circulating back into your home. Another caveat is that, given the relationships between the supplier and the supplier, they could be incentivized to increase the sale of certain types or brands of air filters. That's why it's important to change the air filter all year round, since both the heating and cooling units take advantage of that air filter. Therefore, a heavily carpeted townhouse with three cats and two dogs will have worse indoor air quality than one without pets or carpets. Some brands of air filters do not have the MERV ratings marked on the filter, with Filtrete from 3M being a good example.
In conclusion, knowing what size air filter you need and what type of filter is best for your home are essential steps in maintaining a healthy indoor environment.
