If you have a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in your home, it is essential to know what type of air filter you have. This will help you get the right replacement filter and make sure that your system is running at its best. The simplest way to identify the size of an air conditioner filter is to remove the existing filter from its slot and inspect the filter frame. Generally, the size of the filter is printed along the edge of the filter frame.
Please note that the size shown in bold in the filter frame is the nominal size of the filter, which may be different from your actual size. If the actual dimensions do not appear in small print on the filter frame, we suggest measuring the filter to check it. Most air filters have their size printed on the side of the frame. The length, width, and depth of the filter are measured in inches. For example, it will say something like “16x25x1”, where 16 is the length, 25 is the width, and 1 is the depth.
Colorfil filters, originally created for NASA, help eliminate chemicals and odors at a molecular level that regular air filters cannot remove. Washable filters usually work in reverse of fiberglass, since they let through larger particles and filter out smaller ones. Don't stack several small air filters on top of each other to fit in a larger air handler. Once you know the size of your old air filter, you can easily buy a new one with the same dimensions. The Home Depot also offers a full range of air filter accessories, making it easy to keep your system running optimally. Installing several type 1 air filters in a double slot, for example, can cause costly damage to your air conditioning unit, since residential ovens are not equipped to withstand this level of airflow restriction.
You'll have to do this if your boiler is missing an air filter and you don't know what size it should be. Most white pleated air filters are essentially identical at each efficiency level, varying slightly, if any, from brand to brand. To make sure they fit you properly, take out your current air filter and check the size printed on its frame. If an air filter is too small, air gaps will be created and contaminants will bypass the filter material. In this case, you must round to the nearest whole number to determine the nominal size of the air filter.
Installing a smaller filter will allow unwanted contaminants to pass through and enter your home's air and HVAC system. In fact, it's one of the most important items you can buy for your home's air quality; since indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air (and no one likes breathing pollutants), you need a high-quality air filter. Air filters also help keep your furnace's coils and heat exchangers clean, which can extend its life and keep it running efficiently. If the filter is too large, it won't fit in its slot and you won't be able to replace its cap.
