If you're looking to improve the air quality in your home, you may be wondering if you can use a 1-inch air filter instead of a 2-inch filter. The answer is yes, but it depends on the MERV rating of the filter. A higher MERV rating means that the filter will be able to stop more particles from entering your home. However, if your system only fits a 1- or 2-inch filter, a high MERV rating could be detrimental.
A 1-inch filter with less surface space will clog up fairly quickly and will need to be replaced much sooner than a coarser filter. It's important to note that filters only work if air has to pass through them. The filter has air resistance and a gap does not, so if you leave a gap of 1, a disproportionate amount of air will flow through the hole, which will worsen the situation. It's best to have a little wiggle room in the slot of the HVAC unit, so you can easily slide the filter in and out without it bending or breaking. When it comes to air filtration, MERV is an important factor to consider. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and it's a technical way of saying “how many and how small particles it filters out of the air you breathe”.
So, if you choose a filter with a high MERV rating, you'll need to change it every month or two when the oven, heat pump, or air conditioner gets a lot of use. If improving air quality is a priority for you, filter depth doesn't matter as much as MERV. Colorfil filters, originally created for NASA, help eliminate chemicals and odors at a molecular level that normal air filters can't. Pay attention to what matters most to you and you'll discover which filter is right for you. When purchasing a custom-sized air cleaner, it's important to remember the difference between nominal and actual size. For example, Home Depot primarily carries Honeywell brand air filters, while ACE Hardware primarily carries Filtrete.
But why is there such a big difference in their lives? This is because thicker air filters have more square feet. The smaller filter area will behave like a filter that is already partially dirty, but you can use it temporarily. HVAC service companies typically offer air filter replacement services, as well as system repair and unit installation services.
