One Inch Filter Information
What you need to know
Every furnace must have an air protection filter to prevent large debris from damaging the furnace or the air conditioner evaporator coil (evaporator coils are usually located in the plenum, above or below the furnace). This could be an air cleaner/purifier or a standard one inch furnace filter.
The OK to use standard one inch furnace filter
Using one inch standard furnace filters are OK to use, but remember, they do not clean the air and are not considered to be an air cleaning device. Remember; change this filter at least once a month. Not doing so, could result in expensive service calls and/or permanently damage your HVAC system.
Usually the furnace filter is 1” wide and 16” x 25” in dimensions. In some cases the 1” wide filter size could have different dimensions. - Some factory supplied 1” wide filters are permanent and look like they are made with hog hair material and are washable. Other factory types maybe made of some other material and may or may not have a frame.
- Some factory supplied 1” wide filters are made of some kind of fiberglass material and have a cardboard frame.
- The factory-supplied filters are the type to continue to use and can be purchased at any hardware store for about a buck.
The BAD to use one inch filter
Very Important!!! Using a one inch pleated filter bought from the store is not acceptable to use in any situation!! Yes, these types of filters do a good job at removing dust, but they will damage your HVAC system. The reason is because of the design of the filter. The filter's narrowness is a restriction which reduces air flow so much that your air conditioner and furnace will have to run longer to cool or heat your home. Below is a list of what one inch pleated filters will do to your systems.
The restricted airflow slowly damages the furnace heat exchanger cells and eventually could cause premature failure that could cause carbon monoxide to enter your air duct system.- The restricted airflow slowly damages your air conditioner's compressor and could cause premature failure, resulting in loss of cooling when you need it the most. This type of damage is not covered under any type of manufacturers or dealers warranty. Notice how this dirty filter blew out on one side? We found it blocking air flow through the furnace motor and indoor evaporator coil, which ruined the $4,500 air conditioning system. Don’t let this happen to you.
- The airflow to some of the rooms in your house will be lower, making you uncomfortable.
- The reduced airflow will force your furnace and air conditioning system to work much longer causing your gas and electric bill to increase.
Avoid other one inch filters
Is there any other type of one inch wide filter that might cause the above problems? The answer is YES Avoid any one inch wide filter that claims to be an Electrostatic type and costs from $25 to over $50. The one inch wide Electrostatic type of filter is a permanent type made with a metal or heavy plastic frame and several plastic grids and a type of poly-foam material. This type of filter could also damage your furnace and air conditioner if it is not washed at least once each month. Avoid the one inch wide electrostatic filter if you think you would tend to forget to wash the filter EVERY month.
The bottom line...
You can protect your HVAC system and improve your indoor air quality by investing in a whole house air cleaner or air purifier. For a complete comparison of the different types click here.