When it comes to air filters, most systems are designed to accommodate filters that are 1 inch thick. However, some systems can accommodate filters that are 2 to 5 inches thick. But why is there such a big difference in their performance? The answer lies in the fact that thicker air filters have more square feet of surface area, which allows them to capture and retain more air particles. In our tests, we found that the thicker the filter, the better it works and the longer the replacement intervals.
This means it's better for you and your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Replacing your standard one-inch air filter with a 5-inch pleated filter can improve the quality of the air inside your home. This is because larger air filters have higher MERV ratings, leading to better filtration of contaminants and allergens. When it comes to improving air quality, filter depth doesn't matter as much as MERV.
First, 4-inch filters cover a higher range of MERV ratings, with a slight overlap with 1-inch filters. Thicker air filters tend to last longer because they have more square feet to capture and retain air particles. Meanwhile, the use of a 5-inch MERV 13 air filter has a larger surface area, leading to a high dust holding capacity. This means that a 1-inch filter with a high MERV rating could perform just as well as a 2-inch filter with the same rating.
Like length and width, thickness is an important part of sizing the oven filter and getting the right fit to optimize performance. If a certain amount of dirty air passes through both, the number of “unclogged” pores will be greater in a coarser filter than in a thinner one. If you try to use a 4-inch thick air filter for a system that is made for a 1-inch thick filter, the efficiency will be worse. To put it into perspective, a 1-inch air filter may need to be changed every month, while a 4-inch air filter can last up to six months. So you don't have to change them as often as smaller filters require (i.e.
1 to 3 months).In conclusion, wider air filters are better for your HVAC system and for improving the quality of the air inside your home. They have higher MERV ratings and last longer than smaller filters due to their larger surface area.
