The 4-inch thick air filter has a clear advantage over filter 1 in terms of longevity, air flow and maximum filtering potential. So, if it fits your oven, then a 4-inch air filter is the better choice for improving air quality. The short answer is that size does matter when it comes to the thickness of your oven filter. From a price point of view, an oven filter could save you a few dollars.
But 4-inch filters or thicker are worth the extra cost. In addition, they will give your heating system better health and efficiency. With more surface area to trap air contaminants, a 4-inch air filter offers a longer lifespan than a 1-inch air filter. Fewer filter changes mean less money and convenience.
The reason media filters work better is because they have more surface area. These 4-inch multimedia filters can have between 20 and 30 feet of surface area with their pleated (accordion) filter material. This increased surface area allows them to trap more dirt without clogging as quickly. The 20x25x4 air filter is a larger oven than other oven filters.
At four inches thick, it offers a larger surface area to capture more particles and germs from the airflow. It works better and lasts longer than other cheaper disposable air filters. As a result, homeowners don't need to change 20x25x4 air filters as often. Owen also noted that wildfire smoke is a complex mixture, incorporating both physical smoke particles (which are permanently trapped by filters) and water vapor and volatile organic compounds (gases), which are not trapped and the latter create a smoky scent.
1-inch pleated air filters have higher MERV ratings for one simple reason: they have more surface area to trap particles. So not only will you clean the air better, but you'll also get much more airflow than the standard one-inch. The higher the MERV index, the smaller the contaminants a filter can trap, which also means it will clog up faster. On the other hand, with a clean 20x25x4 air filter, homeowners prevent more particles from entering the oven.
These media filters have much stiffer cardboard frames, and some media filters even have plastic “rails” on the top and bottom so you can slide them inside the oven with a very tight seal. If the return duct is not perfectly sealed, air leaks will occur and a negative pressure balance will be generated in the system. But those are rare circumstances, and the decision to pay more for a better filter or not comes down mainly to whether cleaner air is a priority for you or not. With it, you can check the status of your filter from your smartphone to see if and when it needs to be changed. If you put several 1-inch filters together, it's similar to putting together 5 coffee filters and trying to make a cup of coffee - it just doesn't work.
He later chaired the ASHRAE 52.2 committee, which regularly updates the standard to address changes in filter technology. We service, repair and install all types and brands of heaters and air conditioners along with drain cleaning. In conclusion, investing in a 4-inch thick air filter is worth it for improved air quality in your home or office space. Not only will it last longer than thinner filters, but it will also provide better protection against airborne contaminants.