Here’s a quick explanation of some of the different air filters available at Home Depot to the homeowner.
HVAC (Air Filters)
April 1st, 2010 
admin 
Posted in Videos 
Tags: air, Conditioner, conditioning, Different Air, DrZarkloff, Home Depot, Hvac Air Filters, Hvac Filters, HVAC/R, mechanic, Starkloff, TECHNICIAN
Thanks for the info
The best kind of filter to use would be a HEPA filter. For those who have allergies and want the least particulate count.
Cleaning a cheap $.99 filter?? You`ll never get all the dust out, that`s just retarded
Ddddddude WTF is this guy doing….. please run dont walk away from this guy
Thanks. You got the answer right.
it’s the other suggestions that are going to hurt someone.
HEY DOC make sure they know about GRILLE sizes 22x22x1 filter is NOT one to use in a GRILLE on your ceiling or wall. IF? its gos into your unit? its fine, but a grille filter is smaller the a 22x22x1 filter.
GOT IT? 22x22x1 GRILLE for your wall or ceiling GRILLE! only.. filter people suck!
Brian in florida
Why would you vacuum out the air filter in your house, you’re just putting the dust back inside? You should vacuum the filter outside.
My vacuum cleaner is one of the best on the market for people with allergies. It’s a tri-star.
You do make a good point. You’re really better off to take it outside and blow it off with a leaf blower. I have a pleated filter and I’ve cleaned it off several times since the beginning of the year. I clean off my air filter every couple of weeks. I’ve got a lot of flak from this video. I don’t care what they say. I like to keep my return air flowing good.
Thank you ,,,,,,, your video’s are wonderful ,,,, keep them coming
Hey Dr. Z, can you do a video on heat load calculations?
Thanks.
I’m still trying to write a script for that one.
In Arizona our units are roof mounted, I had the united changed out and also upsized. I want good filtration but I have to be careful about restriction. There’s only 1 20 x 25 return for a 4 ton unit. Filters that filter well restrict air and actually bow the filter. Should I have the return air size upsized, or should I have the depth changed to say around 2″ or 4″ ??
I would disagree on one thing in particular…..fiberglass filters are basically useless and don’t filter much of anything. They should NEVER be cleaned and reused, just throw them away, they’re cheap. Vacuuming only loosens some of the dirt and leaves it available to be sucked into your system…… My tech. nearly flipped when I told him this suggestion…..
Let’s just say that cleaning the filter can at least buy you some time so that you can run your a/c while you go out and buy a new filter.
A 20 X 25 return should be plenty for a 4 ton system. It would be a good idea to upsize to at least a 2″ thick filter.
Problem solved….if I don’t mind crawling up on the roof. My particular unit has a rack inside that will fit two 16 x 25 filters. I can use it instead of the one 20 x 25 return in the house. It will double my filtration area and not restrict the air flow so much.
It sounds like a lot of trouble to replace a filter, but if you don’t mind…
why did you chose to use the better then nothing filter in your own home?
Sorry about the poor example. I’m using a pleated filter now.
Does anyone recommend the electrostatic filters. I would like to have a filter that I can clean and never have to replace or atleast for a while. Those can be washed out and reused correct? Which brand do you recommend for electrostatic filters if they are worth the investment.
@derrickb1974 My bought one and loved it. He would just hose it off once a month and he says he noticed a big difference in the amount of dust in your house (was less with the reusable kind). I’ll ask him what brand he used.
I think that SOME UNITS dont handle pleat type filters due to LOW AIR FLOW
Hey doc,
If you have a homeowner that has odor or allergy concerns, try installing a uv light. They kill all the germs that cause the issues at the evaporator coil.
Yes they are expensive, and yes the bulbs will need to be replaced yearly, but they work.
A paper pleat in the filter grill, a media filter (april aire or similar) in the return air duct, and a ultra violet light and your set…
J