Why Do I Have Two Air Filters?

Many central air units have at least two filters, although you can find systems that only have one. The reason for this is that it is necessary to filter the air that travels to the air handler, as well as the air that passes through the return grilles. This configuration exists for several reasons, such as the fact that the service life of the filters is different, so the number of times you need to replace them varies. Technically, both components can be called “vents” because both are places where air circulates in your home.

The key difference is that the intake grilles “draw air out of the room” and the duct grilles “push” the air conditioner into the room. You can usually tell the difference visually, as the intake grilles are larger and fewer in number than the duct ventilation grilles, which are often found in every room in your home. It may be that the cabinet is configured to accept a one- or two-inch filter. I would have to remove the side rails to insert a two inch size.

It's probably easy at the time of installation. A single good quality Merv 8 filter is enough. The general rule of thumb is one filter for each air handler. Most homes, especially large ones with multiple HVAC systems, have more than one air filter installed.

They are usually placed near the oven or air conditioning system controller and return grilles. Larger homes often have more than one HVAC system. Each system will normally have at least one air filter. Therefore, your home may have air filters located in both the air handling unit and on returns. You should check every possible location to make sure you have found all of your air filters.

Yes, your central air conditioner has a filter. In fact, most central air conditioning units have two or more filters. These filters clean the air and ensure good air quality as your unit circulates between indoor and outdoor air. Now that you know where to look to find all your air filter replacements, you're on your way to breathing better, cleaner air into your home. In addition, they filter ninety percent of all particles in the air and last up to three months each.

Because the vent pushes air in, it is more efficient for particles to collide with the smooth side of the fibers. Because air handler filters have more filter material by virtue of being larger, they can pick up and hold more dust, pollen and smoke before they need to be changed. Understanding the parts of your central air system is important because it helps explain cases where multiple air filters are used in multiple locations. This is the internal system that cools or heats the air by passing it through a set of hot or cold coils, changing the temperature to the desired range set by your thermostat. In some cases, there may be more or less depending on the square footage of the house or apartment and the number of floors that must be supported by the central air system. According to Second Nature, “The air handler is the large metal case that contains the fan and fan motor”.For most standard home HVAC systems, there will be large ventilation located near the air handler in your home.

Let's say you just moved to a new house 3 months ago and it's time to change the air filters. These vents can have a wide variety of sizes, but are generally larger than vents that release air into the home (which are generally similar in dimensions to a piece of paper).This means that you have more than one air treatment filter and you are likely to have several return grilles, at least one for each duct system per HVAC system. In this case, the air filter is most likely located right next to the boiler air controller or air conditioning system. It's common knowledge that you need to replace air filters regularly, and if you don't, damage and costly repairs often result in your HVAC system. The best way to prevent dust from accumulating on the AC intake vent cover is to regularly replace the air filters.

Cheri Baldinger
Cheri Baldinger

Subtly charming problem solver. Subtly charming twitter expert. Lifelong travel fanatic. Explorer. Extreme social media specialist. Wannabe internet fan.

Leave Message

Required fields are marked *