Is this legit? HVAC filter

[demandypants]

We have a big filter like that, it came with the house. As a gal with bad allergies I appreciate whatever it can filter out of the air. But I don't know that it is life changing. Hahaha

[FoxInFiji]

Sorry I'm just seeing this! Your email went to my junk folder for some reason.

Yes that is legit. We have something very similar in our house (Trane CleanEffects) only ours has a washable HEPA filter. It's a little higher filter (MERV) rating and the filter is heavier duty because it's meant to be washed/vaccummed not tossed. Both have am electrode "filter" plate before the actual filter that will help take out anything that is ionized.

In a residential application the filter can really be placed anywhere because it's 100% returned. With the filter in your system eventually clean all of the air. Having it before the furnace will help keep the coils inside clean. Living in a more temperate climate a lot of your dust will be from having the windows open (the rest comes from pets and occupants). So it's not a bad location. Since your unit isn't bringing any outside air in after that consider everything from the point of the filter on to be clean.

We really like ours. I have bad allergies and saw a noticeable difference in them a few weeks after it was installed.

[FoxInFiji]

I think you're mixing up your terms. Return air is the air that was in your spaces and is returning to the unit. I don't recall you having outside air ducted directly to your unit (most homes don't) so your outside air comes in from opening doors and windows. So all of that air gets filtered and then goes through the fan and coil in your unit. Then it's pushed back out to your spaces and is called supply air.

No I don't think it's a big deal unless you really want it. I mainly wanted to note that for anyone reading this thread looking for a whole house filter.

Not very many residential manufacturers sell washable/reusable ones and you can buy second hand washable ones from Home Depot online if you'd like to upgrade to one in the future. Just note they won't be as heavy duty (ie. metal frame) as systems designed that like from the beginning. It is probably one of those things you'd reuse for a couple of years before replacing.

We check ours every 6 months to clean off the electrode portion and do a quick shop vac of the filter. Then once a year we take it out and wash it down really well. It takes a few days to dry because it's so dense. Many people get away with shop vacing their disposable ones and reusing them for 2 yrs or so.