Any benefit to adding 5-inch media filter when new system is installed?

[Florida Joy]

RE Michel has no branches in my county. I don't live in Orlando. I'm a she, not a he.

Orlando may be what ya'll northerners think of when we say we're from Florida, but there are are still people like me living outside the reaches of the mouse! LOL And we wouldn't have it any other way!

[Florida Joy]

did not see that post that states he lives somewhere else. What post number is it?

#30

[dan sw fl]

Use a cut-to-fit or fiber glass as pre-filter .:. the 5" deep filter will last a couple years.

[RoBoTeq]

RE Michel has no branches in my county. I don't live in Orlando. I'm a she, not a he.

My mistake on the gender as well. Then again, since my name is Robin, I get mistaken for a female often.

[Florida Joy]

Use a cut-to-fit or fiber glass as pre-filter .:. the 5" deep filter will last a couple years.

Pre-filter a filter? Wouldn't that be double filtering, which others on this thread have advised against.... you know.... bad idea static pressure-wise?

Or are you just testing to see if I've been listening to all the advice?

[54regcab]

The standard 4" filters are cheap enough that prefiltering to extend their life doesn't make much sense. Not sure how much of a premium the special 5" filters that fit in a 1" rack cost. if they are expensive it might make sense to put a 1" cheapo filter in front of them to catch the big particles. Double filter could cause a static pressure problem if there isn't enough filter area.

[dan sw fl]

Pre-filter a filter? Wouldn't that be double filtering, which others on this thread have advised against.... you know.... bad idea static pressure-wise?

Or are you just testing to see if I've been listening to all the advice?

I am not testing -
_____ You PASS All Tests!

The media (fiber glass or cut-to-fit) I mentioned has Minimal pressure drop (dP).
+ a 5" filter has such a large surface in comparison to 1" filter,
the total dP for the 5" + fiber-glass would be significantly less than the 1" filter.

[dan sw fl]

1. Not sure how much of a premium the special 5" filters that fit in a 1" rack cost.

1. Why not?
___ If someone is hired to "change a filter", the price of the filter just went to 13X.

2. I would certainly limit thickness to < 3/16".

[Mr Bill]

Then again, since my name is Robin, I get mistaken for a female often.

Yes he does! Anyone that don't laugh at this, you ain't right!

[Florida Joy]

I am not testing -
_____ You PASS All Tests!

The media (fiber glass or cut-to-fit) I mentioned has Minimal pressure drop (dP).
+ a 5" filter has such a large surface in comparison to 1" filter,
the total dP for the 5" + fiber-glass would be significantly less than the 1" filter.

OK, I see. But I just looked at my filter grill and I wouldn't be able to squeeze a media filter in between the grill and the the 1" slot that holds the pleated filter, be it a 1" or a 5", without pushing the pleated filter out of the slot and into the return cavity. I might be able to slice a media filter vertically into four 4" wide sections that would fit between the verital supports of the grill, but I don't see the point in my case.... no dogs or cats or long-haired residents in my house! LOL

[RoBoTeq]

Yes he does! Anyone that don't laugh at this, you ain't right!

That's sort of how I felt I must have looked like the next day after you took me out honky tonking

[Florida Joy]

The standard 4" filters are cheap enough that prefiltering to extend their life doesn't make much sense. Not sure how much of a premium the special 5" filters that fit in a 1" rack cost. if they are expensive it might make sense to put a 1" cheapo filter in front of them to catch the big particles. Double filter could cause a static pressure problem if there isn't enough filter area.

Here's the brochure on the Honeywell FC40R. Filters Fast sells the 20 x 20 size for $45.00. The RE Michel catalog online lists them for $67.88. Even at the RE Michel list price, changing one every 12 months wouldn't be much more than the cost of four of the Filtrete 1500 Series 90-day filters every 12 months.

http://www.filtersfast.com/FC4-Honeywell-Brochure.pdf

[Florida Joy]

Here's the brochure on the Honeywell FC40R. Filters Fast sells the 20 x 20 size for $45.00. The RE Michel catalog online lists them for $67.88. Even at the RE Michel list price, changing one every 12 months wouldn't be much more than the cost of four of the Filtrete 1500 Series 90-day filters every 12 months.

http://www.filtersfast.com/FC4-Honeywell-Brochure.pdf

I see where Flanders (a Home Depot brand) now makes a 4" filter similar to the Honeywell fc40r.

http://flandersfilters.com/special-ad/

I picked up one of the Honeywell's from Johnstone Supply to try out with my old Rheem, which has only one undersized 20"x20" return filter grill. Unfortunately, I won't be able to use it until I change out my equipment and add another 20"x20" return. Both the Honeywell and the Flanders filters are rated as MERV 10, which is too restrictive for my current setup. I put it in just to try, but the high pressure switch at the condenser tripped after a few hours use. Had to go back to the cheap Flanders MPR 4 (MERV 8) $4 filters I'd been getting from Home Depot.