Using an air filter that is too small can have serious consequences for your home's air quality. It won't do its job properly, allowing dust, mold, and other contaminants to enter the vents and be expelled into the air. This can cause a range of air quality problems. A filter that is too small or two large filters will create holes around the filter, which in turn will allow air to flow on the sides.
If the filter is too small, there will be a gap around the air cleaner. This allows dirty air to circulate around the filter, essentially rendering it useless. If the filter is too small, it won't cover the entire space and may let dust and dirt through. It's important to make sure you have the correct size filter for your HVAC system.
Check the manufacturer's specifications or ask your HVAC technician to help you choose the right product. Bending the filter results in an imperfect seal, allowing air to flow through and around the curve without going through the filter completely. You can also choose a longer filter, since there is no need to close any door or cover over the filter. An electrostatic air filter is a filter that has been charged with static electricity, trapping small particles such as mold and bacteria and keeping them in place, improving the filter's efficiency.
Making sure you have the correct filter installed in your air conditioner is a vital part of keeping it running smoothly. Before you can answer these types of questions, you need to research the purpose of an air filter, how it works, how it could be cut, and whether cutting it would change any property that allows it to do its job. The most affordable air filters usually use material such as fiberglass that covers the structure of the filter, trying to filter out the particles that pass through it. Filters with a higher MERV rating require more energy to operate and, consequently, have a higher operating cost.
The newest filters should already have the dimension, but in case you don't have them, there are tutorials available that will teach you exactly how to do it. In addition, an incorrect filter can block air from progressing due to the thickness of the dust inside the filter. A restriction of air flow can also be observed through the increase in the heating time of the boiler.
