How Many Filters Does a Central Air Unit Have?

Usually, a home will have two air filters on its intake grilles. In some cases, the number may vary depending on the size of the house or apartment and the number of floors the central air system must support. Yes, the 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 the unit circulates between indoor and outdoor air. Larger homes usually have more than one climate control system, each with at least one air filter. Therefore, your home may have air filters located on the air controller and on the returns. You should check every possible location to make sure you have found all your air filters. A central air conditioning filter is usually made of spun fibreglass or pleated paper or cloth, enclosed in a rectangular cardboard frame.

Fiberglass filters, the cheapest option, are approximately one inch thick and are common in older systems. Newer models of central air conditioning use thicker pleated filters. All central heating and cooling systems must have an air filter, but it may be more difficult to locate it in some HVAC units than others. Generally, you should change the cheaper fiberglass filters every 30 days and the higher-quality pleated filters every 60 to 90 days. Most central air units would actually have two filters: you'll find one on the air controller and another (or even a few) on the return vents.If you've recently moved, bought a new home, or decided it's time to replace your air filter, you might be wondering where the filters are located.

Filters come in many sizes, so you can check the manufacturer's website for your current air filters or air conditioners or your owner's manual to determine the correct size. It is easy to identify the return air outlet when the heat pump is turned on; it is enough to place a piece of toilet paper near the ventilation grille so that the return air absorbs the tissue. While central air intakes also help filter contaminants to provide clean air, filters offer additional removal. However, it's also important to note that some air conditioning systems, especially larger ones, may have more than one air filter and may even require different sizes in different locations. Air filters are available at home improvement stores, as well as at retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon.

The best MERV rating for your particular HVAC system is one that sufficiently cleans the air in your home without obstructing airflow or forcing the engine. The reason there are a pair of filters is because it is not only necessary to filter the air that travels to the air controller but also the air that passes through the return vents. The time has come for you to change the air filter in your air conditioning system; you start looking for the slots and discover two of them. The air controller draws air from the house through the return duct system and then blows it through the heating or cooling system and returns back into your home through the duct system.