Filters that fit
A better filter only helps if your system can breathe through it.
A higher-rated filter traps more fine particles and slows the air down more. We find the highest rating your system takes without starving the blower, and fit it so the air can't go around.
A one-inch slot and a wish for MERV 13
That pairing is the usual reason to call us first.
A filter door that doesn't close flat
Air takes the gap and skips the filter.
Rooms that get less air than they used to
A filter too dense for the blower can do that.
A blower that's louder with a new filter
Notice it, and call before you run it for weeks.
Filters that look clean on one side only
Often a sign the air isn't passing evenly.
At the visit
Four steps, about an hour in the house.
- 01
Step 1: Look
We open the cabinet, read the filter size and rating, and check the door and gaps.
- 02
Step 2: Measure
We read how hard the blower is pulling with what's in the slot now.
- 03
Step 3: Fit
A better filter, a deeper cabinet or a gasket, whichever the reading supports.
- 04
Step 4: Write it down
The size, the rating, the change schedule and the thermostat setting, on one page.
Two ways to fit it
A thin filter in the old slot, or a deeper cabinet.
| One-inch filter in the slot | Deeper media cabinet | |
|---|---|---|
| Airflow | One-inch filter in the slotLess area, so a high rating pushes back harder | Deeper media cabinetMore filter area, so less resistance at the same rating |
| Changing it | One-inch filter in the slotMore often, and easy to forget | Deeper media cabinetUsually less often, per the maker's schedule |
| Fit | One-inch filter in the slotNothing to install | Deeper media cabinetA cabinet is added to the return or the furnace |
| Best for | One-inch filter in the slotSystems with a blower that can't take more | Deeper media cabinetSystems where MERV 13 is wanted for the long run |
What drives the cost
What moves the price of a filter job.
The cabinet
Whether your system takes a deeper one, and where it can go.
The return
One return or several, and how they're built.
The filter
The rating, the size and how often it's changed.
Access
A closet, a crawlspace or an attic.
Gaps and sealing
How much of the cabinet and returns needs closing up.
Filters
Questions about filter ratings
What does MERV mean?
It's a scale for how well a filter traps particles of different sizes. A higher number traps more of the small ones.
Can I just buy a MERV 13 filter and try it?
You can, but watch for weaker airflow or a noisier blower. If you notice either, call us before you run it for weeks.
Do you work on ductless units?
Yes. Those have washable filters in the indoor unit, and we show you how to clean them.
How do I find my filter size?
It's printed on the edge of the filter in the slot. Text us a photo and we'll read it.
Send us a photo of the slot.
We'll tell you what rating we'd try before we visit.