When it comes to air filters, size matters. The 20x25x4 air filter is a larger oven than other oven filters, with a thickness of four inches. This offers a larger surface area to capture more particles and germs from the airflow, making it more effective and longer-lasting than other cheaper disposable air filters. The 4-inch filter covers a higher range of MERV ratings, with a slight overlap with 1-inch filters.
With a filter of 4, you'll get at least 8 MERV rating, and with higher ratings of up to 16, you can put controls on supermicro contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and dust particles. Pleated oven filters provide more surface area for filtering contaminants and are a popular alternative to conventional fiberglass oven filters. Heating and air conditioning specialists recommend HVAC maintenance at least twice a year, in addition to regularly changing dirty 20x25x4 air filters. You can proactively clean the air and surfaces in your home by adding a UV air purifier that creates supercharged particles and produces hydrogen peroxide or H2O2 aerosol.
In the real world, with the air in your home constantly recirculating through the ducts and passing through the filters every time, the cumulative effect of the filters increases. Both are evidence that the smoky air is finding a way around the clogged filter rather than through it, and that it's time to install a new one. Going down an inch in thickness shouldn't be a big problem; for example, you should be able to use a 4-inch filter instead of a 5-inch filter. While many 1-inch filters need to be replaced every 90 days or so, a 4-inch oven filter, such as the Honeywell Home pleated air filter, lasts up to a year.
So when it comes to choosing between the 20x25x4 air filter and 20x25x1 air filter for your home, it's clear that the 4-inch option offers better performance and longer replacement intervals. It's also important to remember that you should always have an oven filter installed in your home, even if it is a disposable and affordable oven filter.
