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Filter Sizing & Installation Terms
Actual Size The precise physical dimensions of an air filter (length, width, and thickness), usually measured to a fraction of an inch (e.g., 19.5" x 24.5" x 0.75"). Always check the actual size on your current filter frame before ordering from Amorair to guarantee a perfect fit.
Air Conditioner (AC) The part of your HVAC system that cools the air in your home during warmer months. Your air filter is crucial for protecting the AC's sensitive coils from dust and debris.
Airflow The movement of air through your HVAC system and home. A clean filter ensures optimal airflow, while a clogged one restricts it, forcing your system to work harder and increasing energy bills.
Air Handler The indoor unit of your HVAC system that contains the blower fan, heating/cooling elements, and, most importantly, the slot for your air filter.
Airborne Particles Microscopic solids or liquids suspended in the air, such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and smoke. The primary job of your Amorair filter is to capture these particles.
Allergen A substance that can trigger an allergic reaction. Common indoor allergens captured by air filters include pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and dust mite debris.
Antimicrobial Agent A substance sometimes added to filter media to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria on the filter surface itself.
Arrestance A measure of a filter's ability to capture larger airborne particles, like dust and lint. It's an older rating system, largely replaced by MERV.
Bacteria Microscopic single-celled organisms. While most home filters can't capture all bacteria, higher MERV-rated filters can trap the larger particles to which bacteria often attach.
Blower Motor The powerful fan inside your air handler that pushes conditioned air through the ductwork. A clogged filter can overwork and damage this critical component.
Carbon Filter (Activated Carbon) A type of filter media infused with activated carbon, which is highly effective at adsorbing odors, gases, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from the air. Ideal for homes with pets, smokers, or cooking smells.
Cardboard Frame The disposable border that gives a pleated filter its structure. Our Amorair filters use a sturdy, moisture-resistant cardboard frame to prevent collapsing under pressure.
Central Air System Another term for a home's HVAC system, which heats and cools the entire house from a central unit using a network of ducts.
CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) A measurement of airflow volume. It indicates how many cubic feet of air pass through a point in one minute. Your HVAC system is designed for a specific CFM range.
Change-out The simple act of removing your old, dirty air filter and replacing it with a fresh, clean one.
Clogged Filter A filter that has trapped so much debris that it significantly restricts airflow. This leads to poor air quality, higher energy costs, and potential HVAC system damage.
Coil Refers to the evaporator and condenser coils in your AC and furnace. They are essential for heat exchange. A clean filter is the number one defense against dirt buildup on these expensive components.
Disposable Filter A filter designed to be thrown away and replaced after its recommended lifespan (typically 1-3 months). All standard pleated filters sold by Amorair are disposable.
Downstream The side of the filter where clean, filtered air exits and continues into your HVAC system.
Ductwork (Ducts) The system of channels or pipes, usually hidden in walls and ceilings, that distributes heated or cooled air throughout your home.
Dust A common indoor pollutant made of fine particles of soil, cloth fibers, dead skin cells, and more. It's a primary target for every air filter.
Dust Mite Debris A powerful allergen consisting of the waste products and decaying bodies of microscopic dust mites. High-efficiency filters are excellent at capturing it.
Efficiency A filter's ability to capture airborne particles of a certain size. Higher efficiency means the filter can trap smaller, more harmful particles.
Electrostatic Filter A filter with media that uses a self-generating static charge to attract and capture particles, much like a sock clings to a sweater in the dryer.
Evaporator Coil The part of your AC system that absorbs heat from the indoor air. It's located inside the air handler and is extremely vulnerable to dirt if the filter is missing or clogged.
Fiberglass Filter A basic, low-cost type of filter made from spun glass fibers. They offer minimal filtration (typically MERV 1-4) and are designed mainly to protect the HVAC unit, not improve air quality.
Filter Depth The thickness of a filter, typically ranging from 1 inch to 5 inches. Thicker filters generally have more surface area, last longer, and can offer better airflow.
FPR (Filter Performance Rating) A rating system developed by The Home Depot, ranging from 4 to 10. It is similar to MERV but is a proprietary scale used for their in-house brands.
Frame The rigid border of an air filter that holds the media in place and ensures it fits snugly in your HVAC system's filter slot.
Furnace The part of your HVAC system that heats the air in your home during colder months. Just like an AC, it relies on a clean filter to function efficiently and safely.
Gasket A strip of foam or soft material applied to the edges of a filter frame to create a tighter seal, preventing air from bypassing the filter media.
Heat Pump An all-in-one HVAC unit that can both heat and cool your home. It functions like an AC in the summer and reverses the process to provide heat in the winter, relying on the same air filter year-round.
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) Filter The gold standard in air filtration. A true HEPA filter must capture at least 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size. They are rarely used in standard residential HVAC systems due to their high airflow resistance.
HVAC An acronym for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It refers to the entire system responsible for managing your home's climate and air quality.
IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) The overall quality of the air inside your home, considering the levels of pollutants, humidity, and temperature. Using the right Amorair filter is a cornerstone of good IAQ.
Lint Fibers that shed from clothing, carpets, and upholstery, easily captured by even basic air filters.
Media The actual filtering material inside the frame. At Amorair, our filters use advanced synthetic media designed to capture particles effectively without overly restricting airflow.
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) The industry-standard rating for air filter efficiency, established by ASHRAE. The scale runs from 1 to 16 for residential filters. A higher MERV number means the filter can capture smaller particles.
MERV 8: Great for capturing essentials like dust, lint, and pollen. A popular choice for general use.
MERV 11: An excellent upgrade for superior residential filtration. Captures everything MERV 8 does, plus pet dander, mold spores, and smog.
MERV 13: Top-tier residential filtration. Captures all of the above, plus finer particles like some bacteria and virus carriers. Ideal for those with allergies, asthma, or serious air quality concerns.
Micron A unit of measurement equal to one-millionth of a meter. Airborne particles are measured in microns. For context, a human hair is about 50-70 microns wide. The most harmful particles are often less than 10 microns.
Mold Spores Microscopic reproductive cells from fungi that float in the air. Inhaling them can cause allergic reactions or illness. Filters rated MERV 8 and higher are effective at capturing them.
MPR (Microparticle Performance Rating) A proprietary rating system from the company 3M, used for their Filtrete brand. It focuses on the capture of particles between 0.3 and 1 micron in size.
Nominal Size The approximate, "in-name-only" size of a filter, rounded to the nearest whole inch (e.g., 20x25x1). This is the size you'll see in large print and is used for shopping. Always confirm with the actual size for a perfect fit.
Odor Unpleasant smells from sources like pets, cooking, smoke, or trash. Standard pleated filters do not remove odors, but filters with an activated carbon layer are specifically designed for this purpose.
Particle A tiny piece of solid or liquid matter. When discussing air filters, this refers to anything from large dust bunnies to microscopic virus carriers.
Pet Dander Tiny flecks of skin shed by animals with fur or feathers. It's a very common and potent allergen. A filter rated MERV 11 or higher is highly recommended for homes with pets.
Pleated Filter A filter where the media is folded into an accordion-like pattern. This dramatically increases the surface area compared to a flat panel filter, allowing it to capture more particles and last longer. All Amorair filters are pleated for superior performance.
PM2.5 Fine inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. These are considered very dangerous as they can get deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream. High-MERV filters (11+) are needed to effectively reduce PM2.5 levels.
PM10 Inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller. Includes dust, pollen, and mold. Most standard pleated filters are effective at capturing PM10.
Pollen A fine powder from plants that is a major cause of seasonal allergies. Most filters, especially those MERV 8 and above, are very effective at trapping pollen.
Polyester A common type of synthetic material used in modern pleated filter media. It is durable, moisture-resistant, and effective at capturing particles.
Pressure Drop The difference in air pressure between the upstream (dirty air) side and the downstream (clean air) side of the filter. It's another way to measure airflow resistance. A higher pressure drop means more resistance.
Replacement Schedule The recommended frequency for changing your air filter (e.g., every 90 days). This schedule depends on your filter type and home environment (e.g., if you have pets or live in a dusty area, you may need to replace it more often).
Return Air Vent / Grille The vent in your wall or ceiling that pulls air from the room back into the HVAC system to be heated or cooled. The air filter is typically located right behind this grille or in the air handler itself.
Smoke A collection of tiny airborne particles and gases produced by burning material. High-MERV filters (MERV 13+) are needed to capture fine smoke particles. Carbon filters are needed to address the smoky odor.
Static Pressure The measure of resistance the HVAC fan must overcome to move air through the entire system. A filter that is too dense or clogged will increase static pressure, putting strain on the system's components.
Supply Vent The vent where clean, temperature-controlled air blows out into your rooms.
Surface Area The total area of the filter media available to capture particles. Pleating is the key to maximizing surface area in a compact frame. More surface area generally means a longer filter life and better airflow.
Synthetic Media Man-made filter materials, like polyester, designed to have superior filtration properties compared to natural fibers like fiberglass or cotton. Amorair filters utilize advanced synthetic media.
Upstream The side of the filter that faces the incoming, dirty airflow from your room. This is the side that gets visibly dirty first.
UV Filter / UV Light Air Purifier Not a filter in the traditional sense, but a system that uses ultraviolet light to kill airborne bacteria, viruses, and mold spores as they pass by. It's often used in conjunction with a high-quality particle filter.
Virus Infectious agents that are even smaller than bacteria. While most viruses are too small to be trapped directly, high-MERV filters can capture the larger respiratory droplets that carry them.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) Gases emitted from certain solids or liquids, such as paints, cleaning supplies, and new furniture. They can be harmful to your health. Only filters with an activated carbon layer are effective at reducing VOCs.
Washable Filter A filter designed to be washed and reused. While seemingly economical, they are often less efficient at capturing small particles and can harbor mold and bacteria if not dried completely.
Whole-House Air Cleaner A more advanced filtration system installed directly into your ductwork, often using thick media filters (4-5 inches deep) that last much longer (6-12 months).
Wire Mesh A metal grid on the downstream side of a pleated filter that provides extra support to the media, preventing it from being sucked into the blower motor.
Filter Slot / Rack The designated compartment in your furnace or air handler where the air filter slides into place.
Filter Direction Arrow The printed arrow on every filter frame. This arrow MUST point towards the furnace/air handler (in the direction of airflow) for the filter to work correctly.
Snug Fit How a correctly sized filter should feel in its slot. There should be no gaps around the edges, as this would allow dirty air to bypass the filter.
Thickness / Depth The third dimension of a filter (e.g., the '1' in 20x25x1). Using the correct thickness is just as important as getting the length and width right.
Undersized A filter that is even slightly too small for its slot. This creates gaps and renders the filter ineffective, as air will follow the path of least resistance around it.
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