Are you wondering if you can cut an air filter to fit your HVAC system? The answer is yes, but only if you know what you're doing and the air filters don't become too weak from the cut. It's important to consult your air conditioner's instruction manual or talk to your HVAC technician when the system is first installed to determine which filter is best for your unit. MERV 9-12 is usually the highest quality air filters you'll find in normal residential buildings. Some HVAC units cannot push air through HEPA filters and others with a high MERV, so it's important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations to avoid affecting system efficiency. An air purifier is a stand-alone unit that can be configured along with the rest of the system, while the filter is an essential component integrated into the HVAC unit itself.
MERV is a scale ranging from 1 to 20 and was developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers to measure the ability of a filter to remove particulates from the air. The air filter is one of the most important parts of your HVAC system, but it's often the most overlooked thing. If the manufacturer claims that you can cut the filters to fit your liking, it is obviously more advisable than if they warn against it. If you rent or live in a place where you can't install normal return ventilation, then a cut-to-size air filter is your only option. The air filter installation tape runs around the perimeter of the ventilation grille where you want to install the filter. There have been some studies that show that electrostatic air filters trap more dust and other particles than normal filters without charge, but more research is needed to determine their actual effectiveness. Therefore, it's important to address the question of whether you can cut these filters to better fit your ducts and whether this will cause problems before proceeding.
The installation tape is made of small plastic teeth that hold the air filter material and hold it in place. If the unit does not have enough power, the filter can block airflow and reduce system efficiency.
