When it comes to oven filters, size does matter. It may be tempting to use a 1-inch filter instead of a 5-inch filter, but this could cause more harm than good. The 5-inch filter is designed to capture more contaminants over a longer period of time, so if your oven runs on a thicker filter, no more dust and debris can get into your moving parts. Using a 1-inch filter may be too shallow, causing a loose fit that allows unfiltered air to enter the ducts.
Reducing the thickness by one inch shouldn't be a problem; for example, you should be able to use a 4-inch filter instead of a 5-inch filter. However, using 5.1 filters will not work, as it will not have enough air passage and will overheat the oven and generate little air. The main purpose of an oven filter is to protect the internal fan from elements such as dust and hair. All forced air furnaces use some type of filter, which passes air through the filter before entering the main body of the system, and most heating and air conditioning systems share a filter. The filter must fit tightly into place, and there will be too much air flow around a filter that is too thin. In addition to these advantages, you may also realize that a 5-inch oven filter versus a 1-inch filter makes all the difference in the lifespan of your air conditioning system.
The designers thought that your oven would use a precise size, and you should always choose the filter with the right proportions. Since the designers intended the 1-inch filters to work alone, stacking them together will cause the oven to push air through a barely penetrable wall. Now that you understand why size matters when it comes to oven filters, it is important to talk about the standard sizes of oven filters in terms of nominal and actual size. Then, the existing filter is simply removed from the unit and the new filter slides directly into the empty space. This is where having professional guidance can really help ensure that the filter fits the oven properly. A properly maintained oven filter will help improve your home's air quality, and clean air is vital to your overall health.
If you have an older unit, not changing the filter often enough can cause enough damage to require the purchase of a completely new oven.
