Air Conditioner Installation Van Nuys: Choosing Filter Types

Air moves differently in the San Fernando Valley than it does on the coast. The heat hangs longer, the dust rides in from construction and canyon winds, and wildfire smoke can turn an otherwise routine day into a respiratory challenge. If you are planning air conditioner installation in Van Nuys, the filter you choose will shape how the system performs, how often you service it, and how comfortably you breathe in August. Most homeowners size tonnage and pick a brand, then leave the filter to whatever came in the box. That is a mistake. Filter selection deserves the same attention as the condenser, coil, and ductwork. It can be the difference between a quiet, efficient system and a wheezing unit that short-cycles and drives up bills.

I have swapped out plenty of prematurely failed blower motors and iced coils that happened because the filter was wrong for the job, not because the equipment was bad. The good news is that the right filter choice is not complicated once you understand the trade-offs. It comes down to airflow, capture efficiency, and the realities of living in the Valley.
What a filter actually does inside your AC
Every central air system, whether a split system installation with an indoor furnace/air handler or a ductless AC installation with wall cassettes, depends on steady airflow across the evaporator coil. The coil chills the air, the blower pushes it through the supply ducts, and your rooms cool. The filter protects the coil and blower from dust, hair, and debris, and it improves indoor air quality. That single rectangular pad at the return can affect three things you will notice immediately: how fast rooms cool, how loud the blower sounds, and whether your system short-cycles or runs smoothly.

Filters impose resistance to airflow. Too restrictive, and you choke the blower, drop system capacity, and risk coil icing in humid spells. Too porous, and dust coats the coil, which insulates it like a sweater and cuts efficiency. Finding the sweet spot is the job.
Understanding MERV without getting lost in jargon
Most residential filters carry a MERV rating, short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, scaled from 1 to 16. It measures the filter’s ability to capture particles in specific size ranges. For practical purposes in a residential AC installation service, you can think of the ranges like this:
MERV 6 to 8 filters capture larger dust, lint, and hair. They protect the equipment and keep airflow high, which many older duct systems need. MERV 9 to 12 filters catch smaller particles like fine dust, some pollen, and mold spores. These often provide the best balance of clean air and fan performance in homes with decent return sizes. MERV 13 to 16 filters capture even smaller particles, including smoke and some bacteria. They help with wildfire days and sensitive lungs, but they add resistance that must be accounted for in system design.
Higher is not always better. If you jump from a MERV 8 to a MERV 13 in a system that was not designed for it, your static pressure can spike, fan speed may not https://spencerjwgu883.cavandoragh.org/ductless-ac-installation-in-van-nuys-cooling-for-older-homes https://spencerjwgu883.cavandoragh.org/ductless-ac-installation-in-van-nuys-cooling-for-older-homes compensate enough, and your coil may ice on a hot, humid evening. When we perform HVAC installation Van Nuys homeowners often have legacy duct systems with small return grilles. Those systems can struggle with high-MERV filters unless we add return capacity, upsize duct runs, or specify a low-pressure high-efficiency media cabinet.
Media, pleats, and why thickness matters
A thick filter is not just gimmickry. It is square footage folded up. The more surface area you have, the more air can pass at lower velocity, which drops resistance. A 1-inch pleated MERV 13 can be too restrictive in many residential AC installation projects. Move to a 4 or 5-inch deep media filter rated at the same MERV, and static pressure often lands within acceptable limits.

This is the reason a proper air conditioning installation frequently includes a media filter cabinet mounted on the return side of the air handler. It allows a taller, deeper filter with the same width and height as the return. If you are planning affordable AC installation and want to keep future maintenance simple, a media cabinet is one of the smartest line items you can approve. Filters last longer, generally three to six months for standard use and up to a year in cleaner homes, and the blower sees smoother airflow.
The Van Nuys factor: dust, heat, and smoke
Microclimate matters. Van Nuys sits in a bowl of heat that routinely pushes 100 degrees in July and August. Prolonged cooling calls exacerbate any airflow weakness. Meanwhile, summer construction, dry landscaping, and Santa Ana winds kick up particulate. Add seasonal wildfire smoke making its way across the Valley, and the filter must catch both large debris and fine smoke particles.

For most homes near major thoroughfares or construction, I lean toward a MERV 11 or 12 media filter in a 4 or 5-inch cabinet. If wildfire smoke is a recurring problem, we often step to MERV 13, but only with a return sized to handle it. That might mean adding a second return grille in a hallway, swapping a 12 by 24 for a 20 by 25, or choosing an air handler with a more capable ECM blower. These are decisions baked into a quality air conditioning installation, not afterthoughts. If you are interviewing an AC installation service, ask how they plan to maintain total external static pressure below the equipment’s rated limit when using the filter you prefer. You will quickly sort the pros from the parts-changers.
Disposable pleated vs. washable electrostatic
Washable filters sound convenient. In practice, I rarely recommend them for residential AC installation in the Valley. They rely on electrostatic charge and tight meshes to capture particles, which often makes them more restrictive when clean than a quality pleated media filter. After a few washes, performance becomes inconsistent, and plenty of homeowners under-clean them, re-installing damp filters that invite microbial growth. If you absolutely want washable, pair it with increased return area and a disciplined cleaning routine every two to four weeks during heavy use. For everyone else, a disposable pleated filter from a reputable manufacturer provides predictable performance and easy upkeep.
HEPA in a house: usually not where you think
True HEPA lives at MERV 17 and above. It is used in surgical suites and clean rooms. You do not stuff a HEPA into a standard return grille and hope for the best. The pressure drop would overwhelm most residential blowers. If severe allergies or medical needs require HEPA-level filtration, you add a dedicated bypass HEPA unit, where a small amount of air is drawn from the return, passed through the HEPA, then returned to the plenum. This strategy does not choke the main airflow path, and it can be combined with a mainstream MERV 11 to 13 media filter for the bulk air stream. It is not the cheapest option, but for those who need it, it is the correct one.
Ductless systems and their built-in filters
Ductless mini-splits handle filtration differently. Each indoor head has a washable screen that catches hair and large dust. Some add catechin or activated carbon inserts to handle odors and a bit of VOC reduction. These filters are low resistance by design so the small fans can move air without strain. If you are planning ductless AC installation in a dusty part of Van Nuys, you must commit to cleaning those screens monthly during peak season. For smoke events, some manufacturers offer optional fine-mesh or deodorizing inserts, but they are not substitutes for true high-MERV or HEPA filtration. In homes that rely solely on ductless systems, a separate portable HEPA unit can supplement air cleaning during wildfire season.
New install opportunities: get the filter right at design time
Air conditioning installation is the moment to solve filtration for the next decade. Retrofits can be tight on space and constrained by existing returns. A fresh residential AC installation or air conditioning replacement lets you set the stage:
Choose a media filter cabinet matched to the air handler’s width so you can use 4 or 5-inch filters with low pressure drop. Increase return grille size or add a second return to keep face velocity down. As a rule of thumb, keep return grille face velocity near or below 300 feet per minute for quieter operation and lower resistance. Select an ECM blower with room to handle moderate static increases without losing efficiency. Route returns away from kitchens and bathrooms to reduce grease and moisture loading on the filter.
A thoughtful design step, maybe an hour during the site evaluation, pays back in quieter operation, fewer service calls, and longer equipment life. Many requests that start as “ac installation near me” turn into emergency fixes when a poorly selected filter has iced a coil on a 104-degree day. Good planning sidesteps that drama.
MERV and static pressure: the math behind comfort
Installers measure external static pressure across the air handler and coil. Most residential equipment wants to see a total external static of roughly 0.5 inches of water column, give or take depending on the model. Every component consumes a slice of that allowance: the supply duct layout, the coil, the return duct, and the filter. If the filter alone eats 0.2 to 0.3 inches when new, you have little headroom left as it loads with dust.

Pleated media filters publish pressure drop curves at given face velocities. A 20 by 25 by 4-inch MERV 13 filter might show about 0.11 inches at 492 feet per minute and doubles as it loads. Swap to MERV 11 in the same frame, and you cut that resistance. Or keep MERV 13 and widen the return to lower velocity. There is no guesswork when the installer measures and uses the data. It is one reason to hire an HVAC installation service that brings a manometer and knows how to use it.
Allergies, pets, and real-world compromises
Homes with pets, especially multiple cats or dogs, load filters quickly. Pet hair and dander clog pleats, and that means more frequent changes. With two shedding dogs in a three-bedroom home, plan on a 4-inch media filter swap every 60 to 90 days during cooling season. If the return is undersized, go MERV 11 instead of 13 to keep airflow healthy and supplement with a room purifier in bedrooms. Families with asthma may benefit from MERV 13 if the return can support it, but I will accept MERV 11 and pristine coils over a MERV 13 that starves the blower. A clean coil can outperform a clogged high-MERV filter in real comfort and energy terms.
Wildfire days: filtration strategy when the sky turns brown
On smoke days, your AC becomes both a cooling system and an air cleaner. Keep windows shut, set the thermostat to hold, and let the fan run longer. If you have a media filter cabinet, step up to MERV 13 for the season if the system can handle it, or use MERV 12 and run a portable HEPA in the rooms you occupy most. Expect to replace filters more often during prolonged smoke events. I have pulled filters after a single bad week that weighed noticeably more than when they went in. That is your lungs spared.
What a good installer does before recommending a filter
Any credible AC installation service in Van Nuys will do three things before they talk filters. First, they assess return size and duct condition. If the return is a 12 by 20 feeding a 3-ton system, high-MERV is off the table unless the return grows. Second, they identify household sensitivities: pets, allergies, smoking, and work-from-home schedules that increase runtime. Third, they measure static pressure with the installed filter to verify performance. When a homeowner asks why the bid includes adding a second return, there should be measured numbers behind the recommendation. That is true whether the project is a brand-new air conditioner installation or an AC unit replacement.
Where cost fits into the decision
Upfront, adding a media cabinet runs more than staying with the thin 1-inch slot. Over a five-year horizon, it usually pays out. Thicker filters last longer, so you buy fewer per year. They protect the coil better, which avoids a service call to clean a plugged evaporator, a job that can run a few hundred dollars and eat a hot afternoon. They are also easier to change without bending the frame or whistling around the edges. If you are chasing affordable AC installation, ask for a line-item price on a media cabinet and a larger return, then compare that to the extra energy and maintenance costs of staying with thin, high-MERV filters that strain the blower.
Duct leakage: the silent enemy of filtration
A perfect filter does little good if half your return air is pulled from a dusty attic. Van Nuys homes, especially mid-century builds with later additions, often have leaky return plenums or panned returns that draw air from cavities. During AC installation Van Nuys contractors should test and seal the return path. Mastic on seams, proper collars, and eliminating panned returns tighter than a drum do more for indoor air quality than jumping two MERV ratings. When you see a filter turning black quickly, check for return leaks before blaming the outdoors.
Maintenance cadence tied to the Valley’s calendar
Filter changes should follow use, not the calendar stuck to the thermostat. Summer in the Valley means long daily runtime. Spring brings pollen, fall brings smoke, and winter can lull you into neglect. I tell clients to start with a check at 30 days on a new installation, note the dust loading, then set a schedule. For many homes with a 4-inch media filter, a 90-day rhythm in summer and 120 to 180 days in cooler seasons works. For one-inch filters, 30 to 60 days in summer is common, sometimes faster with pets.
Split system installation specifics: where the filter lives
In most split systems, the filter sits at the return grille or in a cabinet just before the air handler or furnace. Return grille filters are convenient but limited in thickness. If you want MERV 11 to 13 with low resistance, ask your installer to move filtration to a cabinet at the air handler and convert the return grille back to a simple grille without a filter, or choose deeper return grilles designed for 2-inch media. During air conditioning replacement, this is the clean moment to reconfigure placement so future changes take seconds, not an awkward dance on a step ladder.
Activated carbon and odors
Standard MERV filters deal with particles, not gases. If you battle cooking odors, pet smells, or off-gassing from new flooring, a carbon-embedded media filter can help. Carbon adds resistance, so treat it like a higher-MERV in airflow terms. In our area, carbon media proves especially useful during wildfire season because it can reduce some of the smoke smell even if it cannot catch the smallest particles like a HEPA. Expect shorter life on carbon filters; they saturate according to exposure time, not just dust loading.
What to ask when you call an installer
If you are screening companies for air conditioning installation or AC unit replacement, three questions reveal how they think about filtration and airflow.
How will you size and place the return to support the filter I want to use, and what total external static pressure do you expect after installation? What filter type and thickness do you recommend for my home, given pets and smoke concerns, and why? Will you include a media cabinet and, if needed, additional return grilles in the proposal, and can you provide pressure readings at commissioning?
Clear answers signal a company that treats filtration as part of the system rather than a consumable afterthought. That is the level of care you want from any HVAC installation service.
The installer’s playbook for balanced filtration
For most Van Nuys homes with central air, the best balance looks like this: a 4 or 5-inch MERV 11 to 13 media filter in a cabinet, returns sized generously, an ECM blower set up with measured static, and sealed ductwork. For homes prone to smoke infiltration or with sensitive occupants, add a bypass HEPA or supplement with room HEPA units. For ductless-only homes, commit to monthly cleaning of the washable screens and use a portable HEPA during fire season. Each of these choices balances performance, energy use, and maintenance.
Where filters intersect with energy efficiency
SEER ratings matter, but they are measured under ideal airflow. You can buy a high-SEER system and lose half the promise if your filter chokes the blower. The blower works harder, amperage climbs, and coil temperature drops too far, which can lead to icing and a short-lived compressor. The few watts you save with a high-MERV one-inch filter do not pencil out if it raises static pressure. Good filtration at low resistance is an energy efficiency measure in its own right. It keeps the coil clean, preserves heat transfer, and keeps fan power in check. When we commission a new air conditioning installation, we log fan watt draw with the installed filter. If the numbers spike after a filter change, that is a red flag. The habit takes minutes and can save a motor.
A note on rentals and multi-family units
In multi-family buildings, you rarely control duct design, and you might not have space for a media cabinet. Here, discipline on filter changes is everything. Stick to MERV 8 to 11 one-inch pleats unless the system’s returns are oversized and the property manager approves higher. If you are the owner planning AC installation Van Nuys property managers appreciate, specify accessible filter locations and set a replacement calendar into the lease. It prevents no-cool calls that always land on the hottest weekend.
When replacement time arrives
During air conditioning replacement, take advantage of the chance to correct filtration issues the old system lived with for years. If the old return grille whistled or the filter sucked inwards around the frame, fix it now. If you needed two service calls for iced coils, move to a deeper media filter and add return area. If allergies worsened during smoke events, consider MERV 13 with proper return sizing or integrate a bypass HEPA. These upgrades barely move the needle on project cost compared to the comfort and reliability gains. They also make the equipment warranty safer, because manufacturers can deny claims if long-term improper airflow is evident.
Local rhythms, practical choices
The Valley teaches you things if you pay attention. July tells you about airflow. September tells you about smoke. March reminds you about pollen. A filter strategy that works in a coastal bungalow falls short east of the 405. Choose a filter that respects the equipment’s airflow needs, the home’s realities, and the climate’s surprises. Ask your installer to measure, not guess. If you are comparing bids for ac installation Van Nuys homeowners trust, look for the one that talks about returns and filter cabinets with the same care they talk about condenser brands.

Done well, filtration will feel invisible. The air will smell neutral on smoky days, the blower will sound steady, the coil will stay clean, and your energy bills will reflect the equipment’s true capability. That is the quiet result of getting one small choice right at the moment of installation.

Orion HVAC
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Address: 15922 Strathern St #20, Van Nuys, CA 91406
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Phone: (323) 672-4857
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