Buyer beware
Hello all,So, I learned an interesting thing over the last few years. When you purchase a heat pump, or really any other type of air handler, make sure you buy a model that uses standard filters. Seems pretty obvious but I know my Daikin unit uses an oddball filter size that is not available anywhere in Canada/North America without getting it custom made. The actual true dimension of the filter required is 20″x23-3/8″ (1″ filter). Standard filters are 1/2″ smaller than their listed size so a 20×24 filters are too big (by +1/8″); 20×23 are too small (19.5×22.5 -actual) – these will work (marginally) as air passes slightly around the 19.5″ edge.
Daikin should know better than to manufacture an AHU that is 1/8″ too small for a standard filter…I guess building it in America is not so great after all.
I am sure other manufacturers do this from time to time so just make sure you can source filters for the equipment you are buying.
Better yet buy a separate filter cabinet and put it in the duct so that is not a problem. The problem is that manufactures make the equipment to get the most use of the size metal they have trying to make them as standard as they can. What I often see is a 3 ton system with a built in filter rack that is 20×20. The problem there is not that the filter size is hard to find but that it is not big enough for the amount of air that has to move through it. Even the cabinet on the 5T systems will not have proper face velocity across the media. package systems are often better for this as they have the room for more than one filter inside the unit. There is a reason that good contractors quote separate filter cabinets. It all has to do with getting the air flow and most capacity of the filter.
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I never use the internal filter for our customers. Why would I force them to search for irregular filter sizes and go through the hassle of taking the cabinet doors off to change filters? I select an appropriately sized filter for the equipment and install a nice, big return duct for low air velocity and quiet operation. I want our customers to be happy with their purchase, not aggravated.
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Well Goodman/Daikin isnt really known for having stellar products. Im not at all surprised
“I think Quantum tunneling would work great…“
“Call a technician for God’s sake. Or we’ll see you on the news or the Dark Side of the Moon.”
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I really wish I had 20/20 hindsight at all the “possible” issues I have had with this contractor and manufacturer. I just assumed the contractor knew what he was doing (many more issues than just this thread); they are a reputable company in our neck of the woods.Thank you for your insight, maybe I will try to get them to build a filter box that is standard sized.