Short answer
Whole-home air filtration in New Orleans usually means a filter cabinet installed at the air handler that holds a 4- or 5-inch pleated media filter, or an electronic air cleaner. The deeper filter has far more surface area, so it can catch fine particles like dust and pollen while keeping airflow up. Sizing matters: the cabinet must match the system's airflow and the return, or it restricts the blower.
Why the filter you have may not be enough
A thin pleated filter has little surface area, so a high-efficiency one-inch filter quickly restricts airflow, and a low-efficiency one lets fine dust through to the coil and the rooms. Neither is a good trade. A media cabinet solves both with depth: more pleats, more surface, lower resistance and longer life.
We size the cabinet to the system's airflow, fit it where the filter can be reached for changes, and seal it so air cannot bypass the filter. Electronic air cleaners suit some households. We install filtration from Aprilaire, Honeywell and other brands, and pair it with UV lamps where coil growth is the concern.
Filter options compared
| One-inch pleated filter | Media filter cabinet | Electronic air cleaner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particle capture | Low to moderate | High | High |
| Airflow restriction | Rises quickly | Low | Low |
| Upkeep | Change every 1 to 3 months | Change every 6 to 12 months | Wash cells regularly |
| Install cost | None | Moderate | Higher |
What decides the cost of filtration
We have no sourced local range for filtration upgrades, so here is what moves the price.
- Cabinet or air cleaner. Electronic air cleaners cost more than media cabinets.
- Return changes. Enlarging or adding returns adds work.
- Access. Attic air handlers take longer to fit.
- Filter rating. Higher-rated media costs a little more to replace.
- Ongoing filters. Deep media filters cost more each but last far longer.
What a filtration install includes
- Airflow and static pressure measured
- Cabinet sized to the system
- Mounted at the air handler return
- Sealed so air cannot bypass the filter
- Clear access for filter changes
- Return grille resized if needed
- Filter schedule left on the unit
Media filter cabinets
A media cabinet mounts at the air handler's return and holds a deep pleated filter, typically four or five inches. Because the pleats offer so much surface, a filter rated for fine particles can run with lower resistance than a thin filter of the same rating, and it usually lasts many months between changes. We size the cabinet to the system's airflow, seal it to the return so nothing bypasses it, and make sure there is room to slide the filter out without a struggle.
Electronic air cleaners
Electronic air cleaners charge particles and collect them on plates or a charged media filter. They catch very fine particles with little airflow restriction, but the collector cells need regular washing, and some designs produce small amounts of ozone. We explain the upkeep honestly, recommend models built not to produce ozone, and fit them where the cells can be removed easily for cleaning. For most households a deep media filter does the job with less maintenance, and we will say so.
Filter sizing and return upgrades
A filter can only work if enough air reaches it. Many systems pull through a single small return grille with a one-inch filter jammed behind it, which restricts the blower before any upgrade. Enlarging the return grille, adding a second return or moving filtration to a cabinet at the air handler lets the system breathe. We measure static pressure before and after, so a better filter does not quietly cost you airflow, efficiency and comfort. Where returns are in ceilings, we make sure the new grille opens easily.
A filter that works most of the year
In New Orleans the AC runs for much of the year, so the filter sees a great deal of air: dust tracked in from busy streets, fine debris from renovation work in older homes, and seasonal pollen. A deep media filter handles that load for months at a time without choking the blower, which matters in a climate where the system cannot afford to lose airflow in August.
How a filtration upgrade runs
- MeasureAirflow and static pressure as the system is now.
- ChooseCabinet or air cleaner sized to the system.
- InstallMounted at the return, with room to change filters.
- SealNo gaps for air to bypass the filter.
- TestStatic pressure checked again after install.