Is this AC Air filter too restrictive?

Is my air filter too restrictive? I first choose the cheap one at home depot blue color for 99 cents but that is MERV1

So I chose now the next up MERV5 but now whenever the air sucking starts, the filter concaves inside proving that it is restrictive. So should I go back to MERV1 the blue color cheap one?

If this is too restrictive then how do some people use MERV5 and above sometimes I hear MERV10-15. Do they have a different set up?

 

Why do you think you need a higher MERV rating?
Think about what that little box in the basement with a 1-inch-thick filter does. Do you really think it's going to filter the air you breath for the whole house?
What does the furnace manufacturer recommend?
Unless you have mild dust problem or a mild breathing problem, I would stick with the cheap ones. You want to filter out large particles like dog and cat hair in order to keep the innards of the furnace relatively clean.

 

That basic pleated air filter is not too restrictive. Cleaning evaporator coils can be difficult and expensive.

I would use the pleated air filter.

 

What do you mean it is not restrictive? Whenever there is air suction I can see that the filter moves inwards meaning filter is blocking the air flow.

 

Norm201 you said

You want to filter out large particles like dog and cat hair in order to keep the innards of the furnace relatively clean.
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But how about the small particles?

 

Looks to me that the filter is too small re: not enough filter area.
Cannot really tell without actually seeing the ducting/filter housing setup/

 

how can the filter be too small?

It fits perfectly it is the right size.

I am not understanding

 

Your over thinking.

Considering the amount of time the furnace runs in a given day it doesn't matter what filter you use it's just not going to be doing a whole lot.

Unless you run your blower 24/7 all your doing is taking out a tiny fraction of the stuff floating around in your house!

 

What Marq said.
Again, what do you think or expect the filter to accomplish?
Against all the advice and orders from our store managers and the 3M reps, I continue to advise customers not to buy into the high-end filters unless they have a very specific need and even then, don't expect much.
First, what does the furnace manufacture recommend?
Then, start out with the cheapest filter. You want to eliminate large particulates and debris from getting into the motor, fan and internal workings. You can't stop the micro type particles from getting inside. If that works and you have no particular problem with the way the furnace works then you're good. Stop trying to improve on it.
If you have a dust problem or an allergy, then move up to the next grade of filter (don't bother trying to understand the MERV rating. That's for the scientist and technicians.) Keep moving up a filter grade until you find what is comfortable. You want to get the right filter to coincide with you furnace and your comfort.

 

That filter looks like the most basic unrestrictive pleated air filter available at Home Depot. It will bow in because it doesn't have a good wire backing available on slightly better filters.

A manometer is the tool that I use to measure the external static pressure across the furnace. The furnace states the desired ESP but it is usually .5" W.C.
Many systems have undersized ductwork. That filter grill may be too small as posted earlier. ( not just the filter).

I usually recommend the least restrictive pleated filter available.