Astairh

Filtering the cold inlet and flushing the heater makes sense for long-term maintenance. But in a case like he described where the dip tube already failed and debris is moving through the system wouldn’t a temporary filter on the hot outlet help catch the remaining particles before they reach fixtures and appliances? Just wondering if running one for a short period after repair could save a lot of aerator cleaning while the system clears out.

David, I agree with your point about proper matching and airflow being key, as long as the air handler and outdoor unit are correctly paired and the duct design isn’t excessive or restrictive, the temp split should generally fall within expected ranges.