The invention is directed to a direct replacement air handler filter placed within an air flow channel having a housing. The housing having a motor coupled to a power source. The motor being in communication with a controller having an at least one sensor input or a timer. With a filter media storage area located on one end of the housing, having a folded filter media compactly stored inside the filter media storage area, and an exposed filter media containment area located on an opposed end. The filter media extending there between. The filter media is paid out from the filter media storage area across the housing where it is exposed to air within an exposure area and removes contaminants from the air. It is further passed through a seal that seals the containment area where the filter media is re-folded, collected, and compactly stored with the filtered contaminants.