A laundry appliance comprising: a rotating drum for processing laundry; an air path having an air moving unit adapted to deliver air through the air path and through the rotating drum; the air moving unit being a blower that directs process air through the air path that includes the rotating drum; a heat pump system having a plurality of heat exchangers, comprising a first heat exchanger in the form of an evaporator, positioned within the air path, that cools and dehumidifies the process air; and characterized by: a plurality of air filters arranged sequentially that capture lint from the process air at respective positions upstream of the first heat exchanger; a filter spray system having a plurality of fluid sprayers that deliver fluid to a surface of each air filter of the plurality of air filters, wherein each fluid sprayer of the plurality of fluid sprayers is configured to direct captured lint away from a respective air filter of the plurality of air filters, when in use; wherein: the plurality of air filters includes first and second lint filters (80, 82) that are positioned in a parallel arrangement adjacent to the first heat exchanger; and the filter spray system includes first and second fluid sprayers (90, 92) that deliver the fluid to the first and second air filters (80, 82), respectively; the laundry appliance further comprising: a drain channel positioned below the plurality of air filters, wherein the plurality of fluid sprayers is configured to direct the fluid across the plurality of air filters and into the drain channel; wherein the drain channel also is configured to receive condensate from the first heat exchanger; wherein the drain channel is sloped to direct the condensate and the fluid to a fluid pump; wherein: the first lint filter is positioned upstream of the first heat exchanger and the second lint filter is positioned between the first lint filter and the first heat exchanger; and the first and second lint filters (80, 82) each include a mesh that captures the lint, the first lint filter having a first mesh size and the second lint filter having a second mesh size that is smaller than the first mesh size. a rotating drum for processing laundry; an air path having an air moving unit adapted to deliver air through the air path and through the rotating drum; the air moving unit being a blower that directs process air through the air path that includes the rotating drum; a heat pump system having a plurality of heat exchangers, comprising a first heat exchanger in the form of an evaporator, positioned within the air path, that cools and dehumidifies the process air; and characterized by: a plurality of air filters arranged sequentially that capture lint from the process air at respective positions upstream of the first heat exchanger; a filter spray system having a plurality of fluid sprayers that deliver fluid to a surface of each air filter of the plurality of air filters, wherein each fluid sprayer of the plurality of fluid sprayers is configured to direct captured lint away from a respective air filter of the plurality of air filters, when in use; the plurality of air filters includes first and second lint filters (80, 82) that are positioned in a parallel arrangement adjacent to the first heat exchanger; and the filter spray system includes first and second fluid sprayers (90, 92) that deliver the fluid to the first and second air filters (80, 82), respectively; a drain channel positioned below the plurality of air filters, wherein the plurality of fluid sprayers is configured to direct the fluid across the plurality of air filters and into the drain channel; wherein the drain channel also is configured to receive condensate from the first heat exchanger; wherein the drain channel is sloped to direct the condensate and the fluid to a fluid pump; wherein: the first lint filter is positioned upstream of the first heat exchanger and the second lint filter is positioned between the first lint filter and the first heat exchanger; and the first and second lint filters (80, 82) each include a mesh that captures the lint, the first lint filter having a first mesh size and the second lint filter having a second mesh size that is smaller than the first mesh size. the first lint filter is positioned upstream of the first heat exchanger and the second lint filter is positioned between the first lint filter and the first heat exchanger; and the first and second lint filters (80, 82) each include a mesh that captures the lint, the first lint filter having a first mesh size and the second lint filter having a second mesh size that is smaller than the first mesh size.