Air Filters: Your Guide To Choosing And Replacing Them
Selecting the right furnace filter and changing it when it is dirty is as important to your HVAC system as changing the oil is to your car. Each plays a crucial role in keeping its system running safely, efficiently and for a long time.
An overused furnace filter loses its effectiveness, allowing potentially harmful particles to flow through your home. It also limits airflow, which can damage your furnace and decrease its life span.
Making sure your furnace uses a clean filter that is appropriate for your needs is not only about keeping your furnace working efficiently. It’s also about creating excellent indoor air quality for your residence.
The quality of the air your family breathes is important to the heating and cooling pros at Tokay Heating & Air. We’ve long focused on improving indoor air quality in Lodi. Here, we’ve answered frequent questions about HVAC filters, including that particularly tricky question of what direction do you point a filter in your furnace or air conditioner?
When To Replace The Air Filter In Your Furnace
It’s vital to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner routinely. Soiled filters cause the system to worker harder than it should because it takes extra work to force air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials advise examining your furnace filter every 30 days and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if the filter needs to be changed because it will be gray or black from dirt or dust. People who have dogs and cats will probably have to replace their furnace air filter more often, because a quality air filter will trap pet hair circulating in a home.
How To Find The Furnace's Air Filter?
In general, a furnace air filter is commonly installed in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air reaches the furnace. This ensures air entering the system is filtered before it moves through the furnace components and is heated.
Depending on the furnace brand, the filter may be located on the right, left, bottom or in some cases, inside the furnace. It’s typically housed within a slot, frame or cabinet for simple access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace’s owner manual for information about filter location of the furnace in your home.
Is A Furnace Filter The Same As An Air Filter?
The straightforward answer is, yes. In HVAC, a furnace filter and an air filter or AC filter are basically identical. While people might refer to them differently based on the current season— hot or cold—they are all filters that clean the air in your home.
They each remove dust, allergens, bacteria and other particulates from the air that is drawn into the furnace and air conditioning system, ensuring the air distributed throughout your home is clean and safe.
What Are MERV Ratings And What Rating Is Best for Me?
Once you find your old furnace filter and decide when it should be replaced, it’s time to select a replacement. That means deciding on the level of filtration that you need. One way to do that is by choosing an appropriate MERV rating for your needs.
MERV is short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values. The MERV rating measures the effectiveness of air filters at trapping airborne contaminants. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, with greater numbers indicating a greater ability to filter small particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers an ideal balance between having adequate indoor air quality without overly restricting airflow. However, people with certain health conditions might need to purchase a filters with a higher MERV rating.
How To Place The Air Filter In A Furnace Or AC Unit
Putting an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner the proper way is crucial for the efficient operation of the system. Air filters have a particular direction, indicated by an arrow printed on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be placed in the unit with this arrow pointing toward the furnace or AC, which is the direction of the airflow. If you’re doubtful about the airflow direction, remember that air always moves from the return duct to the heat or cooling source. Therefore, make certain the arrow points at the furnace or AC.
Many people struggle with which direction to point their system’s air filter. To help remember, consider taking a picture with your mobile phone after the filter has been properly installed by a professional. Or, you also could ask a technician to use a marker to write on the outside of your furnace which direction the filter should go. A perfect time to ask about this is during a routine furnace maintenance visit.
Changing Your Furnace's Air Filter
Replacing the filter on your furnace or AC is an easy process. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to take out a dirty air filter and replace it with a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Be sure to turn off your furnace before beginning the process.
- Look for the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is located inside the furnace or in the air return vent. Make a mental note or write down which direction the arrow points on the filter, because you’ll want the arrow on the new filter to point similarly.
- Remove the old filter: Be mindful not to knock out any dust or debris.
- Record the date: Write down the date of replacement on the new filter’s frame. This will make it easier to keep track of when it’s time for you to change it again.
- Put in new filter: Put in the new filter with the arrow pointing toward the furnace, which is the direction of airflow and should be the same direction the arrow pointed on the dirty filter you just removed.
- Secure the filter: Make sure the new filter fits securely and close any latches or clips that hold it in place.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the clean filter is properly secured, you can turn your furnace back on.
Will A Dirty Air Filter Damage My Furnace?
The simple answer is, yes, a dirty air filter can cause a furnace to stop working or reduce its lifespan. Changing your furnace or air conditioning filter is one of the best things you can do to keep your system working correctly.
