Selecting the proper 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 part in keeping its system running safely, efficiently and for a long time.
An overused furnace filter loses its effectiveness, allowing potentially harmful particles to circulate through your home. It also slows airflow, which can damage your furnace and reduce its life span.
Ensuring your furnace uses a clean filter that is ideal for your needs is not only about keeping your furnace operating efficiently. It’s also about creating good indoor air quality for your household.
Your health is important to the heating and cooling professionals at E.B. Air. We've long worked with an eye on enhancing indoor air quality in East Bernard. Here, we’ve answered frequent questions about HVAC filters, including that especially tricky question of what direction do you point a filter in your furnace or air conditioner?
How Often to Replace the Air Filter in a Furnace
It is important to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner periodically. Soiled filters cause the system to worker harder than it should because it takes more energy to move air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials suggest checking your furnace filter every month and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if the filter needs to be changed because it will coated with dirt or dust. Homeowners who have pets will probably have to replace their furnace air filter more often, because a good 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 goes back into the furnace. This makes sure air flowing into the system is filtered before it passes through the furnace components and is heated.
Depending on the furnace model, the filter may be located on the right, left, bottom or in some cases, on the inside of the furnace. It's typically housed in a slot, frame or cabinet for simple access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace's owner manual for facts about filter location of the furnace in your home.
Is a Furnace Filter the Same as an Air Filter?
The simple answer is, yes. In HVAC, a furnace filter and an air filter or AC filter are basically the same. While they might be called different things based on the current season— summer or winter—they are all filters that clean the air in your HVAC system.
They each get rid of 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 Is the MERV Rating System and What Rating Is Best for Me?
Once you track down your old furnace filter and determine when it should be replaced, it’s time to choose a replacement. That means deciding on the level of filtration that you need. One approach to this is by picking an appropriate MERV rating for your needs.
MERV stands 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 bigger numbers indicating a greater ability to filter smaller particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers an appropriate balance between having healthy indoor air quality without overly restricting airflow. However, people with certain health conditions could need to use a filter with a higher MERV rating.
Where to Insert the Air Filter in a Furnace or Air Conditioner
Installing an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner the proper way is crucial for the efficient operation of the unit. Air filters are supposed to face a specific direction, indicated by an arrow located 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 not sure about the airflow direction, it may be helpful to remember that air always moves from the return duct and then to the heat or cooling source. Therefore, make sure the arrow points in the direction of the furnace or air conditioning unit.
Many people are confused by which direction to face an air filter. To help remember, consider snapping a quick photo with your cell phone after the filter has been correctly 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 point. A great time to ask about this is during a scheduled furnace maintenance visit.
How to Replace Your Furnace Air Filter
Switching out the filter on your furnace or air conditioner is an easy process. Here is a step-by-step list of how to take out a dirty air filter and replace it with a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Make sure to switch off your furnace before starting up the process.
- Look for the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is found in the furnace or in the air return vent. Make note of 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 careful not to knock out any dust or particles.
- Document 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 another replacement.
- Slide 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 your last filter.
- Secure the filter: Make sure the new filter fits securely and close any latches or clips that secure it in the unit.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the replacement filter is safely in place, you can turn your furnace back on.
Will a Dirty Air Filter Damage My Furnace?
The short answer is, yes, a dirty air filter can cause a furnace to quit working or reduce its lifespan. Changing your furnace or AC filter is one of the best things you can do to keep your system operating correctly.