Picking out 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 vital function in keeping its system working safely, efficiently and for a long time.
An overused furnace filter loses its effectiveness, permitting potentially harmful particles to flow through your home. It also limits airflow, which can damage your furnace and shorten its life span.
Making sure your furnace uses a clean filter that is suitable for your needs is not just about keeping your furnace running efficiently. It’s also about creating good indoor air quality for your residence.
The quality of the air your family breathes is important to the heating professionals at Perfect Air & Water Services. We've long been dedicated to bettering indoor air quality in Freehold. 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?
How Often to Replace the Air Filter in a Furnace
Experts stress it's vital to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner regularly. Dirty 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 month and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if your filter needs changing because it will be gray or black from dirt or dust. Those who have dogs and cats will probably need to replace their furnace air filter more often, because a good air filter will trap pet hair circulating in a home.
Where Is the Air Filter in My Furnace?
In general, a furnace air filter is commonly located in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air gets to the furnace. This ensures air flowing into the system is filtered before it moves through the furnace components and is heated.
Depending on the furnace brand, the filter may be found on the right, left, bottom or in some cases, inside the furnace. It's usually housed within a slot, frame or cabinet for easy access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace's owner manual for information concerning filter location of your furnace.
Is My Furnace Filter Just a Type of Air Filter?
The straightforward answer is, yes. In HVAC, a furnace filter and an air filter or air conditioner filter are essentially identical. While they might be called different things based on the current season— warm or chilly months—they are all filters that clean the air in your home.
They each eliminate dust, allergens, bacteria and other particulates from the air that is drawn into the furnace and air conditioning system, making sure the air distributed throughout your home is clean and safe.
What Are MERV Ratings and What MERV Rating Do I Need?
Once you locate your old furnace filter and decide when it should be changed, it’s time to select a replacement. That means picking the level of filtration that you need. One way to do that is by choosing 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 the power to filter tinier particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers an appropriate balance between having healthy indoor air quality without unnecessarily restricting airflow. However, people with some health conditions might need a a higher MERV rating.
Which Way to Put the Air Filter in a Furnace or AC Unit
Positioning an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner correctly is necessary for the efficient operation of the system. Air filters are designed to be installed in a particular direction, indicated by an arrow written on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be installed with this arrow pointing toward the furnace or air conditioner, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're doubtful about the airflow direction, try to remember that air always moves from the return duct towards the heat or cooling source. Therefore, make sure the arrow points in the direction of the furnace or air conditioner.
Many people have difficulty remembering which direction to point an air filter. To help remember, consider taking a picture with your cellular 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 be installed. A great time to ask about this is during a scheduled furnace maintenance call.
Changing Your Furnace's Air Filter
Switching out the filter on your furnace or AC is an easy process. Here is a step-by-step list of how to take out a dirty air filter and swap it for a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Make sure to turn off your furnace before starting the process.
- Find the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is found 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 clean filter to point the same way.
- Take out the old filter: Be diligent not to knock out any dust or particles.
- Record the date: Write down the date you replaced the filter on the new filter's frame. This will make it easier to keep track of when it's time for another replacement.
- Insert new filter: Put in the new filter with the arrow pointing in the direction of the furnace, which is the direction of airflow and should be the same direction the arrow pointed on the old filter you are replacing.
- Secure the filter: Make sure the new filter fits correctly and close any latches or clips that secure it in the unit.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the replacement filter is safely secured, you can turn your furnace back on.
Will a Dirty Air Filter Cause a Furnace Not to Work?
The shortest answer is, yes, a dirty air filter can cause a furnace to cease working or decrease its lifespan. Changing your furnace or air conditioning filter is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your system operating efficiently.
