Picking out the ideal furnace filter and changing it when it gets dirty is as important to your HVAC system as changing the oil is to your car. Each plays a critical function in keeping its system running safely, efficiently and for a long time.
An overused furnace filter loses its effectiveness, enabling potentially harmful particles to move 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 merely about keeping your furnace operating efficiently. It’s also about creating good indoor air quality for your residence.
The health of your family is important to the heating pros at Home Comfort Heating & Air. We've long focused on enhancing indoor air quality in Elk River. 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?
When Should I Replace My Furnace Air Filter?
It's critical to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner regularly. Soiled filters cause the system to worker harder than it should because it takes more energy to force air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials recommend examining your furnace filter every 30 days and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if your filter needs changing because it will filled with dirt or dust. Homeowners who have pets will likely want 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 usually located in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air gets to the furnace. This ensures air entering 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, inside the furnace. It's usually housed within a slot, frame or cabinet for simple 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 conditioning filter are basically the same thing. While people may call them different things based on the current season— summer or winter—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, ensuring the air flowing through 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 figure out when it should be substituted for a clean one, it’s time to choose 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 stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values. The MERV rating measures the effectiveness of air filters at trapping airborne particles. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, with higher numbers indicating enhanced capabilities to filter small particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers a good balance between having good indoor air quality without unnecessarily restricting airflow. However, people with some health conditions may need to purchase a filters with a higher MERV rating.
Where to Insert the Air Filter in a Furnace or Air Conditioning System
Installing an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner correctly is crucial for the efficient operation of the unit. Air filters are supposed to face a particular direction, indicated by an arrow located on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be installed with this arrow pointing in the direction of the furnace or air conditioning unit, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're doubtful about the airflow direction, remember that air always moves from the return duct and then to the heat or cooling source. Therefore, make certain the arrow points toward the furnace or AC.
Many people struggle with which direction to install their system's air filter. To help remember, consider taking a picture with your cell 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 point. A perfect time to ask about this is during a regular furnace maintenance call.
How to Change a Furnace Air Filter
Changing the filter on your furnace or air conditioning system is a quick and 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 the process.
- Locate the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is positioned within 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 replacement filter to point the same way.
- Take out the old filter: Be diligent not to knock out any dust or particles.
- Note 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 the next change.
- Slide in 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 dirty filter you just removed.
- Secure the filter: Make sure the new filter fits nicely and close any latches or clips that hold it in the compartment.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the new filter is properly secured, you can turn your furnace back on.
Will a Dirty Air Filter Cause a Furnace Not to Work?
The simple answer is, yes, a dirty air filter can cause a furnace to stop working or decrease its lifespan. Changing your furnace or AC filter is one of the best things you can do to keep your system operating efficiently.
