Selecting the correct 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 role in keeping its system working safely, efficiently and for a long time.
A dirty furnace filter loses its effectiveness, enabling potentially harmful particles to flow through your home. It also slows airflow, which can damage your furnace and shorten its life span.
Making certain your furnace uses a clean filter that is ideal for your needs is not merely about keeping your furnace operating efficiently. It’s also about creating healthy indoor air quality for your household.
The health of your family is important to the HVAC pros at Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning. We've long been dedicated to enhancing indoor air quality in Yukon. 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
Experts stress it's vital to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner routinely. Dirty filters cause the system to worker harder than it should because it takes extra work to pull air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials advise inspecting your furnace filter every month and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if your filter needs changing because it will coated with dirt or dust. People who have pets will very likely have to replace their furnace air filter more often, because an effective 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 usually found in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air reaches the furnace. This ensures air being pulled into the system is filtered before it passes through the furnace components and is heated.
Depending on the furnace model, 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 convenient access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace's owner manual for facts about filter location of your particular brand and model of furnace.
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— hot or cold—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, making sure the air flowing through your home is clean and safe.
What Is a MERV Rating and What Rating Is Best for Me?
Once you find your old furnace filter and figure out when it should be replaced, 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 picking an appropriate MERV rating for your needs.
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values. The MERV rating calculates the effectiveness of air filters at trapping airborne contaminants. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, with bigger 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 healthy indoor air quality without needlessly restricting airflow. However, people with some health conditions might need to purchase a filters with 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 important for the efficient operation of the unit. Air filters are supposed to face a particular direction, indicated by an arrow written on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be placed in the unit with this arrow pointing in the direction of the furnace or air conditioning unit, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're not sure about the airflow direction, remember that air always moves from the return duct and then to the heat or cooling source. Therefore, be sure that the arrow points at the furnace or AC.
Many people have difficulty remembering which direction to point an air filter. To help remember, consider taking a picture with your cell phone after the filter has been accurately 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 handy time to ask about this is during a scheduled furnace maintenance appointment.
How to Change a Furnace Air Filter
Replacing the filter on your furnace or air conditioning system is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to remove a dirty air filter and replace it with a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Be sure to shut off your furnace before starting up the process.
- Locate the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is positioned inside 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 in the same direction.
- Take out the old filter: Be diligent not to knock out any dust or dirt.
- 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.
- 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 correctly and close any latches or clips that lock it in the compartment.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the new filter is properly installed, you can turn your furnace back on.
Can a Dirty Air Filter Damage My Furnace?
The simple answer is, yes, a dirty air filter can cause a furnace to cease working or reduce its lifespan. Changing your furnace or AC filter is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your system running effectively.
