Picking out the right 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 part in keeping its system working safely, efficiently and for a long time.
An overused furnace filter loses its effectiveness, enabling potentially harmful particles to circulate through your home. It also limits airflow, which can damage your furnace and decrease its life span.
Ensuring your furnace uses a clean filter that is ideal for your needs is not only about keeping your furnace working efficiently. It’s also about providing healthy indoor air quality for your home.
Your health is important to the HVAC pros at Struven Heating & Cooling. We've long been dedicated to enhancing indoor air quality in Crown Point. Here, we’ve answered common questions about HVAC filters, including that very 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 is critical 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 pull air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials suggest checking 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 filled with dirt or dust. Homeowners who have pets that shed will likely have 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 reaches the furnace. This ensures air flowing into the system is filtered before it passes 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 convenient access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace's owner manual for important information about filter location of the furnace in your home.
Is My Furnace Filter Just a Type of Air Filter?
The simple answer is, yes. In HVAC, a furnace filter and an air filter or AC filter are effectively identical. While people might refer to them differently based on the current season— summer or winter—they are all filters that clean the air in your residence.
They each eliminate dust, allergens, bacteria and other airborne debris 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 Is the MERV Rating System and What Rating Is Best for Me?
Once you track down your old furnace filter and decide when it should be changed, it’s time to select a replacement. That means determining the level of filtration that you need. One approach to this 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 a greater ability to filter smaller particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers an ideal balance between having good indoor air quality without overly restricting airflow. However, people with certain health conditions could need to purchase a filters with a higher MERV rating.
Where to Insert the Air Filter in a Furnace or AC Unit
Positioning an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner properly is crucial for the efficient operation of the unit. Air filters have a particular direction, indicated by an arrow printed on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be put in with this arrow pointing at the furnace or AC, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're unsure about the airflow direction, try to remember that air always moves from the return duct to the heat or cooling source. Therefore, make sure the arrow points toward the furnace or air conditioner.
Many people are confused by which direction to point their air filter. To help remember, consider taking a picture 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 inquire about this is during a routine furnace maintenance call.
How to Replace Your Furnace Air Filter
Changing the filter on your furnace or AC is an 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: Make a point to shut off your furnace before beginning the process.
- Look for the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is found inside the furnace or in the air return vent. Take note of which direction the arrow points on the filter, because you’ll want the arrow on the clean filter to point in the same direction.
- Slide out the old filter: Be diligent not to knock out any dust or dirt.
- Note the date: Write down the date of replacement on the new filter's frame. This will help your family keep track of when it's time for you to change it again.
- 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 your last filter.
- Secure the filter: Make sure the new filter fits nicely and close any latches or clips that lock it in the compartment.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the replacement filter is completely 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 stop working or shorten its lifespan. Changing your furnace or air conditioner filter is one of the best things you can do to keep your system running efficiently.