Picking out the ideal furnace filter and changing it when it becomes 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 operating safely, efficiently and for a long time.
A dirty furnace filter loses its effectiveness, allowing potentially harmful particles to flow through your home. It also restricts airflow, which can damage your furnace and shorten its life span.
Making sure your furnace uses a clean filter that is appropriate for your needs is not only about keeping your furnace running efficiently. It’s also about delivering excellent indoor air quality for your household.
The quality of the air your family breathes is important to the HVAC pros at The Air Squad. We've long worked with an eye on bettering indoor air quality in West Palm Beach. 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 vital to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner routinely. Dirt-clogged 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 inspecting your furnace filter every month and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if it is dirty because it will filled with dirt or dust. Those who have pets that shed will probably have to replace their furnace air filter more often, because a quality 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 normally located 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 moves through the furnace components and is heated.
Depending on the furnace model, the filter may be positioned on the right, left, bottom or in some cases, within the furnace. It's usually housed inside of a slot, frame or cabinet for easy access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace's owner manual for important information regarding filter location of your furnace.
Is My Furnace Filter Just a Type of Air Filter?
The easy 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— warm or chilly months—they are all filters that clean the air in your residence.
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 certain the air distributed throughout your home is clean and safe.
What Is a MERV Rating 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 pick a replacement. That means deciding on the level of filtration that you need. One method to do this is by choosing an appropriate MERV rating for your needs.
MERV is short 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 greater numbers indicating enhanced capabilities to filter small particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers an appropriate balance between having adequate indoor air quality without unnecessarily 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 Air Conditioning System
Positioning an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner the proper way is crucial for the efficient operation of the unit. Air filters have a particular direction, indicated by an arrow written on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be installed with this arrow pointing in the direction of the furnace or AC, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're not sure about the airflow direction, try to 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 air conditioner.
Many people have difficulty remembering which direction to face their system's air filter. To help remember, consider taking a quick picture with your mobile 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 great time to ask about this is during a regular furnace maintenance call.
Changing Your Furnace's Air Filter
Replacing 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: Be sure to turn off your furnace before starting up the process.
- Find 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 clean filter to point in the same direction.
- Remove the old filter: Be mindful 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 help you keep track of when it's time for the next change.
- Put 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 secure it in the unit.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the new filter is completely installed, you can turn your furnace back on.
Can a Dirty Air Filter Cause a Furnace Not to Work?
The short answer is, yes, a dirty air filter can cause a furnace to cease working or limit its lifespan. Changing your furnace or AC filter is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your system operating correctly.