Choosing the correct 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 running safely, efficiently and for a long time.
An overused furnace filter loses its effectiveness, permitting potentially harmful particles to move through your home. It also slows airflow, which can damage your furnace and decrease its life span.
Ensuring your furnace uses a clean filter that is suitable for your needs is not only about keeping your furnace working efficiently. It’s also about creating healthy indoor air quality for your home.
Your health is important to the heating pros at Anderson Heating & A/C. We've long worked with an eye on improving indoor air quality in Carson City. Here, we’ve answered common 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 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 effort to move air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials advise checking your furnace filter monthly and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if your filter needs changing because it will coated with dirt or dust. Those who have pets that shed will probably 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 commonly located in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air reaches the furnace. This is so air being pulled into the system is filtered before it passes 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 simple access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace's owner manual for information about filter location of your furnace.
Are Air Filters and Furnace Filters the Same Thing?
The simple answer is, yes. In HVAC, a furnace filter and an air filter or air conditioning filter are essentially identical. While they might be called different things based on the current season— summer or winter—they are all filters that clean the air in your home.
They each get rid of dust, allergens, bacteria and other airborne debris from the air that is drawn into the furnace and air conditioning system, ensuring 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 figure out when it should be replaced, it’s time to select a replacement. That means determining 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 molecules. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, with greater numbers indicating enhanced capabilities to filter smaller particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers an ideal balance between having adequate indoor air quality without needlessly restricting airflow. However, people with specific health conditions could need to purchase a filters with a higher MERV rating.
How to Place the Air Filter in a Furnace or AC Unit
Putting an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner properly is necessary for the efficient operation of the heating or cooling system. Air filters are supposed to face 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 air conditioner, 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 towards the heat or cooling source. Therefore, be sure that the arrow points toward the furnace or AC.
Many people are confused by which direction to install an air filter. To help remember, consider taking a quick picture with your mobile 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 do this is during a routine furnace maintenance appointment.
Changing Your Furnace's Air Filter
Replacing the filter on your furnace or air conditioning system is a simple process. Here is a step-by-step list of how to take out a dirty air filter and exchange it for a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Make a point to switch off your furnace before beginning the process.
- Find the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is found in 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 new filter to point in the same direction.
- Remove the old filter: Be diligent not to knock out any dust or particles.
- Record the date: Write down the date you changed filters on the new filter's frame. This will help your family keep track of when it's time for another replacement.
- Insert new filter: Put in the new filter with the arrow pointing at 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 securely and close any latches or clips that secure it in the unit.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the new filter is properly in place, 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 reduce its lifespan. Changing your furnace or air conditioning filter is one of the best things you can do to keep your system running correctly.