Choosing the proper 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 vital 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.
Ensuring your furnace uses a clean filter that is appropriate for your needs is not just about keeping your furnace working efficiently. It’s also about providing good indoor air quality for your household.
The health of your family is important to the heating and cooling specialists at H&C Heating and Cooling. We've long focused on improving indoor air quality in Laurel. Here, we’ve answered frequent questions about HVAC filters, including that particularly tricky question of what direction do you point a filter in your furnace or air conditioner?
When to Replace the Air Filter in Your Furnace
It is critical to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner regularly. Dirt-clogged filters cause the system to worker harder than it should because it takes extra effort to pull air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials suggest checking your furnace filter monthly 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 will probably need 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 found in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air gets to the furnace. This makes sure air entering the system is filtered before it passes through the furnace components and is heated.
Depending on the furnace brand, the filter may be positioned on the right, left, bottom or in some cases, on the inside of the furnace. It's generally 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 particular brand and model of 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 air conditioning filter are effectively the same. 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 home.
They each remove dust, allergens, bacteria and other airborne debris 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 the MERV Rating System and What Rating Is Best for Me?
Once you find your old furnace filter and decide when it should be substituted for a clean one, it’s time to choose a replacement. That means picking the level of filtration that you need. One approach to this is by choosing an appropriate MERV rating for your needs.
MERV is short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values. The MERV rating indicates the effectiveness of air filters at trapping airborne particles. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, with greater numbers indicating a greater ability to filter smaller particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers an appropriate balance between having healthy indoor air quality without needlessly restricting airflow. However, people with specific health conditions might need to use a filter with a higher MERV rating.
Where to Insert the Air Filter in a Furnace or Air Conditioner
Installing an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner properly is crucial 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 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 towards the heat or cooling source. Therefore, make certain the arrow points toward the furnace or AC.
Many people have difficulty remembering which direction to install their air filter. To help remember, consider taking a quick picture with your cellular 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 be installed. A perfect time to inquire about this is during a regular furnace maintenance call.
How to Replace Your Furnace Air Filter
Replacing the filter on your furnace or AC is an easy process. Here is a step-by-step rundown of how to remove a dirty air filter and exchange it for a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Make sure to shut 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. Take 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 dirt.
- Record the date: Write down the date you changed filters on the new filter's frame. This will make it easier to keep track of when it's time for you to change it again.
- Insert 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 securely and close any latches or clips that secure it in place.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the clean filter is safely secured, you can turn your furnace back on.
Can 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 shorten its lifespan. Changing your furnace or air conditioning filter is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your system operating efficiently.