Picking out the proper 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 running 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 limits 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 only about keeping your furnace working efficiently. It’s also about delivering excellent indoor air quality for your household.
The health of your family is important to the heating and cooling pros at Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning. We've long focused on improving indoor air quality in Odessa. Here, we’ve answered common 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's critical to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner periodically. Dirty filters cause the system to worker harder than it should because it takes more energy to move air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials advise checking your furnace filter every 30 days and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if it is dirty 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 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 makes sure 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 found on the right, left, bottom or in some cases, on the inside of the furnace. It's typically housed in a slot, frame or cabinet for simple access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace's owner manual for details regarding filter location of your 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 effectively identical. While people may call them different things based on the current season— summer or winter—they are all filters that clean the air in your residence.
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, making sure the air circulating throughout your home is clean and safe.
What Is the MERV Rating System and What Rating Is Best for Me?
Once you locate your old furnace filter and decide when it should be replaced, it’s time to pick a replacement. That means determining 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 particles. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, with higher numbers indicating a greater ability 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 specific health conditions may need to use a filter with a higher MERV rating.
Which Way to Put the Air Filter in a Furnace or Air Conditioning System
Positioning an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner properly is necessary for the efficient operation of the system. Air filters are designed to be installed in a particular direction, indicated by an arrow located on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be installed with this arrow pointing toward the furnace or air conditioning unit, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're not sure about the airflow direction, it may be helpful to remember that air always moves from the return duct towards the heat or cooling source. Therefore, make certain the arrow points at the furnace or air conditioning unit.
Many people struggle with which direction to face 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 point. A perfect time to inquire about this is during a regular furnace maintenance visit.
Changing Your Furnace's Air Filter
Changing the filter on your furnace or air conditioner is an easy process. Here is a step-by-step rundown of how to take out a dirty air filter and swap it for a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Make a point to switch off your furnace before starting up the process.
- Locate the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is located 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 new filter to point in the same direction.
- Slide out 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 your family keep track of when it's time for the next change.
- Put in 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 nicely and close any latches or clips that hold it in the compartment.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the clean filter is safely in place, you can turn your furnace back on.
Will a Dirty Air Filter Cause Problems for a Furnace?
The short answer is, yes, a dirty air filter can cause a furnace to quit working or decrease its lifespan. Changing your furnace or AC filter is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your system running correctly.
