Choosing the right 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 part in keeping its system operating safely, efficiently and for a long time.
A dirty furnace filter loses its effectiveness, permitting potentially harmful particles to circulate through your home. It also limits airflow, which can damage your furnace and shorten its life span.
Making certain your furnace uses a clean filter that is suitable for your needs is not just about keeping your furnace running efficiently. It’s also about delivering excellent indoor air quality for your residence.
The quality of the air your family breathes is important to the heating and cooling specialists at Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. We've long focused on bettering indoor air quality in Oxford. Here, we’ve answered frequent questions about HVAC filters, including that very 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
Experts stress it's vital to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner routinely. Soiled filters cause the system to worker harder than it should because it takes extra effort to force air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials suggest examining 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. People who have dogs and cats will likely want to replace their furnace air filter more often, because a good 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 normally located in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air gets to the furnace. This is so air flowing into the system is filtered before it goes 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, within 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 details concerning filter location of your particular brand and model of furnace.
Are Air Filters and Furnace Filters the Same Thing?
The straightforward answer is, yes. In HVAC, a furnace filter and an air filter or AC filter are basically identical. While they might be called different things based on the current season— hot or cold—they are all filters that clean the air in your home.
They each get rid of dust, allergens, bacteria and other particulates 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 Are MERV Ratings and What Rating Is Best for Me?
Once you track down your old furnace filter and decide 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 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 contaminants. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, with greater numbers indicating the power to filter tinier particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers an appropriate balance between having good indoor air quality without unnecessarily restricting airflow. However, people with some health conditions could need to purchase a filters 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 the proper way is important for the efficient operation of the heating or cooling system. Air filters are designed to be installed in a specific direction, indicated by an arrow located on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be placed in the unit with this arrow pointing toward the furnace or AC, 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 to the heat or cooling source. Therefore, be sure that the arrow points at the furnace or air conditioner.
Many people struggle with which direction to install an air filter. To help remember, consider snapping a quick photo with your cell 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 be installed. A great time to do this is during a routine furnace maintenance call.
How to Change a Furnace Air Filter
Changing the filter on your furnace or air conditioning system is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to retreive a dirty air filter and exchange it for a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Make a point to turn off your furnace before starting the process.
- Find the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is positioned 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 replacement filter to point in the same direction.
- Take out the old filter: Be careful not to knock out any dust or debris.
- Note 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 correctly and close any latches or clips that hold it in the compartment.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the clean filter is safely secured, you can turn your furnace back on.
Can a Dirty Air Filter Damage My Furnace?
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 best things you can do to keep your system running efficiently.