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 vital role in keeping its system operating safely, efficiently and for a long time.
A dirty furnace filter loses its effectiveness, allowing potentially harmful particles to circulate through your home. It also limits airflow, which can damage your furnace and decrease its life span.
Making sure your furnace uses a clean filter that is appropriate for your needs is not merely about keeping your furnace running efficiently. It’s also about providing good indoor air quality for your home.
Your health is important to the heating professionals at Fal-Ken Heating & Cooling Corporation. We've long worked with an eye on enhancing indoor air quality in Holbrook. 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
It is important 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 extra work to force air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials recommend checking your furnace filter every month and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if the filter needs to be changed because it will coated with dirt or dust. People who have pets will likely want to replace their furnace air filter more often, because a quality air filter will trap pet hair circulating in a home.
Locating Your Furnace's Air Filter
In general, a furnace air filter is commonly found in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air gets to the furnace. This makes sure air flowing into the system is filtered before it moves 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 usually housed within a slot, frame or cabinet for easy access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace's owner manual for facts concerning filter location of your particular brand and model of furnace.
Is a Furnace Filter the Same as an Air Filter?
The straightforward answer is, yes. In HVAC, a furnace filter and an air filter or air conditioner filter are basically the same thing. 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 HVAC system.
They each get rid of dust, allergens, bacteria and other contaminants from the air that is drawn into the furnace and air conditioning system, ensuring the air flowing through your home is clean and safe.
What Are MERV Ratings and What MERV Rating Do I Need?
Once you locate your old furnace filter and decide when it should be replaced, it’s time to choose a replacement. That means picking the level of filtration that you need. One way to do that is by selecting 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 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 healthy indoor air quality without needlessly restricting airflow. However, people with some health conditions might need to purchase a filters with a higher MERV rating.
How to Place the Air Filter in a Furnace or Air Conditioner
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 designed to be installed in a specific direction, indicated by an arrow written on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be installed with this arrow pointing at the furnace or air conditioning unit, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're unsure about the airflow direction, remember that air always moves from the return duct and then to the heat or cooling source. Therefore, make sure the arrow points at the furnace or air conditioner.
Many people struggle with which direction to point their air filter. To help remember, consider snapping a quick photo with your cellular 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 perfect time to ask about this is during a routine furnace maintenance appointment.
Changing Your Furnace's Air Filter
Replacing the filter on your furnace or AC is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step rundown of how to take out 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.
- 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 similarly.
- Take out the old filter: Be careful 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 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 at the furnace, which is the direction of airflow and should be the same direction the arrow pointed on the dirty filter you just removed.
- Secure the filter: Make sure the new filter fits securely and close any latches or clips that lock it in the unit.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the replacement filter is properly secured, you can turn your furnace back on.
Can a Dirty Air Filter Damage My Furnace?
The short answer is, yes, a dirty air filter can cause a furnace to stop working or limit its lifespan. Changing your furnace or air conditioning filter is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your system working efficiently.