Selecting 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 critical function in keeping its system running safely, efficiently and for a long time.
A clogged furnace filter loses its effectiveness, enabling potentially harmful particles to move through your home. It also restricts airflow, which can damage your furnace and reduce its life span.
Making sure 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 creating healthy indoor air quality for your home.
The quality of the air your family breathes is important to the heating and cooling professionals at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating. We've long focused on improving indoor air quality in Pella. 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?
How Often to Replace the Air Filter in a Furnace
It is important 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 more energy to move air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials recommend examining your furnace filter monthly 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 pets will likely have to replace their furnace air filter more often, because a good air filter will trap pet hair circulating in a home.
Locating Your Furnace's Air Filter
In general, a furnace air filter is normally installed in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air goes back into the furnace. This ensures 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, on the inside of the furnace. It's typically housed within a slot, frame or cabinet for easy access and replacement. Always refer to your furnace's owner manual for information concerning 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 basically 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 residence.
They each get rid of dust, allergens, bacteria and other contaminants 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 Are MERV Ratings and What MERV Rating Should I Have?
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 method to do this is by picking an appropriate MERV rating for your needs.
MERV is an abbreviation 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 bigger 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 overly restricting airflow. However, people with certain health conditions could need a a higher MERV rating.
Which Way to Put the Air Filter in a Furnace or Air Conditioning System
Installing an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner correctly is important for the efficient operation of the unit. 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 installed with this arrow pointing toward the furnace or air conditioner, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're unsure 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, make sure the arrow points toward the furnace or AC.
Many people struggle with which direction to install their system's air filter. To help remember, consider taking a quick picture with your mobile 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 go. A perfect time to do this is during a scheduled furnace maintenance call.
How to Change a Furnace Air Filter
Changing the filter on your furnace or air conditioner 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 sure to switch off your furnace before starting the process.
- Locate the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is positioned inside 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 similarly.
- Slide out the old filter: Be mindful not to knock out any dust or dirt.
- Record the date: Write down the date you replaced the filter on the new filter's frame. This will help you 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 correctly and close any latches or clips that lock it in the compartment.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the clean filter is completely installed, 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 cease 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 operating effectively.
