Picking out the ideal 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 critical part in keeping its system running safely, efficiently and for a long time.
A clogged furnace filter loses its effectiveness, allowing potentially harmful particles to move through your home. It also slows airflow, which can damage your furnace and decrease its life span.
Ensuring your furnace uses a clean filter that is ideal for your needs is not just about keeping your furnace running efficiently. It’s also about delivering good indoor air quality for your home.
The health of your family is important to the heating and cooling specialists at Just Right Heating and Cooling. We've long been dedicated to bettering indoor air quality in Goshen. Here, we’ve answered frequent questions about HVAC filters, including that especially 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
Experts stress it's 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 more energy to pull 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 your filter needs changing because it will coated with dirt or dust. People who have pets will likely need to replace their furnace air filter more often, because an effective air filter will trap pet hair circulating in a home.
Locating Your Furnace's Air Filter
In general, a furnace air filter is commonly installed in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air reaches the furnace. This is so air being pulled into the system is filtered before it passes through the furnace components and is heated.
Depending on the furnace model, the filter may be located on the right, left, bottom or in some cases, inside the furnace. It's generally 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 furnace.
Is My Furnace Filter Just a Type of Air Filter?
The simple answer is, yes. In HVAC, a furnace filter and an air filter or air conditioner filter are effectively identical. 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 HVAC system.
They each eliminate 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 track down your old furnace filter and decide when it should be replaced, it’s time to choose a replacement. That means determining 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 bigger numbers indicating a greater ability to filter small particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers an ideal balance between having adequate indoor air quality without overly restricting airflow. However, people with some health conditions could need to use a filter with a higher MERV rating.
Which Way to Put the Air Filter in a Furnace or Air Conditioner
Positioning an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner properly is crucial for the efficient operation of the unit. Air filters have a certain direction, indicated by an arrow printed on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be put in with this arrow pointing at the furnace or AC, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're doubtful 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 conditioner.
Many people have difficulty remembering which direction to install their system's 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 point. 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 retreive a dirty air filter and swap it for a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Be sure to turn off your furnace before beginning the process.
- Locate the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is located within 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 clean filter to point similarly.
- Remove the old filter: Be careful 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 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 the old filter you are replacing.
- Secure the filter: Make sure the new filter fits nicely and close any latches or clips that secure it in the compartment.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the clean filter is safely installed, 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 quit working or decrease its lifespan. Changing your furnace or AC filter is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your system operating correctly.
