Selecting the right 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 working safely, efficiently and for a long time.
An overused furnace filter loses its effectiveness, allowing potentially harmful particles to move through your home. It also limits airflow, which can damage your furnace and decrease its life span.
Ensuring your furnace uses a clean filter that is suitable for your needs is not merely about keeping your furnace running efficiently. It’s also about providing healthy indoor air quality for your home.
Your health is important to the heating and cooling specialists at Luikart Heating & Cooling. We've long been dedicated to improving indoor air quality in Newark. 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's critical to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner routinely. Dirt-clogged filters cause the system to worker harder than it should because it takes more energy to force air through the plugged-up filter.
Officials advise examining your furnace filter every month and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if it is dirty because it will be gray or black from dirt or dust. Those who have dogs and cats will very likely want to replace their furnace air filter more often, because a quality 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 usually installed in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air goes back into the furnace. This is so air flowing into the system is filtered before it moves 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, within 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 information about filter location of your 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 conditioning filter are basically the same. While people may call them different things based on the current season— warm or chilly months—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, making sure the air flowing through your home is clean and safe.
What Is a MERV Rating and What Rating Is Best for Me?
Once you find your old furnace filter and decide when it should be changed, it’s time to choose a replacement. That means deciding on 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 indicates the effectiveness of air filters at trapping airborne particles. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, with greater numbers indicating the power to filter small particles.
Experts say a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 offers a good balance between having good indoor air quality without overly restricting airflow. However, people with some health conditions may need to purchase a filters with a higher MERV rating.
Where to Insert the Air Filter in a Furnace or AC Unit
Installing an air filter in a furnace or air conditioner correctly is necessary for the efficient operation of the unit. Air filters have a specific direction, indicated by an arrow located on the side of the filter frame. The filter should be put in with this arrow pointing in the direction of the furnace or air conditioner, which is the direction of the airflow. If you're doubtful about the airflow direction, try to remember that air always moves from the return duct to the heat or cooling source. Therefore, be sure that the arrow points in the direction of the furnace or air conditioner.
Many people are confused by which direction to point an air filter. To help remember, consider taking a picture 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 do this is during a routine furnace maintenance appointment.
How to Change a Furnace Air Filter
Replacing the filter on your furnace or AC is a simple process. Here is a step-by-step rundown of how to retreive a dirty air filter and replace it with a new one:
- Turn off your furnace: Be sure to shut off your furnace before beginning the process.
- Find the furnace filter: Typically, the filter is found 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 replacement filter to point similarly.
- Slide out the old filter: Be diligent 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 the next change.
- Slide 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 your last filter.
- Secure the filter: Make sure the new filter fits nicely and close any latches or clips that secure it in the unit.
- Turn on your furnace: Once the clean filter is properly installed, you can turn your furnace back on.
Can a Dirty Air Filter Cause a Furnace Not to Work?
The short answer is, yes, a dirty air filter can cause a furnace to cease working or limit its lifespan. Changing your furnace or air conditioner filter is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your system working effectively.