In addition to asking how to change a home air filter, many homeowners wonder how to properly insert a furnace air filter. Although on the surface the answer might seem idiot-proof - just take the old one out and put the new one in - it's sufficiently confusing to address here. You see, there is a definite wrong way to insert a home air filter that can hamper your furnace’s efficiency and cost you money (see Can Putting the Air Filter in Your Furnace the Wrong Way Damage It?). Running your furnace with a clogged filter can have a similarly negative effect. Clean air filters matter. It's important to routinely monitor them so that, when they become clogged with all the dirt, dust and debris that they filter out of the air you breathe, you can respond with a clean filter for better indoor air quality and improved energy efficiency. When the air filter is clogged, your furnace will strain harder to remove these contaminants, increasing your utility bills and shortening your HVAC equipment’s life.

Just like a car's air filter, a dirty furnace filter starves the engine in your furnace for air. In fact, a government study indicates that replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your central air conditioner's or furnace's energy consumption between 5 and 15 percent. >> Here's how to choose the best furnace air filter. By the way, if you aren't sure exactly when to change your filter, invest in an electronic air filter monitor. It will eliminate all guesswork on your part. Ok, so you have realized that now is the time to change your air filter. You have the new one in front of you and the old one still in the furnace. 1.  On your new filter, find the arrow that indicates the proper air flow direction. This tends to confuse everyone more than anything else. That arrow must always face toward the furnace and away from the return duct that carries the air in need of heating or cooling. Forced air furnaces recirculate air throughout a home: pushing air (cool or heated) in and pulling spent air back in for another cycle.

Tip: It’s a good idea to draw the airflow direction arrow with a permanent marker on the actual furnace housing or ductwork. Ideally, you'd indicate the airflow direction and filter size (16x25x4  Airflow→) 2.  Slide the new filter in with the arrow pointing toward the furnace, and you are done. Here's a helpful 1:42 minute video from Liberty Homes titled Home Maintenance: How To Change Your Furnace Filter which reviews air flow direction and how properly to insert your home air filter. Replacing your air filter is not difficult as long as you understand that air flows from your ducts, through the filter, and into the furnace. The arrow on the filter always should point toward the furnace. What have you found most helpful when you last changed your furnace filter? How did you ensure you were inserting it properly? Let us know so others can learn from you.Furnace filters are inserted where the ductwork meets the furnace. The first step to an effectively filtered heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is the correct insertion of a furnace filter.

If the filter is inserted the wrong way, it will not filter as effectively, airflow will be impeded and the strain on the furnace motor will increase. 1 kw ac unitThe first step in air quality, efficiency and proper furnace operation is the correct installation of the furnace air filter. ac units for vertical windowsDetermine where on the furnace you can find the filter air box. how to replace rv ac unitStand in front of the furnace and look for the ducts. The heating duct will begin near or at the top of the furnace. Air is pushed through these ducts and into the rooms that the furnace services. The cold air return duct will be attached near the bottom of the furnace. This latter duct is the one that holds the filter air box. On most furnaces the filter will be directly adjacent to the furnace.

The filter box may be covered by a small and wide hinged door, or the filter itself will be visible inside a notch that it slides into. Pull the old filter out and discard it. Look on the new filter for airflow arrows that are imprinted along the sides of the filter. These arrows are always meant to point in the direction of the airflow; another way of determining the correct orientation of the filter is that the arrows always point toward the furnace itself. Slide the furnace filter into the filter air box with the arrows pointing toward the furnace. This is the correct orientation when replacing the filter. Things You Will Need New furnace filter Tip Warning References The Family Handyman: How to Change a Furnace FilterAchoo Allergy: Changing Your Furnace FilterFilters USA: How to Replace Your Furnace Filter Photo Credits Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images Suggest a Correction◃ Knowledge Base Home How To Properly Change Your Air Conditioning Filter Imagine driving at 60mph down a dirt road in a convertible with out a windshield during a summer day.

A marriage of bugs and teeth comes to mind, no? This pane of glass protects us from the dirt, debris, and bugs that would otherwise end up in our eyes, noses, and yes, teeth. But did you know that you can similarly equate your air conditioning filter to your car's windshield? It keeps all that unwanted debris from reaching the internal workings of the air conditioner, aka the "teeth" of any home comfort system! Air conditioner manufacturers design their units with filtration in mind, and in all cases recommend changing the filter out regularly to keep the unit functioning correctly. Since the filter is often placed in an inconspicuous part of the HVAC unit, it is easy to forget to change it out. Different filter technologies have extended the ability of some filters, such as pleated filters, to function longer than others. The typical kind you see are the 1 inch-thick fiberglass kinds, usually a blue or green color and found at most grocery or hardware stores. Unfortunately, while they are the most widely sold, they are also the most ineffective filter you can use and are the culprit behind most Austin AC repair.

For true filtration and performance your best bet is a pleated ac filter which comes in various sizes and thicknesses, depending on the application. For asthma-sufferers and other health concerns HEPA filters are a great choice to help further reduce indoor air pollution. Depending on your specific needs an HVAC professional should be able to recommend the right type or combination of filtration measures that will achieve the results you are looking for. All filters come with suggested replacement schedules that should be adhered to as closely as possible. The cheaper fiberglass kinds, available at your box stores for example, have a maximum 1 month life span but in reality do little to no good and are not recommended by any manufacturer, while some of the higher performance models, like 5 inch pleated filters can go as long as 8 months (under specific circumstances like low traffic, or pet-free homes) before they need to be replaced according to the manufacturer. Note that air conditioning filters come in many sizes, so be sure you are purchasing a correctly-sized replacement for your model of air conditioner.

So once you decide what kind of filter to use, the trickiest part can be changing it. Where does the filter go? Does it matter which side is placed where? How can I dispose of the old filter? All valid questions for someone who has never changed an HVAC filter before. Hopefully the following will give you the confidence needed to begin changing your filter regularly and protecting your HVAC system. Determine Placement: AC systems usually have 2 major parts, an indoor piece and an outdoor piece. (For animated examples and details visit our cyber showroom!) The outdoor piece is characterized by a louvered housing with a large fan inside which helps condense and cool the air; this is likely the more familiar equipment for homeowners. The indoor piece is usually going to be housed in the attic or in a utility closet in the home; this is the part of the equipment that usually houses the filter, however note that some designs will filter before the indoor equipment at the air return grille, often seen in apartment HVAC designs. 

If your unit resides in a closet, chances are the filter will be located towards the bottom of the equipment. If in the attic, the filter usually goes towards the front of the unit, or the end farthest away from the duct work. Access should be easy and require no extra tools besides your fingers. If you have a filter behind the return air grille, this may require a screwdriver to complete a change. In most cases visual inspection may be enough to determine the need for change. Presence of large chunks of dirt and dust are usually signs that it is time to replace. However some filters actually perform better with some dirt buildup, so make sure to observe manufacturer guidelines when in doubt. PositioningWhile most filter manufacturers mark their filters with the intended air flow direction, you also have to know which way the air is going inside of your system to be successful. The easiest way to tell is to take note of the filter you remove. Which way is it installed now? If you want to be extra sure you are doing it right, just know that the air is always flowing INTO the unit where the filter is housed.