If you’re a first-time owner of a home with a forced-air furnace, you might not realize there’s a filter in there that needs changing. And even if you do, you might not know it needs to be replaced every few months to keep your furnace running at peak efficiency—and to help prevent pollutants from entering your living space. Fortunately, replacing a furnace filter is a pretty simple task, once you know what you’re doing. There are ways to botch the job, however, for example by buying the wrong furnace filter or putting it in backwards, which could block the flow of air instead of cleaning it. Here’s how to do the job properly in three simple steps. What kind of filter do you have? Start by turning off the furnace. Remove the existing furnace filter, which will be located inside the furnace or inside the return air vent. Look for an arrow on the filter indicating airflow direction. Using a permanent marker, draw the airflow direction on the outside of the furnace, so you'll always know the right way to install the filter.

Then note the furnace filter size, which will be printed on the cardboard frame.A filter that has a plastic frame is a reusable model. That means you have clean it only periodically with a vacuum and water, ideally outdoors. Let it dry completely before reinserting. Get the right replacement. how does a gas ac unit workFurnace filters are sold at home centers, hardware stores, and online. mobile home hvac unitDisposable ones are typically 1 or 2 inches thick. in house financing for ac unitsCheck our Ratings of furnace filters, also known as whole-house air filters, for a right-sized model that was effective at removing dust, pollen, and smoke when air passed through it at both high and low speeds. We also test thicker furnace filters, some up to 5 inches, and they often provide superior air cleaning.

But if your furnace isn’t already equipped to handle a thicker filter, it will need to be modified by an HVAC professional. Our top-rated 5-inch furnace filter is the Lennox Healthy Climate CarbonClean 16, $100. For 1-inch furnace filters, we recommend the Filtrete Healthy Living Ultimate Allergen Reduction 1900 MPR, $20. For more choices and sizes, see our full Ratings and recommendations of furnace filters. Install the new filter. Look for the markings that tell you which side of the filter should face the furnace. Then slide the filter back into place and replace any cover that goes over it. Keep a record of the date so that you’ll know when it’s time to change the furnace filter again. What are your most and least favorite projects? Air Filters Inc. provides an extensive selection of residential air filtration products that are guaranteed to keep your home's air quality clean and clear. Made to fit virtually any residential A/C system, our filters create better conditions and air quality, while increasing the efficiency and longevity of HVAC systems.

By placing quality air filters within a home's ventilation system, you can block a number of irritating and harmful airborne particulates, including pollen, animal dander, mold spores, viruses and bacteria, depending on the product's Minimum Efficiency Rating Value (MERV). For optimal performance, it's best to choose filters with a MERV Rating between 8 and 13. That said, the higher the overall rating, the better the filter's ability to block more - and smaller types - of contaminants. Whether you're an individual home owner or a large-scale contractor interested in placing a bulk order, Air Filters Inc. is ideally-equipped to meet your requirements. For more than 50 years, we've delivered high-performing filtration products to both residential and industrial customers. Over this period, we've earned a strong reputation as experts in industrial ventilation, HVAC and air purification systems. At the same time, we're also well-known for providing attentive, knowledgeable customer service, fast deliveries and tailored service to fit the unique needs of each and every customer.

Contact our office to learn more about our superior line of residential air filtration products.A quick Amazon search under the category brings up over 800 results! It's all too easy to take the easy road and purchase the cheapest filter, especially when prices range so greatly. But as everything else, buyer beware: the effectiveness of HVAC filters ability to remove airborne contaminants such as pet dander, dust mites, smoke, and mold usually correlates with the price. Here are some informative rating resources for buyers to refer to before replacing or upgrading their home's air filtration system... The fact is not all air filters are created equal. The cheapest filters might be fine for filtering out large sized household dust and lint, but the typical home's interior air is polluted with a lot more unwanted elements composed of much very fine size. The EPA provides an informative breakdown of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants often found indoors, listing the "two categories of indoor air pollutants that can affect the quality of air in a home."

Viruses, bacteria, pollen, mold, dust mite, animal dander, smoke...nobody wants to breathe these inside their own home and the cheapest of HVAC filters do a poor job of removing these elements from interior air.So what should a buyer look for when shopping for an air filter effective against a wide variety of particulates and pollutants? Fortunately, there are ratings systems to help compare the level of protection air filters provide. Unfortunately, many groups, stores, and manufactures tout their own rating systems, which means choosing the right HVAC air filter takes a little cross-referencing and research.The American Society of Heating, Refigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) designed a rating system known as Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). MERV ratings run from 1-20, designating the effectiveness of filers to capture smaller and smaller minimum particle sizes. The higher the MERV rating, the better, and we recommend this rating system the best for determining filter efficiency.

Big brand, Filtrete, uses their own Microparticle Performance Rating (MPR), rating their filters based upon air filtration efficacy. Their basic system simply groups filters into "good (300 MPR)", "better (600 MPR)", and "best (1,000 MPR)" - with "best" capturing "at least 90% of large particles from the air passing through the filter." Their MPR rating is unfortunately only useful if purchasing their brand of air filters.The Home Depot's Air Filter Performance Rating (FPR) System below aims to make it even easier to compare brands by presenting a unified ranking system in an easy-to-read chart/rating based upon the filters' 1) ability to capture large particles, 2) ability to capture small particles, 3) and weight gain (filter lifetime). But the FPR rating system lacks specific figures for the sake of simplicity. points out, buyers should skip over the most affordable and common fiberglass spun filters, with a paltry MERV rating of 2-3. For just a few dollars more, disposable pleated models bump up the MERV rating to 6, while disposable electrostatic cotton or paper fiber filters rate at 10 and are probably the best option for those balancing budget vs. performance.