Where are your air filters located in your home? Most central heating and air conditioning systems locate the air filter housing as close to the blower unit as possible in the return air duct. Air filtration happens as the blower draws air through the filter and feeds it into the furnace or AC unit for conditioning and circulation. The grill or box cover over the opening that contains the air filter should be located on the wall nearest to wherever the furnace is mounted, on the opposite side of the wall as the furnace. If not there, the filter may be located inside, or on the air handler itself. How do I find out my furnace filter size? The opening behind the grate covering the furnace filter will typically be a basic square or rectangle shape. Your air vent filter size should match exactly to slightly smaller than the measured outside length and width of the frame around that opening. This is vital as missed matched filters can allow harmful particles such as pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, tobacco smoke and other contaminants to enter your house.

Having an incorrect filter size is like not using a filter at all, which can have a bigger impact on your furnace and AC systems. Actual filter size is the critical dimension to measure and shop for. Most air vent filters match exactly with the size of the opening. Vent filters that do not match exactly, are expressed in terms of nominal and actual filter sizes. Nominal filter size is the approximate size of the filter rounded up to the nearest whole inch. For example, a filter that measures 19 ⅝” x 19 ⅝” x 13/16” might be nominally labelled as 20 x 20 x 1. tax credit for ac unitNeed help figuring out your air filter size? ac unit soft startPull out your current filter and look on its side. components of air handling unit pdfDimensions range from 10”x10” to 30”X36” and most, but not all filters are 1” thick, though some homes will have 2”-5” thick filters.

What sizes does Quality Air Filters have? Some HVAC systems require eccentric shaped, and/or oddly sized air filters. Quality Air Filters stocks 75 standard sized air filters, and can make custom air filters to any size desired. The best part is that there is no minimum quantity requirement for custom orders. You can order just one custom air filter if that’s all you need. Additionally, Quality Air Filters can create custom delivery schedules that vary from just a one time order to every 2-6 months that best suit your air filter needs. Does my filter have to be an exact fit? Ideally, you want the vent filter to fit as close to exact as possible. If a filter is not fitted snugly, unfiltered air will go through the path of least resistance, and the filter will be rendered partially if not completely useless. Particles that bypass the filter may build up on the mechanical parts of furnaces, and AC units, and deteriorate proper mechanical working conditions over time.

Left unattended this creates the need for expensive repairs, parts replacements, or in extreme cases total replacement of the unit. It’s important that everyone changes their air filters on a regular basis. From decreasing your electric bill to improving the efficiency of your HVAC system, by regularly changing your air filter with the right size, the higher quality of air you’ll have circulating through your home. can help you keep your house in great condition with new and effective air filters delivered right to your door."A lot of people have the perception that a bigger unit is better for the heating and cooling system in their house," Eric Newhouse, systems integration designer at IBACOS, said. "And that's really not the case. A properly sized piece of equipment that's not too large is going to work much more efficiently in maintaining better and more even comfort in your home." Alert: Don't get oversold about systems that are much more expensive than they need to be simply due to their size.

"Sizing" means to literally find the right size or cooling capacity of the air-conditioning system for your home. Unfortunately, many homes have systems that are too big or too small for them. This can lead to a loss of cooling efficiency and high electricity bills. There are several components that impact the proper sizing for an air-conditioning unit: Heating and Cooling Hours Windows in the House There are compressor and other component failures that have nothing to do with the equipment, but with improper sizing or installation of the air conditioning unit. "If you oversize the cooling system in your house, what will happen is that it will only operate in short little bursts," Newhouse said. "And since it's operating for a short period of time, it doesn't have the opportunity to dehumidify the air in your home." When the cooling system is the proper size, it runs a little bit longer every time it turns on, and during this longer period of running, it provides cooling – and it will dehumidify and provide better comfort in the home.

So the bottom line is, bigger is not always better. Even the orientation of the house can have a big effect on sizing of the cooling system. The way the windows are laid out, for example. Do they face north or south? This will certainly increase either the heating or cooling load. Because sizing is so important in a home's air conditioning, how that size is determined is crucial. Construction Advice: When sizing a cooling system for a home, keep in mind that it's better to undersize than to oversize. A smaller system may run a bit more often, but it will cost less to operate. A larger system will cost more to operate, in addition to being inefficient, which will cost more money in the long run.Rosie has always followed a rule of thumb when advising Rosie on the House listeners about how big a replacement air conditioning unit should be: 400 square feet per ton. But that rule is out of date. Due to the increased energy efficiency in homes today, it is no longer possible to base the size of your air conditioner solely on the size of your home, and therefore there is no good rule of thumb;

but there are some guidelines. When it comes to air conditioning, it’s actually better to err on the side of smaller. A unit that’s too big for the home won’t run long enough to wring out the humidity. Instead, it will cool your home too quickly, and then cut itself off before it has time to deal with the humidity. High humidity indoors can lead to problems, including but not limited to, your discomfort and mold growth. Also, an air conditioning unit that cuts on and off every few minutes because it cools the house so quickly will use more energy than one that stays on long enough to do its job with the humidity. That said, you don’t want to buy a unit that’s too small, either. An undersized unit will run all the time without ever making your home as cool as you’d like it to be. An air conditioning unit that’s just the right size for your home will run long enough to bring your home to the temperature you like, and it will cycle the moisture out of the air and give you the most comfort, and energy efficiency.