◃ 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.home central ac maintenance Determine Placement: AC systems usually have 2 major parts, an indoor piece and an outdoor piece. ac unit for data center(For animated examples and details visit our cyber showroom!) top 10 hvac companies

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. This means that the air flow direction arrows should point towards the rest of the machinery, away from the air return grille.( A best practice for filter and HVAC professionals is to date the filter when installing so you know how long it has been in place.) Want to make sure your unit is operating at top capacity? Try our maintenance program and get filter changing tips for free! For a limited time get instant savings on Central Texas' Best HVAC Maintenance Program.