How To Replace Central Air Filter

Y'all Need To Replace Your AC Filter — Do You lot Know How?

Air filters apace get chock-full with debris, particularly in the cooling season when air conditioners are running effectually the clock. Failing to change your filter tin mean you'll be facing a repair, higher energy bills, and decreased life bridge from the AC. In other words, replacing your AC filter is ane of the easiest ways to ensure optimal organisation performance twelvemonth later year.

The good news is that swapping out your air conditioner filter is a simple chore — if you know what you're doing.

How to Replace Your AC Filter

How To Supervene upon Your Air-conditioning Filter: An Like shooting fish in a barrel Step-by-Step Guide

In many homes, the air filter is virtually the thermostat. So, the kickoff step is to locate the filter. Go to your thermostat, and look for a vent. If you tin can't find a return vent with the filter close by, expect at the air-conditioning unit of measurement. Some models business firm the air filter closer to the system rather than at the return air grille.

Here are the next steps once yous've located the filter:

Loosen the fasteners property the front of the grille to the vent, and gently remove the comprehend. Ready information technology aside. The air filter should exist direct behind the embrace.
Reach in and pull information technology out.
Set the filter to the side, and assess its condition. When information technology'southward by its prime, a dingy filter will usually be a dingy, greyish-brown color. If it withal looks whitish, in that location may be some life left in information technology.
If the filter is dirty, grab the new air filter.
Place the arrow pattern on the edge of the filter. The management of the arrows is important to ensure proper airflow. The arrows should not indicate out or at you. If they do, airflow will be restricted.
Once you discover the arrows, position them to face the wall.
Place the air filter dorsum into the return duct opening, gently easing the bottom portion of the filter in first and then the top.
Double-check that the arrows are pointing toward the duct.
Give the filter a gentle pat to ensure it fits snugly into the opening.
Put the comprehend back on.
Tighten the fasteners.

Now, the job of changing the air filter is complete. Replacing a chock-full or dirty filter can help your abode feel more comfortable considering air flows freely through your organization.

If you're still having comfort or humidity bug later replacing your Air conditioning filter, consider installing a whole-home dehumidifier.

What's the Best Type of Filter To Use?

Not all filters are the aforementioned. There is a range of dissimilar filter types and efficiencies bachelor. The minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) is a rating that tells you how efficient a detail filter is at cleaning the air.

Residential air filters usually have a MERV between 1 and 12, with college numbers indicating filters are more efficient at removing dust, particles, and bacteria from the air.

Hither'south a general breakup of the different categories of MERV ratings for habitation air filters and what they mean:

one to four means minimal filtration, with less than 20% of air particulates being removed.
5 to eight offers better filtration, removing between 20 and 35% of air particulates.
9 to 12 offers the best filtration, removing at to the lowest degree fifty% and potentially more than 90% of air particulates.

The all-time air filter for your home depends on your needs and the type of HVAC system you accept (particularly if anyone in your home has health issues that require your abode's air to be as clean every bit possible).

If you're not sure what type of air filter is best for your arrangement, contact an HVAC professional. There can be risks associated with installing a filter that'south non designed for your HVAC system. You can also cheque the owner's guide, every bit the manufacturer outlines the range of filter efficiency ratings that are ideal to use with the organisation.

How Often Should You Replace the Air Filter?

For nearly homeowners, it's helpful to change the filter every three months or and so. You should change it more than ofttimes if:

Yous have pets that shed.
Your home sees a lot of traffic.
You lot're remodeling your home
Anyone in your home suffers from allergies.
Your home gets especially dusty for any reason.

It's also a skilful idea to check your filter every calendar month and change it out when it appears dirty and when the summer season heats up, and you utilise your Ac more than often.

Telephone call (386) 337-3502 or contact us online if yous'd like an HVAC expert from Jacob Heating & Air conditioning to walk you through changing your air filter, or if it'south fourth dimension to schedule air conditioning maintenance or repairs.

We help home and business owners in West Volusia County with all their cooling and heating needs, and we service every brand of HVAC equipment, from Tempstar to Carrier®.

We proudly provide pinnacle-quality air workout, furnace, and heat pump solutions to those in Astor, DeLand, DeLeon Springs, DeBary, Deltona, Lake Helen, Orangish Metropolis, and Pierson, Florida.

Air Filter Replacement FAQs

How bad is information technology if I don't change my filter?

If your HVAC air filter is only moderately muddied, failing to change information technology can reduce the efficiency of your heating and/or air conditioning system, leading to college utility costs.

If the air filter is not just dirty but partially or fully clogged, it can harm other parts of your HVAC organization. By reducing airflow, a chock-full filter tin force the AC compressor to work harder, overheating it, or in the winter, it can cause the rut exchanger in your furnace to overheat and crack. Both are expensive components to supplant, even if the parts are available.

At Jacob Heating & Air Conditioning, nosotros recommended checking the air filter every month and replacing it when it looks muddy, or about every three months.

Shouldn't I choose the filter with the highest MERV value?

Non necessarily. Many HVAC systems were designed to use bones fiberglass or pleated filters with low MERV ratings. Some may accept air filters with higher ratings, simply if you go too high, you may introduce an airflow brake that reduces efficiency as much every bit a dirty air filter does.

In general, the better an air filter is at removing airborne particles, the more restrictive information technology is. Check your HVAC owner's transmission to determine the maximum recommended MERV rating for your HVAC air filter, or ask our HVAC experts at Jacob.

What'due south in my air that makes the filter plough brown?

In most cases, the brown accumulations on an HVAC filter are just household grit, pollen, pet dander, pet hair, and other airborne particles the filter is designed to remove. At that place may likewise be traces of cooking grease and oil, besides as tobacco fume if there are smokers in your home.

If your air filter turns black, however, it can be acquired by candle smoke or more harmful sources similar soot from a water heater or black mold. For communication on solving air quality bug in your Due west Volusia habitation, talk to our team at Jacob.