What Direction Is Airflow On Furnace Filter

6 Things to Know About Your Furnace Filter

The starting time of each flavour is a skillful time to remember to change the air filter in your HVAC system. Similar many people, you lot probably don't think much about your furnace as long as it's doing its job and keeping y'all warm in the winter. The starting time matter to know is that information technology's really important to modify your furnace filter on a regular ground to aid proceed it working properly as well as to avoid damage or breakdowns that tin can occur if information technology isn't replaced often enough.

You've probably asked yourself questions such equally: What does a furnace filter practice? Which one should I purchase? Where does it go? When should I change it? We answer these questions below.

one. WHAT DOES A FURNACE FILTER Practise?

Many people believe that the main job of a furnace filter is to clean the air, just that's not true. The principal purpose of a furnace filter is to protect the blower fan from pilus, grit, and other stuff that the return air ducts pull in. Still, through this process, it does improve the quality of the inside air past removing particulates from being recirculated.

Not changing your furnace filter when it becomes dirty or clogged will result in less airflow inside your home which tin cause serious harm to your furnace besides, and no one wants that to happen.

ii. FILTER SIZES

Now, you demand to know what size of filter your furnace needs. There are a lot of different sizes and y'all demand to utilize the 1 that is the correct size for your furnace.

Furnace filters are sized by thickness (depth), meridian, and length. The most common thickness is 1", with four" also beingness a popular option for larger systems. Height and length combinations range from 10"x10" all the way to 30"x thirty". The most mutual sizes are 14"x 25", xvi"10 20", 16"x 25", 20"x 25", and 25"x 25". The easiest fashion to find out what size you need is to pull out the filter that is currently in your furnace and check it (the size should be written on the frame of the filter) or you can also refer to your furnace transmission.

The filter must fit snugly in your furnace. It is important to note that yous must have an exact fit -"close enough" is not proficient plenty in these circumstances. A good fit prevents air from slipping around the edges of the filter. You lot should exist able to look at the filter in your furnace currently and see the size printed on the side. It'south a skillful idea to write this in permanent marking on your furnace then that you can accept it visible when you need to know it.

three. THE Different TYPES OF FILTERS

The virtually common blazon of furnace filter is a disposable pleated kind. These come up in a range of standard sizes and ratings. Pleated filters are constructed out of paper and polyester and exercise a practiced task at filtering most household particles and allergens. The cost of these filters varies from a couple of dollars all the fashion up to the $30 – $40 range depending on the brand, size, and MERV rating of the filter.

Disposable fiberglass filters are the cheapest filter on the market place but really aren't the best furnace filters. They have an about spider-web appearance and are oft blue in color. They come in many standard sizes, but are generally more flimsy and take lower ratings than pleated filters.

Permanent reusable filters (as well referred to as washable filters) are constructed with either solid aluminum or plastic frame. These filters can save money because you don't have to be buying filters to replace. Even so, they need to be cleaned out as often as yous would supplant a dispensable ane (checking information technology every month is recommended) so that you have the right amount of air-period and are not putting undue stress on your furnace.

The average furnace that has non been maintained has almost ten lbs of dirt in it. That's why it'due south important to take your furnace serviced every year. Maintaining your furnace can add years on to its life expectancy and besides takes less free energy to run it, saving on your free energy bill.

4. WHICH TYPE OF FURNACE FILTER SHOULD I Purchase? (MERV RATINGS)

It's important to understand MERV ratings when considering which is the best furnace filter to buy. Furnace filters are rated using the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) which was created by The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to allow consumers to compare air filters fabricated by different companies. MERV ratings tin range from a depression of 1 to a high of twenty. The college the rating, the smaller the size of particles the filter tin remove. However, higher-rated filters allow less air to flow through and tin can forcefulness your furnace to piece of work harder and perchance malfunction.

Co-ordinate to the United states Environmental Protection Agency, air furnace filters with a MERV between 7 and 13 are adequate for well-nigh homes as they are pretty effective at controlling virtually airborne indoor particles. To be on the safe side, cheque your furnace manual and see if the manufacturer has a maximum MERV rating for your model of furnace to help you in figuring out which furnace filter would be best for you to apply on your system. MERV ratings are printed on the side of each filter. The higher the MERV rating, the greater the efficiency in removing contaminants and pollutants. If anyone in your abode has allergies, asthma, any other respiratory conditions, pets, or if you alive in a dusty environs you should aim for a higher MERV rating.

Some hardware stores (such as Home Depot or Lowes) use their ain rating system. While these ratings are similar to the MERV scale, they do vary. It's all-time to confirm what their rating converts to on the MERV scale to ensure y'all're using a filter that is prophylactic for your furnace.

5. WHEN SHOULD I Change MY FURNACE FILTER?

The simple respond is: when information technology gets dirty. The tricky thing is that every person's system is different. Frequently, people rely on a random "when information technology feels correct" approach. Until you lot effigy out how long your filter volition terminal before needing to be changed, we recommend by starting past checking information technology every calendar month. Take it out, agree it up to the calorie-free. If yous can withal see quite a scrap of low-cal through it, reinstall it and check it the side by side month. If not, modify the filter with a new one. Eventually, you will learn how often you will need to change your furnace filter. Some people need to change theirs every month while others can alter it every 4 months.

vi. HOW Exercise I INSTALL A FURNACE FILTER CORRECTLY?

Every filter has an air-flow management pointer on it. On your new filter, find the arrow that indicates the proper airflow management. This tends to misfile everyone more than annihilation else. That pointer must always face toward the furnace and away from the return duct that carries the air in need of heating or cooling.

Pro Tip: It's a expert thought to depict the airflow direction arrow with a permanent marker on the actual furnace housing or ductwork. Ideally, you'd indicate the airflow management and filter size (16x25x4 Airflow→).

Depending on how your filter is placed in your HVAC unit, slide or place the new filter in with the arrow pointing toward the furnace, and yous are done. Merely remember to check information technology once a month to see if it needs to be replaced.

Dec 27th 2021

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