
One of the burdensome yet important home maintenance chores is furnace filter replacement. Yes, it may be quite overwhelming, but once it is already part of the household routine, it becomes easier and it will pay off. All Rights Reserved.Septemby Reliable Standard in Heater / Furnace 240Įvery homeowner must stay on top of home maintenance duties. As filters get finer, they will be more expensive, so it helps to know what you need. This can help you decide how fine of a filter you need.

When shopping for new air filters, check this EPA website for helpful information on MERV ratings you will see on the labels. If you do any projects such as cutting wood or drywall sanding, you will generate a lot of dust that could clog filters more quickly. Likewise, if you have pets that create a lot of dander or anyone smokes inside the house, you can clean the air by changing filters more often. If anyone in your family has allergies or is sensitive to dust or other particles in the air, look for finer filters and change them more often. If it uses the larger 4-5" thick filters, they need to be changed every 6-9 months.Ĭonsider your lifestyle as well to determine how often to replace the air filters. If your furnace uses the smaller 1-2" thick filters, they should be changed every 3-6 months. The frequency that you change the furnace air filters will depend on the type of filter and your family's needs. You may want to go ahead and replace the filter in the furnace as well just to make sure you get all that construction dust out. If you have recently moved into new construction, check if this is the case.

Due to all the dust generated during construction, many builders will place extra filters in these grates even if the furnace also has one. In this case, do not put a filter in the grate - it will restrict the air flow too much and make your HVAC system run poorly. If your house has the air filter in the furnace, you may still have this type of grate for an intake. In some houses, the filter is found behind hinged grates like this.

Once again, if your house has more than one furnace, there will be more than one intake in the walls or ceilings. The frame will hold the filter so it doesn't fall out of place. A large intake vent has a hinged grate that can be opened to replace the filter. In some cases, the filter is found in the ceiling or the wall of the living space of your home. Note the arrow on the filter, indicating the direction of air flow. If your house has more than one furnace, you need to replace the filter in each one.Ī filter shown in its slot in the furnace.
#FURNACE AIR FLOW DIRECTION INSTALL#
Make sure you install the new filter with the arrow pointing the same direction. When the door is removed, the filter just slides right out and a new one slides in its place.Īs you remove the old filter, notice the dimensions (they should be marked on the filter in inches) and direction of the arrow - this indicates the direction of air flow through the furnace. The furnace has a removable door that covers the filter. In most cases, especially in newer houses, the filter is found in the furnace in the attic. Photo by īefore you can change the filter in your HVAC system, you have to know where to find it and what size you'll need. The air filter is behind the panel on the right that says Honeywell. Where to find the filter A horizontal gas-fired furnace. To keep your HVAC equipment functioning properly and to clean the air circulating in your home, these filters need to be changed every few months
#FURNACE AIR FLOW DIRECTION HOW TO#
How to Change Your Furnace Air Filter | HTX Home Guide HTX Home Guide Logo Preparing to Build Construction After Closing How to change your furnace air filter Photo by Įvery home air conditioning and heating system has a filter to remove dust, allergens, and other microparticles from the air passing through.
