How To Install A Filtrete Air Filter

For the typical homeowner, changing air conditioner filters is one of the easiest AC maintenance tasks you can perform. And, it'south an important facet of routine heating and cooling system maintenance because a make clean filter tin can help keep your system running efficiently and reliably for years.

Every bit a part of your heating and air conditioning system, the air filter plays ii main roles:

Removal of airborne particles from the air that you exhale to improve indoor air quality
Keeping internal components gratuitous from grit and debris to maintain efficiency and reliability of performance

A dirty filter can crusade a number of bug with your system. It can restrict air catamenia, which not simply affects your comfort, but tin can lead to your organisation's air handler working harder than normal. Over fourth dimension, that can cause unnecessary wear and tear on system components. In more extreme cases a chock-full filter can lead to the arrangement turning on and off many times in rapid succession (short cycling) or even shut downwardly completely.

To avoid these issues, be sure to inspect, make clean or supervene upon your Air conditioning filter regularly as a part of your air conditioner maintenance routine. If you do, yous tin help continue your organisation running smoothly and efficiently, and hopefully avert an unnecessary service telephone call from your local HVAC technician. And, once it becomes a addiction, you'll notice that changing an air conditioner filter is an easy, low-cost fashion to maintain your comfort and hopefully save a little money down the road.

How Ofttimes You Should Be Irresolute Air Conditioner Filters

How Often to Change Air Filters will vary based on the type of filter you accept. For instance, a basic, 1-inch air filter will most probable demand to be replaced more ofttimes than a larger 4-inch filter. You should follow the filter manufacturer'due south recommendations, simply a good dominion of pollex is to inspect your Air-conditioning filter at least once every 2-3 months. Additional factors that can bear on the timeline of how often you change your filter regularly include:

Thermostat settings: If you tend to enjoy cooler settings in summer, your system volition run more than ofttimes, which may subtract fourth dimension between filter changes. If y'all set the thermostat back to save energy, you'll run the organization less and potentially increase fourth dimension between filter changes.
Poor arrangement installation: An undersized system will run longer and filters will probable collect more than pollutants. Poorly installed ductwork may invite more than airborne pollutants into the system as well. Both of these examples can potentially reduce the fourth dimension between filter changes.
Pets: If you lot are a pet possessor, the number, size and type of animals in your home might affect timing between filter changes. Larger animals or longer-haired animals that shed more volition shorten the time betwixt filter changes.
Quality/age of home: Older homes or poorly sealed homes tend to draw more clay, dust and other airborne pollutants from outside. Particularly in areas with air pollution issues, you will probable need to inspect and replace your filter more often.

Every bit filter inspections get a role of your routine, you might want to purchase replacement filters in advance and have a clean filter available in example an inspection indicates it's fourth dimension for a change.

How to Replace Air Conditioner Filters

Locate and Open up Air Filter Chiffonier

When it'due south fourth dimension to inspect your filter, always be sure to turn off power to the arrangement. You can practice this either at the thermostat, the breaker box, or using the shutoff switch located on/nearly the indoor unit (often looks similar a light switch).

The exact location of the filter can vary depending on the indoor HVAC unit and type of organisation. Most single-home residential systems include either a vertical or horizontal indoor air handler unit of measurement (furnace or fan whorl), typically in a basement, furnace/utility cupboard, garage or sometimes an attic. Look for a filter chiffonier along the sides, top or bottom of the blower cabinet. The filter may be positioned horizontally or vertically, depending on the orientation of the air handler in the indoor unit of measurement. In some cases, specially on older models, the filter may be institute within the blower chiffonier. If you live in a multifamily flat or condo unit, the filter may be located in an in-wall return air grill.

Once you lot have ensured that power is shut off and located the filter, take a moment to decide the direction air flows through the system. Some filters will include air flow arrows to ensure proper installation. If arrows are present, take note of the management they are pointing so y'all tin properly re-install the former one or install the new one. At present, remove the filter from its housing and audit it for excessive build-upward of dust, dirt and debris.

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Figure i: Location of the air conditioner filter on a Carrier air conditioner

Determination Time: Clean or Supervene upon

Sometimes when you pull out the filter, it's painfully obvious whether it's time to clean or replace: if caked on dirt and dust are falling off the surface, information technology'due south probably restricting air period and you'll desire to have action. If it's simply lightly covered, or you can nevertheless see calorie-free through the filter material, you may desire to clean the filter and so check again in another month. If it's somewhere in between, yous can default to the filter manufacturer'due south recommendations or utilise your own judgment based on your own experience.

If you are replacing or changing air conditioner filters, be certain to either mensurate the old filter or accept note of its dimensions if printed on the casing earlier you throw the old i away. You volition need these dimensions to purchase a replacement if you don't accept a replacement filter at home already.

If you are cleaning the filter, exist sure to follow the manufacturer'due south recommendations. Many filters, whether dispensable or re-usable can exist cleaned with a vacuum cleaner nozzle attachment, existence careful not to tear the filter material.

Insert the Clean Filter and Turn the AC Unit of measurement On

Advisedly slide the new or cleaned filter dorsum into its housing with the airflow arrows pointing in the correct direction. Properly secure the cabinet or console cover, then restore power to the organization and turn information technology on.