How To Change The Filter On An Ac Unit

You Demand To Supervene upon Your Air-conditioning Filter — Do You lot Know How?

Air filters quickly become clogged with debris, especially in the cooling season when air conditioners are running around the clock. Failing to alter your filter can mean you'll be facing a repair, higher energy bills, and decreased life bridge from the Ac. In other words, replacing your Air conditioning filter is one of the easiest ways to ensure optimal system performance year after year.

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

How to Replace Your AC Filter

How To Supplant 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 first step is to locate the filter. Go to your thermostat, and wait for a vent. If yous can't find a return vent with the filter close past, await at the air conditioning unit. Some models house the air filter closer to the system rather than at the return air grille.

Here are the next steps once you lot've located the filter:

Loosen the fasteners holding the front of the grille to the vent, and gently remove the embrace. Set up information technology aside. The air filter should be directly backside the cover.
Attain in and pull it out.
Gear up the filter to the side, and assess its condition. When it's past its prime, a dirty filter will usually exist a dingy, greyish-brown color. If it still looks whitish, there may be some life left in it.
If the filter is dirty, grab the new air filter.
Identify the pointer pattern on the edge of the filter. The management of the arrows is important to ensure proper airflow. The arrows should non point out or at yous. If they practise, airflow will be restricted.
One time yous find 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 embrace back on.
Tighten the fasteners.

Now, the job of irresolute the air filter is consummate. Replacing a clogged or muddy filter can aid your home feel more comfortable considering air flows freely through your system.

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

What'southward the Best Type of Filter To Use?

Not all filters are the aforementioned. In that location is a range of different filter types and efficiencies available. The minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) is a rating that tells yous how efficient a detail filter is at cleaning the air.

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

Here'south a full general breakdown of the different categories of MERV ratings for home air filters and what they mean:

1 to 4 means minimal filtration, with less than twenty% of air particulates beingness removed.
five to 8 offers amend filtration, removing betwixt twenty and 35% of air particulates.
9 to 12 offers the best filtration, removing at least 50% and potentially more than 90% of air particulates.

The best air filter for your home depends on your needs and the blazon of HVAC system you have (especially if anyone in your home has wellness issues that require your habitation'due south air to be as clean every bit possible).

If you're not certain what blazon of air filter is best for your arrangement, contact an HVAC professional. There tin can be risks associated with installing a filter that's not designed for your HVAC organization. You tin can likewise cheque the owner's guide, as the manufacturer outlines the range of filter efficiency ratings that are ideal to utilise with the organisation.

How Frequently Should You Supervene upon the Air Filter?

For most homeowners, it's helpful to change the filter every 3 months or so. You should change it more than frequently if:

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

It's as well a practiced idea to check your filter every calendar month and modify it out when information technology appears dirty and when the summer season heats up, and yous use your Air-conditioning more frequently.

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

We help home and business organization owners in Due 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 height-quality air conditioning, furnace, and heat pump solutions to those in Astor, DeLand, DeLeon Springs, DeBary, Deltona, Lake Helen, Orange City, and Pierson, Florida.

Air Filter Replacement FAQs

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

If your HVAC air filter is simply moderately muddy, failing to change it can reduce the efficiency of your heating and/or air conditioning system, leading to higher utility costs.

If the air filter is non only dirty but partially or fully clogged, it tin can damage other parts of your HVAC system. By reducing airflow, a clogged filter tin can forcefulness the Air conditioning compressor to work harder, overheating it, or in the winter, it tin cause the heat exchanger in your furnace to overheat and scissure. Both are expensive components to replace, even if the parts are bachelor.

At Jacob Heating & Air Conditioning, we recommended checking the air filter every month and replacing it when it looks muddied, or about every iii months.

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

Non necessarily. Many HVAC systems were designed to use basic fiberglass or pleated filters with depression MERV ratings. Some may have air filters with college ratings, but if you lot go too high, you may introduce an airflow restriction that reduces efficiency as much equally a dingy air filter does.

In general, the better an air filter is at removing airborne particles, the more than restrictive it is. Bank check your HVAC owner'south manual to determine the maximum recommended MERV rating for your HVAC air filter, or ask our HVAC experts at Jacob.

What'southward in my air that makes the filter plow brown?

In near cases, the dark-brown accumulations on an HVAC filter are simply household grit, pollen, pet dander, pet pilus, and other airborne particles the filter is designed to remove. There may likewise be traces of cooking grease and oil, also equally tobacco fume if in that location are smokers in your habitation.

If your air filter turns black, notwithstanding, it tin can be caused past candle smoke or more harmful sources like soot from a water heater or blackness mold. For communication on solving air quality issues in your W Volusia home, talk to our team at Jacob.