Furnace and How Do You Change Its Filter?

What Is Your Furnace and How Do You Change Its Filter?

Many homeowners are unaware of many aspects of their HVAC system, including the location of important components like the furnace. You cannot do standard furnace maintenance procedures like inspecting the furnace air filter if you don't know where the furnace is. This and other straightforward tasks can improve the energy efficiency of your furnace. It will also aid in reducing the possibility of damage or a malfunction.

The Furnace Is Where?

The majority of furnaces are housed in the basement or a dedicated utility closet in the middle of your house. If your house lacks a basement, it could possibly be in the attic or crawl space. Other items like your water heater or washing machine can be nearby.

Locating the furnace filter comes next after you've discovered where your furnace is.

Where Is the Filter for My Furnace?

The blower compartment, which is accessed through a metal door or hatch on the lower side of the furnace, is where you'll typically find the air filter. It might also be on a rack mounted on the side of the furnace or in a sliding compartment close to the air handler element of your furnace. It will be put in a spot where it may catch airborne particles like dust, pollen, and other debris as they move through your HVAC system.

The furnace filter gathers more and more debris over time. It will eventually limit airflow, which could worsen indoor air quality in your home and reduce the overall effectiveness of your HVAC system. You can keep everything running more efficiently by routinely cleaning or changing the filter.

How Can I Replace My Furnace's, Air Filter?

Fortunately, changing a furnace filter doesn't require a lot of HVAC skills. In fact, it's one of the simplest things you can do to help your HVAC system work at its best. Before you begin, bear in mind the following:

• To ensure that the replacement air filter fits, make sure to measure the filter.

• Before you access the air filter, turn the furnace off.

• Pull the filter out gradually to avoid jarring or damaging the housing.

• Finally, before inserting the new filter in your furnace, check for an arrow [[illiustrating|indicating[[35][35] how the filter should be oriented.

Should I Change the Filter in My Furnace Monthly?

Knowing when to change your furnace filter ultimately depends on a number of factors. Start with the filter's actual model because more effective filters should last longer. You should also think about your needs for indoor air quality, the size of your family and how many pets you have, and the pollution levels in your area.

When it comes to basic filters, it is recommended that you replace them every 1-2 months, or every 20–45 days if you have several pets and someone in the house has allergies.

What Kind of Furnace Filter Should You Use?

The effectiveness of your HVAC system as a whole, as well as the indoor air quality of your home, may be significantly impacted by the condition of your furnace filter. The MERV rating of your furnace filter is the most reliable indicator of its quality. This indicates how well the filter works to lower the level of airborne particles in your home. Its name is the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.

The filter will perform better if the MERV value is [bigger|higher]46. Although ratings can range from 1 to 20, you don't necessarily need to find a furnace filter with a 20 MERV rating. In actuality, a lot of filters with ratings higher than 13 are frequently created for hospitals or other facilities that require the safest, most hygienic conditions imaginable.

What will happen if I don't replace the furnace filter?

It's not the end of the world if you forget to change your furnace filter, but it can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system. A filthy filter might hinder the efficient heating that furnaces rely on from unhindered airflow. However, the longer you wait to replace it, the more likely it is that issues may arise and require furnace repair. Some of the most common are listed below.

• The temperature in your furnace might gradually rise if there is not enough airflow. When the furnace detects overheating, safety mechanisms should turn it off, but this can continue until the filter is changed.

• Your HVAC system begins to cycle briefly. When your equipment repeatedly starts and stops, this is known as short cycling. This causes greater wear and tear, which reduces the lifespan of your system.

• The cooling coil of the air conditioner freezes. The air conditioner also requires constant airflow. Without it, the refrigerant coils risk freezing over from being too cold.

• goog_1927174772Your HVAC system stops functioning: If your HVAC system operates for an extended period of time without adequate ventilation, a piece of equipment may completely fail.

Is a dirty air filter preferable to none at all?

Definitely not! Your furnace filter is still a beneficial component for making the most of your HVAC system. You really should have a filter in place, even if you neglect to replace it every now and then. A trusted repair firm like HVAC Repair Guide Experts can help you stay on top of regular furnace service in Virginia, including removing the air filter.