Email Us
24.08.2024
Brooke Kirshne
Every individual’s home and workplace's most crucial component is a furnace filter. It helps us to clean the air that is inside our homes. The air quality can be improved with the help of furnace filters. It removes airborne contaminants like dirt, dust, pollen, etc. There are many types of furnace filters available on the market, according to the needs of different individuals.
So, many people think that, is it always necessary to change furnace filters on a regular basis? The short answer is yes! The maintenance of your filter is necessary. If you do not change it on a regular basis, it can cause harm to your HVAC systems. So many types of questions must be coming into your minds, like, How do you change the furnace filter? How often should you change a furnace filter? What are the steps to changing a furnace filter? Answers to these questions will be given to you in this blog. So you must go through this entire blog to know the answers to your every question, so read carefully.
What Is A Furnace Filter & Its Types?
Before learning how to change a furnace filter, it's essential to understand what a furnace filter is and the different types available. A furnace filter is a critical component of your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. Its primary function is to trap and remove pollutants such as pollen, dust, and other airborne particles from the air before it circulates through your home. The furnace filter is typically located between the main furnace unit and the return air duct, ensuring that the air entering your furnace is clean and free of contaminants.
There are many types of furnace filters available on the market, and an individual should choose filters according to their requirements. There are mostly 5 types of furnace filters: polyester filters, electrostatic filters, fiberglass/synthetic filters, pleated filters, and HEPA filters.
1. Polyester Filters
Filters that are made from polyester are called polyester filters. Polyester is a synthetic polymer that is used for many filtration applications, such as air filters, filter bags, mesh screens, and membrane filters. It cleans the air from 80% to 95% from particles of 5 microns. Polyester filters come with many advantages, and they are:
- Great resistance to mechanical stress and chemicals
- Dries faster when it is exposed to wet conditions.
- It can be operated at high temperatures, like 302 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Fiberglass/Synthetic Filters
These filters are also known as disposable or throwaway filters because the life span of these filters is not more than 30 days. It cleans air up to 80% of particles 50 microns or larger and also 25% of particles 3 to 10 microns. There are many advantages to using a fiberglass filter, and they are:
- These filters are very cost-effective. Compared to other types of filters, fiberglass filters are more affordable.
- One of the greatest advantages of these filters is that they are widely available.
- Synthetic filters are very effective at particles that are large, like pet dander, pollen, dust, etc.
3. Electrostatic Filters
These filters cleanse the air by using fibers that attract air particles by charging themselves. Individuals can purchase washable or disposable electrostatic filters according to their requirements. Maintaining a washable electrostatic filter is easy; you only need to just wash it with soap and water, and you must dry it before reinstalling it. The advantages of these filters are:
- Cleanse the air and capture small particles like bacteria, viruses, spores, etc. effectively.
- After installation, there will be no need to replace these filters for a long time.
- Electrostatic filters consume less amount of energy compared to other filters.
4. Pleated Filters
Filters that are made from cloth or paper that is pleated or folded in a series are known as pleated filters. It helps to filter air in a wider area; these filters are mostly used in indoor air quality devices. Many materials can be used to make pleated filters, like polyester, polypropylene, fiberglass, etc. The advantages of using pleated filters are:
- Filters air more from particles because of the wide area of filtration.
- It allows better airflow, which helps the HVAC system to operate effectively.
- Pleated filters made from different materials according to the needs and budget of an individual
5. HEPA Filters
HEPA filters, also known as high-efficiency particulate air filters, are known for their very effective filtration. These filters are spatially designed for cleaning large amounts of airborne particles. It captures around 99% of particles 0.3 microns or larger. These capabilities made it an excellent choice for indoor pollutants. The advantages of HEPA filters are:
- These filters are used in many places, like homes, laboratories, hospitals, etc.
- HEPA filters are made from durable materials that make them long-lasting filters.
- If these filters are combined and used with filters of other types, it can provide more efficient filtering.
Each type of furnace filter offers different levels of filtration and maintenance requirements, so it’s essential to choose one that suits your home's specific needs and your HVAC system’s compatibility.
Steps To Change A Furnace Filter
Changing furnace filters is an important task. If you don't replace the filters, you will let harmful air pollutants pass easily to your homes, workplaces, etc. Changing a furnace filter can become a difficult task if you don’t know the proper procedure for replacing it. Don’t worry! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to change a furnace filter.
Step 1: Turn Off The Furnace
So the first thing you must do before changing the furnace filter is to turn off your HVAC system. You should not change the filters without turning off your heating system because many types of debris can enter your furnace. To turn off the furnace, you must locate the switch first, and after turning it off, you must wait until the blower fan completely stops. After this, checking the blower fan inside the air handler is necessary to confirm that the fan has stopped.
Step 2: Find The Furnace Filter
After checking and confirming that the furnace is completely turned off, you must find the place where the furnace filter is located. The filter is most of the time placed inside the heating system, so you should look first for the air handler. You should always look into the return air register, too, because there is a possibility of having a second filter within it. Locating the return air register is an easy task just by looking at where the HVAC system pulls in air. So, as you can see, a furnace can have two filters. Also, individuals should always check properly.
Step 3: Remove The Old Filter
We’ll need to remove the existing filter after removing the access panel. During the extraction of the filter, you must look closely at the arrows that are drawn on the filter’s side. These arrows are pointed in the direction where the air flows, and you will install your new filter in the same direction where the arrows are pointed.
Step 4: Choose A Replacement Filter
After the removal of the dirty filter, now it is time to find an identical replacement for your old filter. There are many sizes and materials available on the market, so choose according to your specific needs. Options for furnace filter replacement are:
- Disposable pleated filters; these filters can capture small particles like spores. It is affordable and widely available.
- Disposable fiberglass filters; these types of filters capture large particles very effectively, and they are the most affordable filters available on the market.
- HEPA filters; these filters are the best at filtering air, but they are quite expensive.
- Permanent electrostatic filters; these filters use self-charging cotton fibers to attract particles.
Step 5: Installation Of The Replacement Filter
So here we are now, with the final step of changing the furnace filter. After replacing the filter, you will close the access panel, and after that, you will turn on your furnace. So these are the steps for changing the furnace filter. Every individual who has a furnace filter must know how to change the filter on their own.
By following these steps, anyone with a furnace can easily change the filter themselves, ensuring cleaner air in their environment.
Reasons That Get Furnace Filters Dirty
Many reasons can lead to a dirty furnace filter. The use of a furnace often captures more air for filtering, which leads to the capture of more air particles that makes the filter dirty. Dirt, dust, pet dander, etc. become the causes of dirt if the maintenance is not done properly on the furnace filter. The setting of the fan of the filter also causes dirt; if the setting is set to on instead of auto, it will move air through the filter in a high amount. Low Budget filters can also lead to a dirty furnace filter because some cheap filters only have a life of 30 days.
Benefits Of Changing The Furnace Filter
Changing the furnace filters is very important for your HVAC systems, but many people don't change their furnace filters regularly. This mistake causes poor indoor air quality; it also harms the heating and cooling systems. There are many benefits to changing furnace filters regularly.
- Improved Air Quality
The air you breathe inside your house, workplace, etc. is 2–5 times more polluted than the air you breathe outside, as has now been proven by many researchers. So furnace filters help you breathe clean air by removing dirt, dust, and other kinds of air pollutants. These air pollutants are the cause of many illnesses related to the air. Cleaning and replacing your furnace filters regularly is important so that your indoors can always have fresh and safe air to breathe. This small step keeps your family safe from any health conditions related to the air.
- Increases The Life Of The Furnace
Like any other machine, regular maintenance is important for your HVAC system so it stays long-lasting. So replacing the furnace filter regularly helps to increase the life of the furnace for a long period of time. If someone doesn’t take this step, the chances of damage to their HVAC system will increase.
- Decreases Frequency Of Repairs
Regular replacement of furnace filters helps us prevent any unnecessary damage to your HVAC systems. This is one of the major reasons for changing the filters because, during extreme weather, the chances of damage to your HVAC systems increase. So by doing this small step, you can protect your money and time, and as you all know, maintenance is always cheaper than fixing a broken thing.
- Helps To Save Money
When your furnace filters are clogged with dirt, they don't work effectively. Your HVAC systems start working harder so they can provide heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. Because of this, your electric bills started rising. When you change your furnace filters regularly, your energy consumption decreases, and you can save 5% to 15% of your energy bills. This has been shown by the Department of Energy.
How Often Should You Change A Furnace Filter?
Clogging of the furnace filter begins when dust, dirt, pollen, etc., are trapped in the filter. This causes the restriction of airflow in your HVAC systems, forcing your furnace to work harder, leading to a higher electric bill and decreasing the life of your furnace. To know how often you should change a furnace filter, you should check the replacement recommendations provided by the manufacturer. Usually, you should change your furnace filter every 60 to 90 days.
According to the EPA, individuals should check their filters once a month and change them if they are filled with dirt, especially in the winter season. You must change your furnace filters every three months. Individuals who use HEPA filters may require less frequent replacement, and some filters are also washable. This type of filter is the most effective air cleaner and requires replacement once a year. For more details on when to change a furnace filter, you can refer to this comprehensive guide here.
Conclusion
So furnace filters are one of the most important components for many indoors. It keeps the air clean from dust, dirt, pollen, and other air pollutants. Because of this, it provides us with a safe indoor environment that prevents any health issues caused by unclean air. So changing the furnace filter regularly is necessary; it helps us save electric bills, prevents unnecessary repairs, and has other benefits. Individuals should change their furnace filters every 60 to 90 days.
Wondering where to find a good-quality furnace filter for your HVAC system? Don’t worry! Custom Filters Direct is here for you. We are known for our high-quality furnace filters, and we also provide custom air filters, so you can have filters according to your requirements. To know more about us and what we offer, call us at (877) 749-1748, and we’ll be very happy to help you.
