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15.09.2024
Brooke Kirshne
The problem of low-quality air is increasing in the 21st century, and there are many reasons behind it. High usage of automobiles, the release of toxic gas into the atmosphere by industries, the cutting of trees, and many more. According to a study, the quality of air inside your home is 2 to 5 times poorer than the air outside. So humans can’t do much about the air that is outside, but keeping your indoor air clean is now possible because of an air filter. This amazing invention can purify your house very efficiently.
An air filter is part of your HVAC system, and now you must be thinking about what an HVAC system? What is an air filter? Right? An air filter requires to be changed from time to time, and for that, you must locate it first. How will you locate it? Well, don’t worry; you came to the right place today. In this blog, you are about to know every answer to your questions related to an HVAC system and an air filter. For the readers, it is highly recommended to read carefully.
An Overview Of Air Filters
Understanding an air filter is important before knowing its location in your HVAC system. A filter is a medium that stands between your HVAC unit and the air. When the air passes through the air filter, contaminants like dust, debris, pollen, dander, etc. are captured by the filter. Because of this factor, a filter is an important part of your HVAC system. Here are some main types of HVAC air filters:
- HEPA Filters: The word HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air, and these filters are best at capturing airborne particles of small size, like bacteria, viruses, mold spores, etc.
- Pleated Filters: The pleated filters got their name because they are made of cloth or paper that is folded in a small series of pleats. These filters are effective at capturing small and large particles.
- Electrostatic Filters: The electrostatic filters use static electricity for their filtration process, and due to this, they attract airborne pollutants to themselves when an HVAC unit consumes air. These filters are very budget-friendly and commonly used in many homes.
- Activated Carbon Filters: Filters that use activated charcoal for their filtration process are known as activated carbon filters. These filters help to eliminate VOCs from your home that can be lethal for some people.
Where To Locate An Air Filter In Your Home
Locating an air filter in your home is a tricky task to complete because the filter’s location depends on your house and the system you are using to control air temperature. Air filters play a crucial role in maintaining the efficiency and cleanliness of your HVAC system. Finding their location can be simple, but it depends on the type of system you have. So Here are common places to check an air filter from where it keeps your indoor air clean:
1. HVAC System
Before knowing where you can locate your air filter, you must know about the HVAC system first. The word HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and this system helps you control the temperature of your house, whether you want a cool or hot environment. The location of your air filter also depends on your HVAC system’s type. There are mainly 3 types: vertical up-flow systems, vertical down-flow systems, and horizontal systems. So to find your air filter, you can check in these locations, and you will find your filter. Here is the guide to finding filters in these systems:
Vertical Down-Flow System: In this HVAC system, the air is consumed from the upper component of the system and released at the bottom of your home. Because of their mechanics, this type of system is great for spreading air throughout a room, and due to this, they require an air filter. The location of the filter is at the top of this HVAC unit, so you may need a stair to get it.
Vertical Up-Flow System: This type of HVAC unit is opposite of the vertical down-flow system because in this system the air is consumed downward and thrown in an upward direction inside your room. This feature of this HVAC system makes it effective for controlling commercial buildings. To find a filter in this system, you should check the bottom of the unit, and you’ll find your air filter.
Horizontal System: The horizontal HVAC system’s design makes it move air in the direction parallel to the ground of your home. In this system, the air is consumed by one side of the unit and spills out from the other side; this makes it a better choice for places with small vertical places. These systems are mostly located in the garages, attics, or basement of your house. So to find an air filter, you can look at the places of the horizontal system and find the area from where the air is consumed.
2. Furnace
A furnace is one of the main components of your house that helps you to make your home warmer in cold conditions. It is one of the common places where you can find your air filter. To find the filter, you first need to locate your furnace. It is mostly located in a garage, basement, or utility closet. If you don’t have a basement, then the furnace may be in the crawlspace or the attic. After finding your furnace, you can follow these steps to find the filter:
Remove The Front Cover Of The Furnace: To remove the front cover, you may need some latches or screws. Some furnace’s front cover is easy to take off with only by hand. After removing the cover, you can find the filter in the slot behind the cover. Make sure your furnace is turned off before doing any of these steps.
Inspect Ceiling Return Vent: The vent consumes air back into your HVAC system, and sometimes it can have an air filter installed in it. Finding a filter inside a vent can be tricky because you may need to check every return vent.
3. Air Conditioning Unit
Your air conditioner also has an air filter in it, so it can provide cool or heated air without any air contaminants. To find an air filter, you should know what type of air conditioner you have. There are mainly 2 types of AC that are used inside your home or offices. Here are the main AC types and their filter locations:
Central Air Conditioner: The name of this type of air conditioner starts from the central word because these systems control the temperature of the entire house, building, or floor. The air filter can be located inside the return vent of this AC, and it is located most of the time on the ceiling of your home. You can check the air handler, which is a large metal box that contains parts of your central air conditioner. Inside the air handler, there is a chance that you can find an air filter.
Ductless Mini-Split: The ductless mini-split system is a form of air conditioner that provides cool or heated air to a single room. These systems are famous because they don’t require ductwork. The filter is located inside the front panel of the system, and this type of AC can have elements of multiple air filters like anti-allergy enzyme filters and nano platinum filters.
4. Portable Air Purifiers
Your portable air purifier is one of the common locations of an air filter in your house. These small machines are specially designed to clean the air in your room. To find the filter in it, you can open the filter cover, which is situated on the back of your purifier. Before opening the cover, shut down your air purifier. Look for a removable cover on the bottom or back of the purifier. The filter should slide out for easy replacement.
Tips For Air Filter Maintenance
The maintenance of your air filter is very important so it can do its work effectively. This also helps the system in many ways. Here are some tips to keep your filter condition at its maximum:
Select A Filter With Correct Size
You must do things correctly from that, which is buying a perfectly fitting filter for your HVAC system. A correct-size filter will help the system to work properly, and it will provide effective filtrations without any problems. To find the proper size of your filter, you can check the manual of your HVAC unit or you can take measurements of your current air filter. If you buy a filter that doesn’t fit properly, then it can leave some places where the contaminants will be consumed by the HVAC system and cause you trouble.
Regularly Clean The Area Around The Filter
One of the main tips is that whenever you are replacing or checking your air filter, you must clean the area around the filter slot and clean the slot too, because sometimes dirt inside the slot can harm your air filter. You can use a vacuum to clean up all leftovers of dust accumulation. By doing this, you will ensure that the filter is safe in its slots and provides you with effective air purification.
Regular Checking And Changing The Filter
Keeping a dirty filter for a long time causes damage to your HVAC system, and in the worst case, you may end up changing your whole HVAC unit. So it is important to check your air filter regularly and change it because, over time, the filter starts getting dirty and it can create problems. Checking your filter once a month will help you know the time to replace your filter with a new one. According to professionals, an average filter needs to be changed every 3 to 6 months, and it depends on your filter type.
Keep Track Signs Of Dirty Filter
When the time of your air filter is over, it shows some signs. The signs show that your filter has now become old and requires a replacement. Poor air quality is one of the major signs that shows an indication that your filter needs a new replacement. Your HVAC system starts consuming more energy when your filter is filled with dirt and doesn’t let air pass through it properly. When your HVAC unit doesn’t get a proper air supply due to an old filter, it will become less efficient in controlling air temperature because it requires sufficient air supply to do that.
Conclusion
The air filter is an important part of your home; it helps you and your HVAC system in many ways. It purifies the air from contaminants like dust, dirt, debris, etc., and helps to improve indoor air quality. An HVAC system consists of many components, but one of the main components is the air blower because it circulates the cool or heated air throughout your house. An air filter can provide you benefits more than just filtering air, like improving the energy efficiency of an HVAC system and increasing its lifespan. When the time comes to change your old HVAC air filter, you can locate it in the components like the air handler or return air grills.
Filters are also located in the air purifiers in your room and inside the furnace. Before changing the filter, you will see some signs that will show that your filter has become old. The signs are poor indoor air quality, an increase in energy bills, improper temperature control, and a failed white sheet test. Finding an HVAC filter for your home can be difficult, but you don’t need to worry about it because Custom Filters Direct is here for you. We provide high-quality air filters to our customers; for details, contact us at (877) 812-7983.
