Changing your air filter is something that should be done in any home with disposable air filters at least every six months. Still, many people do not change filters even that often. What do you have to gain by changing your air filter regularly? A lot.
Changing your air filter more often can help your HVAC system run smoothly, prevent wear and tear, and it can even reduce indoor air pollution. Thankfully, changing your air filter is easy. You can also have air filters replaced during regular maintenance visits or inspections from your heating & air conditioning service technician.
Changing Your Air Filter: What You Need to Know
There are a few different kinds of air filter out there, and some are better than others. We will get into the differences in a moment, but the first thing you should do when changing your air filter is find out from your HVAC system’s manual or online what filters are compatible with your model. Once you have the right replacement, you are ready to begin changing your air filter.
- Step one: Make sure you turn off your HVAC system before getting started.
- Step two: Find the air filter. The manual should indicate where to find it on your unit.
- Step three: Remove the cover. To do this, you might need to unscrew the cover. Filter racks sometimes have easy-release handles to make this step even easier. If your unit does use screws make sure you put them somewhere safe in the meantime.
- Step four: Take out the dirty filter. For disposable filters, just throw it out. For reusable filters, wash outside with water and mild detergent and allow it to dry before replacing it.
- Step five: Put in the new filter. The last step of changing your air filter is to put in the new or cleaned filter. There should be an arrow indicating which direction to insert it.
Types of Air Filters
There are a few different kinds of air filters that are commonly used in residential homes. Some are better than others, and one way to improve the energy efficiency of your home is to upgrade the efficiency of your air filters. This can help your HVAC system run more smoothly, which comes with all kinds of benefits, from greater efficiency to fewer breakdowns.
The most basic types of filters are charcoal and fiberglass. These are called “mechanical filters” and should be changed at least once a month if in use. Next up the line are pleated fiber filters. Generally, pleated filters trap between 35 and 40% of pollutants, but high efficiency pleated filters can trap up to 90%. Higher efficiency pleated filters do require special installation though. On the upside, they only need replacing about once a year. A good HVAC service team can help you find the right filters for your HVAC system, as well as making recommendations on how often you should be changing your air filters.
Get More Advice on Changing Your Air Filters
For more information or to get more insight about changing your air filters, give us a call! Galmiche & Sons’ St. Louis heating & air conditioning professionals are always ready to help our customers stay comfortable through all seasons.
