Do All Furnaces Have A Filter

11 Common Questions About Furnace Filters, Answered

Furnace filters, also known as air filters, are necessary components that not only go on your dwelling house's air clean, just likewise assistance extend the life of your furnace. However, homeowners have a lot of questions about them, such as how to replace an air filter, which filter they should buy, and more.

While the concept of a furnace filter may seem simple, in practice it can exist a little disruptive. Having worked with dwelling house heating and cooling systems for over a century, we've seen many furnaces suffer from common filter mistakes. To help you avoid those mistakes, we're answering the most ordinarily asked questions homeowners have about furnace filter maintenance, installation, and utility.

ane. Will a furnace run without a filter?

Yep, just it volition absolutely impairment your furnace in the process. Without an air filter, more dust and droppings will make information technology to the core components of your heating system, causing damage to your coils, blower motor, and more than. In addition, without an air filter, your furnace won't be running efficiently, causing your heating bill to soar.

2. Are furnace filters necessary?

If you lot want to take an efficient furnace that lives a skillful life and doesn't cause your heating bill to skyrocket, air filters are 100% necessary. Filters are important furnace and air conditioner parts equally they help go on the residual of the system clean. Dirty furnaces and air conditioners caused by a lack of air filter ultimately have to work harder to get the chore done, using upwardly more energy and potentially damaging parts like the heating coils or igniter.

3. Are furnace filters the aforementioned as air conditioning filters?

Yes. If you take a central heating and air conditioning system or an HVAC, this means you have only ane filter to worry nearly all year long. However, if you lot accept carve up heating and cooling systems, your furnace and air conditioner may crave different filters. In terms of function, there is no difference between the two as they're both designed to serve the aforementioned purpose: protect your system from harmful air particles and improve air quality.

4. Are furnace filters universal?

Because furnace and HVAC manufacturers have different size slots for air filters, they are, unfortunately, not universal. This means you volition have to find the right size air filter for your furnace equally others will be too small or large to effectively make clean the air stream of harmful particles.

5. Which furnace filter should I buy?

Furnace filters are sold based on their size and efficiency. To check the size filter that you demand, turn the system off and uninstall your electric current air filter. So, wait for the size labelled on the filter's frame. This volition tell you the size filter you should buy.

As for the level of efficiency, filters will be labelled with numbers from 1 to xvi. This is the filter'due south minimum efficiency reporting value or MERV. The lower the number, the fewer particles the filter tin can trap. If y'all want a lower efficiency filter that is less expensive, a MERV 4 is the everyman yous should go on the MERV scale.

In our experience, almost homeowners choose MERV vii or MERV eight filters every bit they're a great value in terms of efficiency and cost. But if you suffer from allergies, it's worth it to upgrade to a MERV 11 or MERV 12 to have the fewest number of potential allergens in your dwelling house.

6. Who sells furnace filters?

If information technology'southward fourth dimension to modify your filter, most big box retail and domicile comeback stores will acquit furnace filters. This includes the likes of Target, Walmart, Lowes, Abode Depot, Menards, and others. But if you accept your regularly scheduled furnace maintenance date coming up, don't run to the store. Your local heating and cooling proficient should replace the filter for you during their visit.

7. When should furnace filters be inverse?

Not sure how often you should exist changing or checking the furnace filter ? If you accept a pleated or loftier-efficiency furnace filter, it should be checked and changed in one case every three months for maximum efficiency and air quality. During periods of loftier utilize (e.g. wintertime for your furnace or summer for your AC), you should as well visually inspect the filter each month in example heavy use acquired your filter to clog up. Otherwise, your air filter should be changed on a monthly basis. After reading this, if you aren't sure when you changed your air filter terminal, information technology's definitely time to replace it with a new one.

8. Where do I change my furnace filter?

Depending on your HVAC system, the air filter tin can be difficult to find. The almost common location is in the return air duct or in the blower compartment as this allows the filter to clean the air before it reaches your unit. Other places y'all may discover the air filter are in a slot above or below your HVAC unit, or correct backside the return grills in your home (run across picture below).

installing a furnace filter

9. How do I install a furnace filter?

Replacing or installing a new air filter is equally easy as 1-two-iii:

Step one: Turn off the furnace or HVAC system.

Step 2: Remove the filter by sliding it out of the slot.

Step 3: Replace the filter past sliding a new, make clean filter into the slot. If y'all have a reusable air filter, clean it, let it dry, and slide it back in.

In one case finished, you lot're gratuitous to turn the system back on.

x. Are furnace filters recyclable?

While the materials made to make a furnace filter are recyclable (e.yard. paper and paper-thin), it is not recommended that you lot recycle them. Why? Well, your dirty air filter is filled with dust, leaner, and other particles that nosotros don't want others to exist exposed to. Therefore, your safest option is to place them in the trash.

That being said, at that place are reusable air filters that are available for use and are environmentally friendly. Their initial toll is a lot higher than their disposable counterparts, notwithstanding, they can final for several years and won't end upward in a landfill. Instead of replacing these filters, they simply need to be washed regularly.

11. Can furnace filters be done?

Disposable furnace or air filters cannot be washed and should be thrown away subsequently they've been used. However, as mentioned in the previous section, reusable air filters can and should exist done on a regular basis. To wash your reusable filter, take a microfiber cloth and begin removing the trapped dust and droppings. A wet fabric can too be effective at cleaning the filter, however, brand sure to permit the filter completely dry earlier reinstalling it to avoid mold or mildew build upwardly.

Take Intendance of Your Home'southward Heat

Furnaces do have filters and they are critical in extending the life of your furnace. For more than ways to maximize your furnace's lifespan, check out our DIY furnace maintenance guide.