How To Change Your Air Filter

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You've probably got plenty of dwelling DIYs on your list, simply if y'all're looking for something a little more productive to do, now is actually a great time to supplant your HVAC (a.1000.a. heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system) filter. In fact, yous're probably overdue for a new one! And spring is actually one of the best times to make sure you've got a fresh new filter.

If yous're new to maintaining your HVAC system, don't worry—House Cute chosen in an expert to help: Patrick Van Deventer, product director for Trane Residential, Indoor Air Quality. Here'southward his advice for changing your air filters, some info about why it'due south important and how oft y'all need to practise information technology, and the steps to become information technology done yourself—plus, of course, when to call in a pro.

Why Changing Your HVAC Filter Is Of import

Air filters are only meant to last for a set up amount of time (or shorter, simply more on that later!), so you need to be taking note of that date when you install them.

"[Not changing your filter soon plenty] could have adverse furnishings on your HVAC equipment and your comfort," Van Deventer explains. "If it goes as well long, filters tin load too much and collapse, and that can exist actually bad crusade yous may non know it. information technology could get lodged in your fan, or create a big gap where air simply goes around the filter and doesn't become filtered in at all at that bespeak." If your filter isn't actually filtering, it tin touch on your health and cause breathing problems, especially for people with allergies or asthma.

Serenethos Getty Images

How Often Yous Should Modify Your Filter

Follow the instructions, but practise it even sooner.

When you buy a new filter, the packaging will country how long information technology should last. Simply don't wait until that engagement to alter information technology! Van Deventer says you should have that date equally "the accented maximum" and change your filter even before.

"Essentially, the way that most of those filters operate is they take a porous media that captures the particulates and that blocks the airflow," he explains. They actually filter a piffling better the longer they're in. Merely [later on a while] it too starts to actually restrict the air flow on your system], which can cause other issues."

Factor in things that can impact your air quality.

"Someday you're aware of more pollutants or particles in the air is a expert time to change your filter," Van Deventer says. Allergy and flu seasons, for example, are expert times to upgrade to high efficiency filters! And if you have whatever kind of home renovation going on that could kick up more dust and dirt than usual.

"I would say if at that place's whatever kind of abode renovation where there'southward drywall—that that's a huge one that sometimes people don't realize will go sucked into air returns and immediately cake up your filter," he notes. "I'd also say during summer months, if yous've got pets and they're just shedding a lot more than usual, that's a good time."

If y'all need a fashion to remember, hither's a smart tip: "Someday you're finding yourself having to vacuum a lot more, that'd be a proficient indication that you also need to be checking your filter a lot more as well," Van Deventer says.

Consider seasonal changes.

During spring and fall, when it's relatively mild outside, your air conditioning and heating may not be running so y'all might non have your system on at all. "Most thermostats have an selection to run the fan on a schedule, or equally continuous fan operation, so your whole HVAC organization isn't coming on to cool the home or heat the home but it'll still run the fan periodically to bicycle the the air," Van Deventer explains.

"Right now, in spring, it's shoulder flavour. Since that'due south when at that place are a lot of allergens out there, you want to be fugitive that brackish air in the home and running it through your filter."

How to Modify Your Air Filter

It's actually a pretty straightforward process, so information technology might exist easier than you think.

Brand sure your system is turned off earlier you lot do anything!
Locate your air filter. This will likely be where your render (where air is drawn back from your home into your system) is, either on the wall or ceiling, with a grille covering. If non, it will be where your air handling unit is, usually in a closet or your basement or cranium—you'll find a petty box where the air comes into the unit of measurement.
Remove the grille or open the box, depending on your system. If yous have a grille, most accept tabs you can pull up to open up, then you lot tin access the filter without a screwdriver.
Observe the filter inside. The filter should have the size printed on it, or at the very least, a model number y'all can look up to identify it. Make sure you buy a filter that's the aforementioned size.
Remove the dirty filter, and expect for any issues. If it'southward unusually muddied, for example, that's a sign that yous should be replacing it more frequently. You lot should also look for gaps in the filter, which could betoken that your filter isn't big enough or requires some gasketing to make it fit properly.
Put the new filter in, and replace the grille or cover. Now you're good to go! Just mark downward the date on your calendar and then y'all know when to check information technology next.

Buying a New HVAC Filter

You lot already know that to find the correct size filter, you can expect at the information printed on your current one. But if you're not sure what kind of filter to purchase, Van Deventer has some tips.

Allergen Pleated MERV 12 - FPR 9 Air Filters (6-Pack)

Nordic Pure homedepot.com

$43.30

"I suggest trying to not use the cheapest option out there," he explains. "So there are those little blue or green fiber blazon filters—those really practice next to nothing, I would make sure that you get a skillful quality pleated filter instead."

Essentially, you desire to await for a pleated filter that has sturdy wire mesh to support it so it doesn't collapse. You lot also want it to have a high MERV rating, Van Deventer adds. (MERV stands for "minimum efficiency reporting value," FYI.)

"A adept quality filter is going to be above a MERV eight or 9, significant it's going to filter out a lot more of those smaller particles that tin can cause allergies and other issues," he says.

If you're unsure and don't experience comfy picking out a new filter yourself, you tin always call in a professional person to help you.

Close-up of a pleated air filter.

Home Depot

When to Call in a Pro

Van Deventer says that so long equally you're comfortable locating and changing the filter yourself—and yous're not noticing whatsoever symptoms that could exist related to indoor air quality—you lot don't demand to phone call in a professional. That said, regardless of whether or not you're a filter-irresolute pro at this point, information technology's a skillful idea to have an HVAC contractor check on your system twice a year. This should be done before the cooling season and before the heating season.

And of course, while they're in in that location doing a system check, they tin replace your filters, too.

If y'all have any air quality concerns, that'due south too a good time to bring in a professional, because information technology might mean you need to upgrade your system. "If yous still see a lot of dust everywhere, are nevertheless dealing with difficulty breathing, or if yous've got someone with asthma, you lot might demand to upgrade your air filtration arrangement," he adds.

Every bit for hiring the right pro, Van Deventer suggests looking for an HVAC contractor with skillful reviews online: "A reputable HVAC contractor volition have a variety of solutions to offer and be able to come into your domicile and make an initial assessment on upgrading your system."

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