Usually, the air cleaner is close to your home thermostat, in a return duct. Or, it's most likely right next to the air handler for your air conditioning system. It's helpful to know when to change your air conditioner filter. According to ENERGY STAR, you should check and change your air conditioning filter every month during peak season.
It's probably more often than you want to call your trusted HVAC service technician. We love seeing you, of course, but this is a job that you can probably take care of on your own if you decide to do it. This is useful if you know how to change the AC filter yourself. The best thing to do is to ask your HVAC service technician.
Simply tell him that you want to learn how to change the AC filter and he can show you where the filter is located, how to remove the old filter and insert the new one, and how to get the right filters for your system. Also, keep in mind that you may want filters that don't just keep dust out of the air conditioner. If you want to improve the air quality in your space by eliminating pollen, mold, and other harmful contaminants, you should invest in HEPA filters with a MERV rating of 10 or higher. When reinserting the filter into the housing, make sure that the arrow points away from the return and toward the air handler.
Replacing the air filter is important because it can extend oven life, reduce energy bills, and improve indoor air quality. All central heating and cooling systems must have an air filter, but it may be more difficult to locate in some HVAC units than in others. Clean permanent filters or replace disposable filters in the forced air system every six months, unless they become clogged with dust first. You'll find the filter in the return air duct, which is usually on the same wall as the thermostat or, at least, nearby.
Changing your air cleaner regularly can improve indoor air quality and help your HVAC system work more efficiently. Because the vent pushes air in, it is more efficient for particles to collide with the smooth side of the fibers. Victor Belavus is an air conditioning specialist and owner of 212 HVAC, an air conditioning repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. The air handler draws air from the home through the return duct system and then blows the air through the heating or cooling system and returns it to the house through the duct system.
With uncertainty about airborne transmission of the virus, some experts recommend the use of more efficient filters to trap virus particles. The clogged filter also prevents enough air from flowing through the system to keep it working properly. Dirty air conditioner or oven filters are the number one problem when forced air heating and cooling systems don't work well. If both heating and air conditioning systems share the same ducts, it is also possible that the air cleaner for both systems is located in or near the blower system of the furnace.
With a central forced air heating and cooling system, the heat pump, oven, or air conditioning filters remove dust and allergens from the air before heating or cooling the air and returning it to your rooms. From sizes to types, grades and more, here's everything you need to know about air filters.