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Tips for Home Air Filter Replacement

OEM Air Filter Replacement

The air is full of pollutants such as dust mites, pollen, smoke, mold spores, bacteria, pet dander, and volatile organic compounds like asbestos, which degrade the air and pose health risks to occupants. So, it is common for air filters to become clogged with debris, especially during the cooling season, when air conditioners run continuously. If you don’t change your filter, you’ll be faced with a repair, higher energy bills, and a shorter lifespan for your AC. Thus, replacing your air conditioner filter is one of the easiest ways to ensure your device operates at peak performance all year long.

As it turns out, swapping out an air conditioner filter is a simple process—once you understand how.

How To Replace Air Filter? 

Air filters are usually found near thermostats in many homes. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is locate the filter. Find the vent on your thermostat. Try looking for the filter in the air conditioning unit if you can’t find a return vent with the filter close by. On some models, the air filter is housed closer to the system rather than at the return air grille.

Once you’ve located the filter, follow these steps:

  • Gently remove the grille cover by loosening the fasteners. 
  • Simply reach in and pull it out.
  • Place the filter to the side and assess its condition. A dirty filter will usually look dingy and greyish-brown. If it still looks white, there may be some life left in it.
  • If the filter is dirty, get a new one.
  • Identify the arrow pattern on the filter’s edge. To ensure proper airflow, the arrows need to point in the correct direction. Arrows should not point out or at you. They will restrict airflow if they do.
  • Place the arrows facing the wall once you have found them.
  • Gently slide the bottom portion of the filter into the return duct opening first, then the top section.
  • Make sure the arrows point toward the duct.
  • Pat the filter gently to ensure it fits snugly.
  • Reattach the cover.
  • Tighten the fasteners.

What Can You Do To Maintain Clean Air in Your House?

The solution is to replace your air filters regularly. The air filters within your HVAC system clean the air by allowing it to flow through, trapping irritants and pollutants, and keeping them from being circulated. In addition to its physical state, an air filter’s effectiveness depends on several factors. Therefore, they should be replaced every 30-90 days.

When it comes to air filters replacement, remember these three things.

Understand the Types of Filters You Need

If you saw how many air filters are available, you’d be overwhelmed (most retailers only carry the most common sizes). Choosing the best one for your house is determined by a number of factors:

  • Pets
  • Family size
  • Allergies, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses
  • Desired level of cleanliness

When you have pets and a full house, a high-quality air filter would be worth it. 

In case you have allergies or respiratory issues in your house, select an air filter with a low MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating. The lower the MERV rating, the less effective the air filter.

You should also determine what pollutants are present in your home when selecting an air filter, and select one which will purify the air and preserve your family’s health.

Get the Right Size

Incorrectly sized air filters will not do much to improve the air quality in your home. Poor sizing leads to pollutants sneaking around the device – air seepage – and getting into your home. (It may also damage your HVAC system.) To prevent this, you should purchase a filter that is of the appropriate size.

To determine the size of an air filter, open your unit and check the old one. If the filter size is not written on it, measure it. You may take it to the store or call US Home Filter and find a matching one by removing it.

Replace Regularly

Make sure your air filter is changed on a regular basis. The frequency with which you replace your filters is determined by the circumstances of your house; homes with dogs and allergy sufferers will require more regular replacements. High-MERV filters are preferred over low-MERV filters.

When your air filter is dirty, replace it as soon as possible, especially when the air conditioner is frequently used during the summer months.

What’s more, if you’d like an HVAC expert from US Home Filter to accompany you when changing your air filter, or when you’re ready to schedule air conditioning maintenance and repairs, call us at 1-855-435-9600 or simply contact us online today!  

We serve all brands of cooling and heating equipment for homes and businesses in the United States. Providing top-quality air conditioning, furnaces, and heat pumps are what we do best. So, get our quality products, enjoy a broad selection, shop at low pricing with FREE SHIPPING for orders within the contiguous USA. Get in touch now!