The air we breathe contains so much more than just oxygen. If anything, Oxygen makes up of only 21% of the air we breathe. The other 78% or so is made up of nitrogen along with tiny amounts of argon, methane, and carbon dioxide.

The easiest way to replace your HVAC filters is simply to call a professional for furnace or air conditioner service. If you have a planned maintenance agreement, filtration will automatically be handled on your annual service visits. If you wish to replace your own filters, you will need to access the air-handler cabinet, measure the old filter, and then go buy a new one to install. You may also need to check for filters in individual air handler grilles.

As a guideline, most manufacturers recommend replacing your furnace and air conditioner filters every 6 months. However, what you really need to do is check the filters every 6 months. If you see that dust and debris is not accumulating very quickly, you may be able to go more than 6 months on a filter. But if you see that the filter is getting very dirty very fast (perhaps because you have a lot of pets or dust in the home) you may need to replace it more often than every 6 months. The main goal is to avoid running the system on a dirty filter, as a filter that is full of debris presents more resistance to airflow and therefore reduces your HVAC efficiency.

In addition to the directional arrow on the air filter, you will also see numbers denoting the filters width, length, and thickness. This is the air filter size your HVAC unit takes and should be the size you always order. Using the correct-sized filter is also important so your filter can do its job properly and not allow dirt and debris to bypass the filter. It should fit in the slot snugly, with no major gaps on the size and you should never have to force it into the housing.

It is just as important to correctly install your filter as it is to change it. It is easiest to change your filter if your unit isn’t active, if it is, turn it off. After locating the air filter housing, look at how it is sitting in the slot and make note of the direction the arrow is pointing. You may even want to consider marking the arrow direction on the frame of the housing with a permanent marker to make sure you always put it in the correct air-flow direction. Then, pull the old filter out, match up the arrows on the frame and the clean filter and slide the new air filter into the housing. That’s it!

Selecting the right filter for your home and family takes a little self- assessment. Consider asking yourself the following questions to guide your decision. Any of the answers to them might affect which filter you decide to purchase – as well as how often you will change it.

·How many people currently reside in the house?

·Is the house cleaned on a regular basis (especially dusting and vacuuming)?

·Are you in an area with open fields, roads, or other dusty areas?

·Are there fur-babies in the house?

·Does anyone in the house smoke?

·Are you or other family members allergy sufferers?

·How do you feel about the air quality in your home in general?

The frequency in which an air filter should be changed depends upon your HVAC system and your preferences. The primary recommendation is to change the filter once a month when the system is being used regularly. It’s a good idea to pick a date each month and set a calendar reminder for yourself to change the filter. You can also check to see if the air filter needs to be changed by holding it up to a light source. If you can’t see through the filter, it’s time for a clean replacement.

Yes. The term HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning meaning it serves as a furnace and AC unit. The most common systems have hot and cold air that travels through the same ducts so they use the same filter, even though you may hear them called furnace filters or air conditioning filters. Filters can be found between the duct work and the mechanical components where the air travels in the air handler/exchange system.

Air filters primary job is to screen out any particles, even microscopic ones, from going through the HVAC system. Home-air pollutants can be particulate matter or even gas. There are many things that affect your home’s IAQ including:

·Dust

·Dust Mites

·Spores

·Mold

·Viruses

·Pollen

·Pet Dander

·Hair

·Bug Parts

·Lint

·Ash

·Pesticides

·Tobacco, wood, or food smoke

·Paint or other vapors

·Cleaning product fumes