How To Install an HVAC Filter

Air filters are one of the most important components of HVAC systems. Installing an HVAC air filter may seem easy but it has many people confused when they actually get to installing it. When installing HVAC air filter it is not just ‘take out the old one and put the new one inside in its place’. Inserting the air filter in a wrong way can reduce the efficiency of the filter as well as the HVAC system. It may cause problems which are similar to when you have dirty air filters. Wrongly inserting air filters are a hindrance to the efficiency of the machine.

It is also very important to keep your HVAC air filters clean and mold free. If your air filters are damp with condensation and you place them back into the HVAC system, it may develop mold. The mold may spread throughout your house and cause breathing problems and pose health risks. It is important for you to replace or wash your air filters every 3 months or so. Otherwise, they may put too much pressure on the HVAC system and cause it to fail. In addition, it increases electricity bills. Using clean air filters help your HVAC system run properly and reduce utility bills.

How To Install The HVAC Air Filter

When you get a new filter, look for an arrow on it. The arrow indicates which side the air flows from. The arrow must face away from the area where air is carried to for heating or cooling.

Make sure you get the right size. If you don’t know the size of your HVAC filters, they are easy to find.

Once you identify where the arrow is on your new air filter, slide the new air filter with the arrow side near the furnace of the HVAC system. Youll have installed your HVAC filter this quickly and easily! Often times, it is the arrow which gets people confused. You can mark an arrow on your HVAC system where the air filters are inserted.

If you’re looking to buy air filters, CleanTech is the good choice you should choose.

How To Choose The Right HVAC Filter

Choosing the right HVAC filter is very important. It can determine how clean the air will be and how smoothly the HVAC system will run. These air filters help in trapping dust, dirt, hair and other kinds of air contamination and help provide the cleanest and cool air. You need to replace or wash your HVAC filters every 3 or so months. You can also check your HVAC filters earlier than 3 months if you notice your HVAC system not working properly or the air not being cool enough. A dirty air filter will result in little or no infiltration. Even your HVAC system may be at a risk of premature failure and will need to be replaced. Choosing the right size of HVAC filters is also important. If you do not choose the right size, the wrong filters may create the same problems as those created by dirty air filters.

When choosing the right HVAC filter, the first thing you need to keep in mind are the types of air filters available. Mainly there are three types. The fiberglass air filters, pleated filters and electrostatic filters.

Fiberglass air filters are extremely cheap and disposable. These filters are the ones which are most commonly used. However they do not help in purifying air completely because they only trap larger dust and dirt particles in the air. The air is not as purified as it should be. Pleated filters are much better than fiberglass air filters as they prioritise in purifying the air. However, they put a greater load and stress on the HVAC system to work harder. Electrostatic filters are the best of all. They are also the most expensive. Electrostatic air filters use static electricity to attract the finest of dirt particles like magnets. It helps purify the air at a greater level. You can buy all of these filters in either disposable or washable forms. Washable filters are more recommended because they last longer. You don’t have to waste a lot of money replacing filters every 3 months.

Get air filters which are thicker in size. The thicker they are, the less they will need to be replaced. There will be a less likelihood of them breaking or getting torn, etc. Look for MERV ratings which are minimum efficiency reporting values. The higher the numbers in the MERV rating, the finer the filtration and air purification the filter is capable of. Look for MPR ratings as well. These are Micro-Particle Performance Ratings. It is used to determine whether filters can trap small airborne particles which are smaller than 1 micron. Some filters have an FPR rating. FPRs are filter performance ratings which determine how good a filter is in filtering contaminated air particles. HEPA or high-efficiency particulate arresting filters help trap the dust being blown through the filters. Not many people need HEPA filters but it is known to help those with breathing problems.

Get HVAC filters from Cleantech LTD. We have a wide range and variety of hvac filters.

What Type And Size Of HVAC Filter Should I Use

Ever wondered how your HVAC systems or air conditioners can give such cool and clean air? Well, all thanks to the air filters in them! These air filters help prevent contamination in the air and dirt and dust from passing through the cool air. Air filters, in short, help purify the air to an extent. If you want 100% clean air with no dust, dirt or hair of any type, you will , of course, have to buy a filter made of higher quality. It will be more expensive but very worth it.

Here are a few types of HVAC filters which you can choose from and keep in mind when buying HVAC filters:

  • Fiberglass Air Filters

These filters are cheap, inexpensive and disposable. Fiberglass air filter is the most common type of filter used for HVAC systems. Strands of fiberglass are spun together and help in trapping large dust motes or dirt particles. This type of filter is thought to be more fit in protecting the air conditioning machine rather than purifying the air. It does not properly screen out the dust and dirt or the hair, which is why it is not that effective of an air purifier.

  • Pleated Filters

Made out of polyester or cotton, these filters are more effective than fibreglass air filters. They trap not only dust and dirt, but also hair or pet dander. Pleated filters are the choice for you if you care more about purifying the air. Pleated filters do, however, stress the machine to work harder. You can choose a pleated filter with more pleats to effectively purify the air. You can choose between a washable or disposable type.

  • Electrostatic Filters

These filters are better than both fiberglass air filters and pleated air filters. Electrostatic filters are made out of paper fibers and they generate a static charge. This static charge helps attract even the smallest and tiniest of dust and dirt particles like a magnet. They come in washable and disposable types. These filters are very expensive but also very effective in purifying the air.

What Size Of HVAC Filter To Choose?

Each and every HVAC filter has a different size. In order to determine the size of the HVAC filters you need, all you have to do is check the current filters which you have. There will be a set of numbers present on the outer side of the filter. It may look something like 20”× 20”× 1”. The size of the air filter will always be present in three numbers. The first number represents the length, the second number represents the width and the third number represents the thickness.

You can take your existing air filter to a place where filters are sold and they can help you out. One of them is Kunshan CRAC Clean Technology Co Ltd. This company specifically specialises in making HVAC systems and filters. You can get various sizes and types of HVAC filters and the staff can help you out as well.

When Should You Change The HVAC Filter

Maintaining your home and making sure every machine or system in the house runs smoothly and properly is a crucial responsibility. If you fail to take care of one system in particular or another, it may lead to a heavier damage and more expenses. That heavy damage may also cause damage to other parts of your home!

One of the things you should do when maintaining your home is changing the filters in your HVAC systems. Taking care of it every 3 months or so can help you detect and repair small damages early. You get to avoid further damage if you do so.

The Damage Done By Dirty Filters

The main job of air filters is to clean the air of dirty particles and contamination which can clog sensitive machinery and pollute the air. However, failing to clean dirty filters may cause less flow of air which may result in little or no air infiltration. The cooling of the HVAC system may be impacted the most and no cool air will be given out when a filter is dirty.

A dirty filter literally stresses the machinery to work harder and run faster. Since the operations do not go as smoothly as they should, the system tries harder which may lead to the system failing or having to be replaced. A dirty filter which is also exposed to condensation may very likely develop mold because of the dampness. The mold can spread throughout the house and contaminate the air, becoming a health risk for the people living and the likely result of the HVAC system failing completely.

The Types Of Filters

Filters may come in a spun fiberglass form, made of biodegradable paper, fins, etc. All the filter used for and in a HVAC system are replaceable and disposable. It is very important for you to purchase a filter which fits your HVAC system properly. If you fail in doing so, the wrong filter may create problems for you much like a dirty filter.

Should The HVAC System Be Serviced and How Often

Usually, a HVAC system can run smoothly and properly for the whole year without any problems. Provided that you clean the filters every 3 months or so which will help you avoid bigger problems.

Call a professional technician for the servicing of the HVAC system. Unless the owner has appropriate and adequate knowledge and experience in dealing with such problems. It is crucial for the technician to check whether the HVAC system’s coils and blowers are clog and dust free, whether the belts of the system are broken or cracked, whether the ventilation ductwork is broken or gapped or torn.

You should regularly check your HVAC filters and change it for the following reasons:

  • If you have pets. Pet fur or hair circulates the air in your house.
  • If you smoke inside your home
  • A lot of people live inside the house. The more the people the more there will be dust and debris.
  • You have a fireplace
  • You live in an extremely windy place

You should tend to change your filters if they become damp, broken or if there is mold growing on them.

What Does A HVAC Filter Look Like? What Does A HVAC Filter Do?

What Is A HVAC?

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. It is an all-in-one system which heats and cools your home, has air filters, air returns and a heating and cooling unit. There exist many types and sizes of HVACs, all depending on your home and the kind or size you want.

Mainly, there exist 3 types of HVAC systems: split and window AC, packaged heating and cooling systems and central AC systems.

  • Split and Window AC. These kind of HVAC systems are usually preferred to be used in large places where the cool air needs to be distributed evenly. This HVAC system separates the cold side from the hot side. The cold side of the HVAC system usually contains a cold coil and an expansion valve. The coil is usually placed inside or near a form of an air handler. The air handler blows air and the cold coil cools it down. This HVAC system then distributes the cooled air to various rooms on a building. Window air conditioners, on the other hand, have fans which blow air through the cooling coils. The heat is completely separated and gets lost outside.
  • Packaged Heating and Cooling Systems. This type of HVAC system contains both the cooling and heating units in one single system. A centrifugal fan or an air blower is contained in these systems which blows the air toward the different elements of the system.
  • Central AC systems. These systems are usually split. The outdoor unit of the split central AC system contains a compressor, condenser, electrical components and a blower. It also consists of an evaporator coil. The coil is installed on top of the gas furnace. A thermostat regulates the temperature in your house. This is one of the most common form of a HVAC system.

What Does A HVAC Filter Do And How Does It Look Like?

The most overlooked part of your HVAC or cooling systems are the air filters which they use. They usually come in different sizes which fit different HVAC systems in a square or rectangular form. HVAC filters are usually made out of 3 things: spun fibreglass material, pleated paper and cloth enclosed attached to a cardboard frame.

The most basic job of the HVAC filters is to clean the air of contamination. Such filters trap the contaminated particles in the hair and hold them till they are ready to be cleaned. They block particles such as dust and dirt, mold, fibers, animal fur or hair, bacteria, etc. Filtration may be done when air from the outside is passed through the filter which removes the particles and other filth.

However, sometimes the filters in your HVAC system may not be of a higher quality and may, hence, fail in properly trapping those contaminated particles from the air. Higher quality filters often cost a lot more but they are the most efficient in removing such particles.

Get a HVAC filter with a MERV rating. It indicates how efficient a filter is.