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Step-by-Step Guide to Replacing Your Furnace Air Filter

A homeowner replacing a furnace air filter in Hicksville, NY.

With your busy daily schedule, you most likely hardly stop to think about your heating and cooling systems. If your furnace and AC are working, why should you have to worry about them, right? Well, your HVAC system does deserve some attention. Specifically, you should be replacing your furnace filter on a regular basis, which means about every three months.

Replacing an old furnace air filter is an easy job that almost anyone can do themselves. Once you know how to replace a furnace filter, you can ensure that your system runs at peak condition. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to change your home’s air filter:

  1. Find your air filter.
  2. Turn off the HVAC unit.
  3. Check the filter’s size.
  4. Remove the old filter.
  5. Install the new filter.
  6. Turn the HVAC unit back on.

Below, we’ll discuss these steps for how to change a home air filter in more detail.

1. Find Your Air Filter

Before you do anything else, it’s essential to know the location of your air filter. You may have more than one air filter in your home, and these filters are typically located in one of two places:

  1. The air handler cabinet
  2. The return air register (or grille)

2. Turn Off the HVAC Unit

Next, before continuing with the replacement process, remember to turn off the furnace or other HVAC unit. This step will help keep dust and other harmful debris out of your ducts while you replace the filter.

3. Check the Filter’s Size

You can learn how to replace a furnace filter, but none of that information will matter unless you have one that’s the right size. There are many filter sizes, so it’s crucial to know yours before purchasing a new one.

You can consult your furnace’s manual to see if it tells you the exact filter size you need. If you can’t find the size there, you can remove the filter to check its dimensions, a process we will discuss below.

You can also determine the size yourself. Use a measuring tape to know the height, width, and how many inches thick the filter is.

4. Remove the Old Filter

First, you need to remove the air filter panel. Then, it’s time to remove the old or dirty filter. There will be an arrow on the side of the filter that shows you the airflow direction.

You will want to ensure that this arrow, which typically points toward your furnace, is in the correct position when inserting the new filter.

5. Install the New Filter

Now, it’s time to replace the filter. This step is, of course, the most vital step in knowing how to change your home air filter, and luckily, it’s easy to do.

Keeping the correct direction of the arrow in mind, insert the new filter. You should write down the date so that you can remember when you changed your filter. If you have a disposable filter, there may be a place where you can write down the current date or the date when you should next replace the filter.

While you should remember to replace a standard air filter at least every three months, here are the recommended replacement schedules of specific types of filters:

  • Disposable Pleated: Every 45 days
  • High-efficiency Pleated: About once a year
  • Mechanical: Every month

6. Turn the HVAC Unit Back On

Now that you know how to change a home air filter successfully, it’s time to switch your HVAC unit back on.

With a new air filter, you will have a more efficient system and may potentially lower your energy bills. Furnace filters work to guarantee good air quality in your home, so rest assured that your indoor air is healthier with a new filter in place.

When It’s Time to Replace Your Furnace

We’ve finished going through all the steps for how to replace a furnace filter! A new filter can do significant good for your home’s furnace or air conditioner. Nonetheless, there will come a time when it’s best to replace your furnace or other HVAC components.

Gold Star Plumbing, Heating & Cooling provides Hicksville, NY, with furnace replacements. If you need help deciding if a furnace replacement is best for you, call us for assistance. We’re happy to help you find the most suitable solution.

Plus, we also specialize in gas heat conversions in Hicksville, NY. Contact us today to learn more about our furnace replacement services!

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