How To Change Air Conditioning Filter

A woman holding a dirty AC air filter — *When was the last time you changed your AC's air filter?*

Is the AC inside your home running a bit warmer than usual, merely the number on the thermostat remains the same? Is 90 degrees starting to feel like 110? It might be time to replace your air filter.

Replacing the AC filter in your domicile will let the unit to go along blowing cool air without interruptions. If the air filter becomes chock-full with debris and dust particles, causing an airflow brake. And, eventually, the clogged filter can lead to unit of measurement repairs, a higher electric bill, and a lower lifespan on your unit.

The good news is that replacing the filter on your AC is a uncomplicated task— once you lot know how to observe information technology.

In this web log, we'll show you how to locate your AC's filter, the steps to change information technology, and whatsoever bug you might face when changing your filter.

Desire advice on your air filter?

Contact George Brazil; we're always happy to help our customs. Since 1955, we've served Phoenicians with integrity and reliability.

Top 2 Places to Find Your Air conditioning Filter

The air filter is typically virtually the thermostat in your home in a render duct. Or, it's most likely right adjacent to your Ac system's air handler.

For most units, the filter's location is at the indicate where the return duct enters the air handler. Just, in instance y'all take a unit of measurement with one and not the other, here'southward what each volition look like:

Return Ducts:

This Air-conditioning has a grate located on the ceiling, wall, or flooring and contains slatted openings for air to menstruum through. They are normally larger than a standard air duct vent.

One tip to determine a render vent: hold your mitt or a slice of paper upward to the vent while the AC'south fan is on. If the newspaper gets pulled toward the vent or you feel a suction upshot, it'southward a return vent.

Air Handler:

The air handler is a large metal box that stores the AC'due south fan and motor. You lot can typically detect it within the attic or basement.

When you find information technology, the replaceable filter is on the unit's left side, right side, top, or bottom.

1 tip about your air handler: The filter may fit in a modest slot with directions demonstrating how to insert the filter. Air handlers often need to exist unscrewed by mitt or with a tool to admission the air conditioner filter.

Once you locate either system, expect for a slot where an air filter should fit. Larger houses may take more than than one system and will take separate filters for each organisation.

How to Change Your Air Filter

Air filter labels — *When replacing your air filter, brand certain the arrows are facing the right manner*

Now that you know where and how to locate your AC'south air filter, use the following steps to modify it out:

Get-go, know the size of your filter. Each unit of measurement should have the filter size located on the previous filter. If y'all are uncertain almost the size, catch a measuring tape and measure the height and width, or look for the manufacturer'southward proper name and locate the size on their website.
To remove your sometime filter, plow off your AC, unscrew your air handler or grate from a return duct and gently pull it out. If the filter is dirty, wrinkled, greyish, or filled with grit — its side by side destination is the trash.
Exist sure to identify the new filter in the aforementioned direction as the old one. Follow whatsoever instructions printed on the package of the new filter.
Arrows ordinarily show which direction the air pulls, and yous'll desire the air to pull into your system, non away from information technology.

Problems You May Confront Changing Your Filter

In the process of replacing the filter in an Ac system, you might discover a few areas that look unusual.

Too Much Dust in Your Air Ducts

When y'all pull out the old filter and run into an excessive amount of dust and debris surrounding the ducts or the infinite backside the filter, that's a articulate sign that y'all accept clogged return ducts. If the return ducts accept also much dust, some rooms in your house may accept limited airflow and more dust settling on surfaces.

Want to acquire more about ducts and the benefits of cleaning them? Read our blog, "3 Benefits of Having Your Air Ducts Cleaned."

A Wet Air Handler

If your air handler has water around it, a few things could be at mistake:

A leaky drain
A clogged condensate line
A frozen evaporator coil

When these issues occur in your home, yous'll need a professional to diagnose and restore your unit to life. Commencement with maintaining your Air-conditioning's filter, and we'll help with the residue.

George Brazil service technician in front of truck — *Contact George Brazil to supervene upon your air filter and clean your air ducts*

Have Questions? Inquire Phoenix's all-time Air-conditioning experts: George Brazil.

Contact George Brazil to schedule an appointment with ane of our trusted HVAC service technicians. We'll supervene upon your AC'southward air filter, clean your ducts, fix whatever other Air-conditioning issues y'all'll accept, and answer all of your questions.