Selecting the correct furnace filter and changing it when it is dirty is as important to your HVAC system as changing the oil is to your car. Each plays a critical function in keeping its system running safely, efficiently and for a long time.

An overused furnace filter loses its effectiveness, enabling potentially harmful particles to flow through your home. It also slows airflow, which can damage your furnace and shorten its life span.

Ensuring your furnace uses a clean filter that is appropriate for your needs is not merely about keeping your furnace working efficiently. It’s also about creating good indoor air quality for your household.

The quality of the air your family breathes is important to the heating and cooling specialists at Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning. We've long been dedicated to bettering indoor air quality in Seymour. Here, we’ve answered common questions about HVAC filters, including that very tricky question of what direction do you point a filter in your furnace or air conditioner?

When to Replace the Air Filter in Your Furnace

It is vital to replace dirty air filters in a furnace or air conditioner periodically. Dirty filters cause the system to worker harder than it should because it takes extra work to move air through the plugged-up filter.

Officials recommend examining your furnace filter every month and replacing it if it’s dirty. You’ll know if it is dirty because it will filled with dirt or dust. People who have pets that shed will probably want to replace their furnace air filter more often, because a good air filter will trap pet hair circulating in a home.

How to Find the Furnace's Air Filter

In general, a furnace air filter is usually located in the return air duct or blower compartment before the return air goes back into the furnace. This ensures air being pulled into the system is filtered before it passes through the furnace components and is heated.

Depending on the furnace model, the filter may be located on the right, left, bottom or in some cases, inside the furnace. It's usually housed inside of a slot, frame or cabinet for con