Where Is the HVAC Filter Located?

Some HVAC repair services occur because property owners have not kept up with routine maintenance. You can take charge of your system’s maintenance needs by consistently replacing your HVAC filter. Where can you find it? Glenmont Air Conditioning & Heating helps you locate your air filters below. 

HVAC Filters Are Unsung Heroes

Air filter replacement is among the simplest yet most essential HVAC maintenance tasks. New filters protect your home, heating and cooling equipment, and health. Scheduling professional maintenance services can help you manage this task. 

However, you should replace your air filter every three months to ensure clean, fresh air circulates throughout your home. These affordable products remove countless allergens, including:

• Mold: Fungal spores can infiltrate your home, even under the tidiest circumstances. Filters eliminate and prevent them from taking hold and growing in your ductwork. 
• Bacteria and viruses: When you contract an illness from work or school, you bring it home with you. Some filters prevent the microbes from circulating throughout your home. 
• Pollen and pollution: Sometimes, outdoor contaminants make their way inside. You might feel better and more alert with better indoor air quality. 
• Dust: A new filter can reduce your housekeeping chores, especially dusting. It also prevents dust particles from coating essential HVAC components. 

Where Is the HVAC Filter Located?

Where can you find the filter in your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment? The location depends on the HVAC units you use. Most central HVAC systems feature large return vents housing the filters in the middle of the buildings.

However, you might have one of the following heating and cooling setups instead:

• Ductless mini-splits: Mini-splits don’t feature ductwork and circulate warm or cool air through a wall-mounted unit instead. You might find your HVAC filter in those individual units. 
• Furnaces: If your furnace is separate from your air conditioner, you can find the return register and filter near the blower motor’s storage area. 
• Vertical units: A vertical unit is typically installed in a basement or crawlspace. You might find the filter behind a return register sharing a wall with the unit. 
• Horizontal units: You can find most horizontal HVAC equipment in attics or garages. The return register might be on the floor above the unit or on the ceiling beneath it. 

Remember to Pick the Right Filter!

Regularly replacing your filter is a fantastic start to continuous HVAC maintenance. However, you need the product that best matches your needs and your system’s capabilities based on the following:

• MERV rating: A filter’s minimum efficiency reporting values determine what particles and microbes it eliminates from the air. Higher MERV ratings remove more pollutants.
• Lifestyle: If you smoke indoors, light candles, or burn incense, you might need a higher MERV rating to effectively remove these contaminants. You should consider more frequent changes if you own pets or struggle with allergies. 
• System requirements: Most residential HVAC systems need a minimum MERV rating of eight. However, your system’s needs may vary.

Ask Glenmont Air Conditioning & Heating About HVAC Maintenance

Need help choosing the best HVAC filter for your home? Call Glenmont Air Conditioning & Heating at 301-468-2665 to schedule a maintenance visit!