Sunday, December 23, 2007

How To Change Your Furnace Filter Or Air Conditioning Filter

by: Bill Whitworth



Analogous to change in technology and the ever-increasing pollutants in the atmosphere, home air filtering technology has undergone a massive change. Today, many home air filters are layered with chemicals for killing the mold and dust spores, and sanitizing the filter to dispel impurities.

If you live in a heavily populated vicinity, there is a high possibility of dust particles collecting in your air conditioner. These filthy dust particles may probably hold up the condenser of the air conditioner and compel it to work intensely. As this would hamper the longevity of the air conditioner and affect its performance in the long run, make sure you steam-clean the air conditioner at least once in two years. Besides, if you live in a highly polluted area, a yearly clean up would do you good.

Furnace filters and air conditioning filters not only screen out debris and unwanted pollens from the heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, but they also increase its productivity. If you replace them often, your air would stay healthy and clean without any allergens and all other types of bacteria that could be harmful to the lungs. Moreover, fresh replacements help in keeping the HVAC system running efficiently by prolonging its lifespan and reducing the utility bills after regular maintenance. Make sure you check your furnace filters and air conditioning filters, the need for replacement or cleaning every month and particularly during cooling or heating season when the system is continuously used. If these filters were not changed on a routine basis, your system would have to work extra hard, increase expenses and reduce performance.

How to Clean or Replace Your Furnace Filter or Air Conditioning Filter

Following are some common steps followed for changing the furnace filter or air conditioning filter:

• Turn off the HVAC system and look for the service panel. You could either use a screwdriver or your hand for removing these panels

• Locate the home air filter close to the intake-outtake blower; it might be behind a panel or door that swings or lifts open. Remove the filter.

• Before you install the new filter, look for an arrow (arrow indicating the direction of airflow) along the edge of the new filter. Install the filter, ensuring the arrow is pointing toward the blower motor and other related machinery. Make sure you don’t install the filter in a backwards airflow manner as this decreases the efficiency of the home air filter.

• Turn your system on and check whether it is functioning properly.

Conforming to the above given steps you would easily be able to change the home air filter. If you are unable to change the air filter, call for a heating contractor and watch how they change the filter.

Furnace filters and air-conditioning filters are available in permanent (with metal framing or fiberglass) or disposable (with cardboard frames). Disposable models are very cheap, but need to be replaced within a time span of a month. Therefore, it is better if you have spare filters on hand to save time during the course of the year. On the other hand, permanent brands are cost-effective. All furnace filters and air-conditioning filters come with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Report Value) Rating that denotes the capability of the product in comparison with the other various brands. The higher the MERV rating, the more beneficial your filtration will be. Learn more about furnace filters at http://www.webproducts.com/Categories.bok?category=Furnace+Filters.



About The Author

Bill Whitworth writes air quality articles for http://www.webproducts.com Web Products, Inc., the Internet’s premier supplier of http://www.webproducts.com/Detail.bok?no=70 furnace filters, air filters, replacement filters, and custom filters.

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Clean Home Air Filter

How To Clean Your Home Air Filter
by: Bill Whitworth



Many people are unaware that the air we breathe in our homes is almost six times more hazardous than the air we breathe outside our homes. Airborne particles become trapped inside and the dirt and stale air have no outlet.

Today, there are different kinds of home air purifiers. The most common ones are carbon, HEPA, UV light air purifiers, ZEOLITE, to mention a few. Each kind of purifier mentioned gathers contaminants; some of these air purifiers have a steel rod while others, have a filter.

It is essential to have a clean air filtering system inside your home. The main function of furnace filters is to keep the heat exchanges and coils on the air conditioning and heating system free of all the dirt. Since home air filters are made of highly efficient anti-microbial filters and motors that ensure pure, clean air at home, it is wise to keep the system functioning effectively. Learn more about home air filters and furnace filters by visiting http://www.webproducts.com .

A furnace filter or air conditioning system filter can considerably decrease the dust in your home and give you an allergy free oasis from fall pollen and spring seasons. Below are some ways you can clean your Home Air Filter:

• Dusting/Rinsing/Spraying – For cleaning the home air filter, remove the air filter panel and clean the condenser and evaporator coils. Vacuum or brush the coils. Rinse the coils with a detergent and water mix using a garden sprayer/hose. Make sure you don’t rinse or spray the electrical parts of the air filter. The coils and fins should not be damaged. Clean the air filter on a regular basis to avoid molding problem caused due to moisture inside the air-filtering unit.

• Steam cleaning – For steam cleaning air filters, special chemical filters are shot into an air conditioning unit by employing powerful high-pressure steam machines at approximately 150 pounds per square inch.

• Vapor steam cleaners – The vapor steam cleaners are easy and safer as they do not use chemicals but only dry steam. When the steam enters the air conditioning unit, all the molds, fungi, dust mites and bacteria are instantly killed.

• Oiling – Liberally apply cleaning oil to the dirty side of the air filter. If you are using a squeeze bottle of oil, squeeze a bead of oil in the length of the crown of every pleat using the tip of the squeeze bottle as a guide. Use a bottle with a graduated view strip for dispensing the right amount of oil. If you are using an aerosol spray, use an equal amount of oil along the length of the crown of every pleat. Wait for about 25 minutes to allow the filter media to absorb the oil. Check the clean side of the filter for any lighter area. Continue the oiling procedure till you notice an even color over the entire filter media.

Besides cleaning your furnace filters and air-conditioning filters, it’s essential to replace them, in accordance with your unit’s owners manual. If you have high level of dust particles in the house due to recent renovations, use of candles or if someone smokes in the house, you should clean and replace the filters more often. Also, consider a regular replacement, particularly if a family member suffers from allergies, asthma or any kind of lung diseases. Visit http://www.webproducts.com/Categories.bok?category=Furnace+Filters for the latest information on furnace filters.



About The Author

Bill Whitworth writes air quality articles for http://www.webproducts.com Web Products, Inc., the Internet’s premier supplier of http://www.webproducts.com/Detail.bok?no=70 furnace filters, air filters, replacement filters, and custom filters.