Whether you are a new homeowner or you are just renting an apartment, knowing where to find your air conditioner filter is important.
You will need to change out or clean the filter once in a while to maintain a healthy environment for your family and to keep the air clean. It might seem a daunting task to switch out the filter for an air conditioner, but once you know where it is, it isn’t really difficult at all.
There are some simple steps to follow in order to find it quickly and will help you on any future installations.
It’s not a hard process at all once you have it figured and, depending on the size of your family, this is not something you are going to need to do too often. Don’t worry, after you’ve done it just once, you’re basically going to be a pro!
What is an Air Conditioner Filter For?
An air conditioner filter is a removable piece that cleans the oxygen throughout a home. These are filters found in homes with central heating and cooling, most often, and they are typically made from a fibrous material that can safely catch dust, dirt and other irritating debris that collects in the air. People with allergies or breathing issues may rely on these to help keep the air free of irritants that can cause asthma attacks or allergy spasms.
Depending on the size of the home or apartment, these filtering systems will be larger or smaller in size to fit in accordance with the home. The larger the square footage, the larger the filter will be. There may even be a few places where filters are located if you have two air input areas. This means you’d have two different areas where an air filter would need to be maintained and replaced. If you have a smaller home or apartment, you’d just need to worry about the one air filter, but, depending on the number of people living within the home, you may need to change out the filter more often.
Are Your Air Conditioning Filter & Furnace Filter the Same Thing?
The answer to this isn’t as simple as yes or no. Like anything, there are factors to consider. Like, if your home has a central heating system that is comprised of both heating and cooling, then yes. The filter would be the same because it’s for a single unit.
Now, if you have a standard furnace for heating, and a separate unit for cooling – like a window AC or a portable floor model, then the answer to this would be no. A furnace filter is quite large and is designed to withstand long periods of forced air. Whereas a small AC unit would have an appropriately sized screen.
So, How Do I Find the Air Filter?
The air filter will be located within an area that has an air intake. This means that there is an area within each home or apartment that literally sucks in air to either heat or cool to disperse around the house. During the hotter months, the air being sucked into this will be cooled and will spill out through vents within the house. The same process is done when you turn on the heater, only it will warm the oxygen and disperse accordingly. Don’t be surprised if you smell a little burning when you turn on the heater for the first time. Dust collects on the heating unit and will burn off once it’s turned on.
You can find the air filter by simply finding the air intake area. Wherever the air is being sucked in, that’s where the filter will be. It’s typically hidden behind a larger grate or vent and some tools may be needed in order to access it. Most vents are protected by a grate attached with screws. In most cases, you just need a typical standard screwdriver in order to open the grate and switch out the filtering device. The rest of that process is super simple.
Conclusion
Overall, finding the air filter and replacing the filter is a super easy task. Once you get into a routine, you will be accustomed to switching out the unit with no issue at all. Remember, the more you switch out the filtering device, the cleaner the oxygen in your home will be. This is especially important for allergy sufferers or people who have asthma. Even the most standard filter will help keep their oxygen and your home clean and happier.
