My New Heater was installed about 6 years ago,and had a new filter allready installed.I didnt know how filthy these things can get,in such a relitivly short time.
The outer cover,that needs to be removed (only 2 screws) and is very easy to replace.

The air filter is clearly visible in this picture (below),the size is printed on the outer edge,14X24X1 (if not,use a measureing tape) Replacement filters are avalable at Home Depo.

Look How Filthy this thing is! I never knew these things get so filthy.

[This message has been edited by James Bond 007 (edited 04-30-2012).]

In a normal house should change them once a month.. more if you have lots of pets..

You are supposed to change the filter yearly. I'm suprised you got much air out of your furnace at all.

I have a washable filter. It stops the big particles but the small stuff goes right through. On the plus side, I just rinse it out every spring and I'm done until next year.

quote Originally posted by Doug85GT: You are supposed to change the filter yearly. I'm suprised you got much air out of your furnace at all. I have a washable filter. It stops the big particles but the small stuff goes right through. On the plus side, I just rinse it out every spring and I'm done until next year.

I have never heard 'yearly'. i have always heard at the very least every season but preferably monthly. Monthly doesn't even work at my house.

Mine is six months to yearly depending on use and environment. I think those puny little one inch filters are one or two months.
Use good filters and change often. You do not want that stuff in your coils or in the ducts.

Me? heat pump.

I change/ clean both of mine at least 2 times a year, more in the shop one if I did a lot of work. That sanding dust gets thick on them. They have reuseable ones that you can blow out with a wire back. I reuse them a 1/2 dozen times or so before I replace them. Both of mine just slide into a slot...no screws or retainers to mess with.

[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 04-30-2012).]

quote Originally posted by User00013170: I have never heard 'yearly'. i have always heard at the very least every season but preferably monthly. Monthly doesn't even work at my house.

I guess it depends on your climate, use, pet situation, etc. I only run my furnace 3 months out of year and I don't use AC.

In my home buying class, they said a minimum of yearly.

That's pretty foul looking. Surprised your furnace did not crap out on you completely.

I change mine every month(or more) between Novemeber and April and also in July and August. We also use a germacidal light to kill any airborn molds or bacteria before it gets shoved through the vents. Since installing the light, i have not had one sinus problem. Its been a godsend. Not a bad idea to get your ducts cleaned out every few years, either.

quote Originally posted by Doug85GT: I guess it depends on your climate, use, pet situation, etc. I only run my furnace 3 months out of year and I don't use AC. In my home buying class, they said a minimum of yearly.

We run our AC thru the same filter, so it gets changed a couple of times during the summer too. ( we have multiple pets that are indoor/outdoor so its needed )

quote Originally posted by James Bond 007: My New Heater was installed about 6 years ago,and had a new filter allready installed.I didnt know how filthy these things can get,in such a relitivly short time.

Heck, at my age six years seems to go by in about two days....

quote Originally posted by James Bond 007: My New Heater was installed about 6 years ago, and had a new filter allready installed. I didnt know how filthy these things can get, in such a relitivly short time.

You had the same air filter for six years?

Oh. My. Gawd.

I started a thread a while back about the house we are in not having a return air filter. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/091192.html The solution was to install filter vent housings in place of the return air vents. To install one in the duct at the furnace/AC unit would have required much more labor and cost.

Manufacturer recommendation is to replace it every 6 months. I change them more often because I have allergies. Once every 3 months. And clean your ducts every year.

And don't do what I saw some nimrod do when I was working HVAC. To save money, when one side of the filter got dirty, he'd flip it over and use the other side.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: And don't do what I saw some nimrod do when I was working HVAC. To save money, when one side of the filter got dirty, he'd flip it over and use the other side.

I'll bet he does the same thing with his underwear.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: And don't do what I saw some nimrod do when I was working HVAC. To save money, when one side of the filter got dirty, he'd flip it over and use the other side.

...

Honestly, it makes you wonder how the human race has survived this long.

As dusty as it stays in our house, we really need to change ours every month or two. (We have dogs who track the back yard into the house with them.)
I change it once or twice a year. Three times if I think about it.

Yes, Most recommend 3-6 months.
Also depend on filter design and how dirty the air. Better filters and/or dirt air may need more changing.

Dirty filter can cause mold etc to build up.

Dirty filter can cause damage to furnaces. Dirty filter will cut air flow and overheat to heat exchangers in the furnace. Big CO problems with oil or gas heaters...

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

(See Images - now with thumbnails!)
Contact heater maker... I think This is Not a filter location. You shouldn't have to mash a filter or take screws out to get it inside the unit.
That might not be up to fire/building code either.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

I change my about quarterly...ish. We have a cat so I usually buy the best filter available.

My Dad is horrrrrrrrrible about changing those things, his usually end up looking like yours too.

Kudos for the visual reminder, that's admirable of you, prudently thinking about your fellow forum members, thank you for the reminder that hits home visually.

That filter's the same size and location as mine in the apartment. Double check to see if you have a "pre-filter" living behind the cold air return vent. My pre-filter is all metal, you'll need to hose it off thoroughly, mine gets clogged up as badly as the main furnance media filter.

For allergy sufferers, I use MasterBlends anti-allergen filter spray every time I replace. It's the worlds best at de-natureing the allergens from dog, cat. dust mite and others. I've got 4 cats in my little apartment, i'd suffocate without it, now if I'm suffocating, it's because I've got 4 little monsters piled on top of me in bed at night. Seriously, it's wonderful stuff.

quote Originally posted by tbone42: We also use a germacidal light to kill any airborn molds or bacteria before it gets shoved through the vents. Since installing the light, i have not had one sinus problem. Its been a godsend. Not a bad idea to get your ducts cleaned out every few years, either.

Neat! I'm sure I could google it, but if you have any more info you'd care to share I wanna know more.

That is a monthly ritual for us here. Don't even have any pets, but have plenty of dust blowing in.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: ... Honestly, it makes you wonder how the human race has survived this long.

We lasted 10s of 1,000s of years living outside IN the dirt and dust.

quote Originally posted by fierobear: We lasted 10s of 1,000s of years living outside IN the dirt and dust.

That's not the point.

The guy flipped the filter around backwards to "double" its life. And what happens the first time air goes through the filter from the opposite side? Doh!

Lots of different kinds, but something like this:



You use a cone-shaped sheat metal drill bit that has the multiple diameters, drill a hole into your furnace so, stick in hole, attach with sheet metal screws that are usually supplied, and plug it in to a 110 outlet. Takes 5 minutes if you are at-all-handy.

Mine is attached so it is under the filter and above the coils, which at the top of my air-handler not the bottom. Left or right side does not matter, it will penetrate the entire coil system and kill germs. Before I installed it, I was getting at least 2 sinus infections a year, I have not had one since. We cleaned the ducts out at the same time... used a long shop vac hose and a big feather duster/brush on a wire to agitate with. Worked great.

http://boairfilters.com/UV-...E&utm_source=froogle

quote Originally posted by Patrick: You had the same air filter for six years? Oh. My. Gawd.

Made me laugh Patrick, but you should have put more space between your Oh. My, Gawd!!

We have a newer furnace in our house that takes the Merv 10 filters. It's like 4 inches thick. Recommended life before replacement is "Up to a year".

Kevin

quote Originally posted by tbone42: Lots of different kinds, but something like this: You use a cone-shaped sheat metal drill bit that has the multiple diameters, drill a hole into your furnace so, stick in hole, attach with sheet metal screws that are usually supplied, and plug it in to a 110 outlet. Takes 5 minutes if you are at-all-handy. Mine is attached so it is under the filter and above the coils, which at the top of my air-handler not the bottom. Left or right side does not matter, it will penetrate the entire coil system and kill germs. Before I installed it, I was getting at least 2 sinus infections a year, I have not had one since. We cleaned the ducts out at the same time... used a long shop vac hose and a big feather duster/brush on a wire to agitate with. Worked great. http://boairfilters.com/UV-...E&utm_source=froogle

Cool. Thanks!

quote Originally posted by User00013170: In a normal house should change them once a month.. more if you have lots of pets..

We were always told monthly as well. Mom's get changed, or cleaned every month as does my Mother-in-laws. (Mom's is cleanable, and works great.)
Since they heat with gas, and have a wood stove/ fireplace there is a lot more dust build up on them than average house.

We have a friend who hasn't changed her air filter in 6 years either, and it's horrible. I made a comment that she should at least change it every few months, and she said that it was the Landlords responsibility to change it. We argued about who's responsibility it was to keep things clean, but in the end she didn't care. I even used the "it's costing you more in gas and electricity, and likely making you sick. She still hasn't done anything about it.

Brad

quote Originally posted by Lambo nut: Made me laugh Patrick, but you should have put more space between your Oh. My, Gawd!!

Thanks Kevin, but oddly enough I wasn't trying to be funny. I was genuinely shocked!

quote Originally posted by twofatguys: We have a friend who hasn't changed her air filter in 6 years either, and it's horrible. I made a comment that she should at least change it every few months, and she said that it was the Landlords responsibility to change it.

Geez, what's a cheap glass wool and cardboard filter cost... maybe three bucks? People are sure strange.

EDIT: I was wrong... they're less than a dollar apiece. No excuse not to change the filthy things.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-01-2012).]

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Geez, what's a cheap glass wool and cardboard filter cost... maybe three bucks? People are sure strange. EDIT: I was wrong... they're less than a dollar apiece. No excuse not to change the filthy things.

higher quality ones are more expensive, but yeah.... $10-$20 to change out depending on what you have. Needs to be done regularly.

quote Originally posted by jaskispyder: higher quality ones are more expensive, but yeah.... $10-$20 to change out depending on what you have. Needs to be done regularly.

You are correct jaskispyder, the picture Patrick posted isnt the correct size for my heating unit and cost more. My heater has no Ac, thats seperate.I live in souther California,so the heater isnt used very often.

[This message has been edited by James Bond 007 (edited 05-01-2012).]

quote Originally posted by User00013170: I have never heard 'yearly'. i have always heard at the very least every season but preferably monthly. Monthly doesn't even work at my house.

A couple times a year is how often I change mine. I can't believe he went 6 years. I doubt that filter was doing much, if anything, in the way of filtering.

quote Originally posted by ls3mach: I doubt that filter was doing much, if anything, in the way of filtering.

A filter that's loaded up like that is still as effective at trapping particles, or even more so, as when new. (Think about it.) The problem is that the pressure drop across a loaded filter increases, so the air flow rate drops dramatically. This places a higher load on the blower, causing it to consume more electrical power, increases blower noise, and increases the operating temperature of both the motor and the heat exchanger. Higher operating temperatures => shorter life. Replacing the filter at least annually not only results in quieter and more efficient system operation but it can also save money in the long run.

This is what mine takes.



It turns out to be 20x25x5 inches thick. I keep an eye on it and change it out yearly, but even after a year it doesn't LOOK too dirty. There is a lot of surface area on this thing which is what make the difference. At about 30 buck a pop, I'm in no hurry to change it before it needs it.

And along the lines of what Marvin said, the dirtier they get the better they filter, up until it starts to get restrictive, then it will put more load on the blower motor.

Kevin

[This message has been edited by Lambo nut (edited 05-01-2012).]

quote Originally posted by Marvin McInnis: A filter that's loaded up like that is still as effective at trapping particles, or even more so, as when new. (Think about it.) The problem is that the pressure drop across a loaded filter increases, so the air flow rate drops dramatically. This places a higher load on the blower, causing it to consume more electrical power, increases blower noise, and increases the operating temperature of both the motor and the heat exchanger. Higher operating temperatures => shorter life. Replacing the filter at least annually not only results in quieter and more efficient system operation but it can also save money in the long run.

I think the load on the blower motor actually decreases, allowing the motor to spin faster and overheat due to lack of cooling air flow. Kinda like plugging the hose on your vacuum cleaner causes the motor rpm to increase.

You dont have to go to a hardware or specialty store for them. Theyre everywhere from drug stores, to KMart and grocery stores.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: You dont have to go to a hardware or specialty store for them. Theyre everywhere from drug stores, to KMart and grocery stores.

Walmart has them year round. Store doesn't have size/type in stock? Can order it and free shipping for Ship to Store orders.

quote Originally posted by spark1: I think the load on the blower motor actually decreases ...

After the restriction reaches the point that airflow across the blades of the blower wheel is fully stalled, you are probably correct. Up until that point, I disagree.

Carrier (the HVAC manufacturer) actually publishes tables of system pressure drop vs. airflow and airflow vs. motor input power. If you're a crazy and inquisitive engineer like me you obtain the necessary instrumentation and gather your own data:



FWIW, the above picture proved beyond argument that the HVAC contractor had undersized the ductwork slightly, resulting in higher than standard system pressure drop. (Probably 95% of all residential HVAC installations are similarly undersized, usually to reduce cost or sometimes just for the contractor's convenience.)

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 05-02-2012).]