What happens if you put your furnace filter in backwards?

When a furnace filter is placed backwards, the fibers can't do their job properly. This means your furnace has to work harder to generate the same air flow, resulting in increased energy costs. Particles are also allowed to build up irregularly, making the furnace working even harder to draw air.

What happens if air filter is wrong way?

If you install your filter in the wrong direction, air will have a hard time flowing through the filter's material and your air handler will have to work overtime to make up for the loss of airflow. This is not only a waste of energy, but it can also possibly damage your air conditioner or heating system.

Can a furnace filter be backwards?

If the furnace filter is installed backwards, the fibers won't properly filter the air which can eventually cause damage to the unit. It also will diminish airflow through the furnace causing it to work harder and use more energy.

Does it matter which way your furnace filter goes in?

Replacing your air filter is not difficult. Remember that air flows from your ducts, through the filter, and into the furnace. The arrow on the filter should always point toward the furnace.

Should air filter arrow point up or down?

Position the airflow arrow so that it points in the direction the air is flowing. In addition to clean air, filters also protect your HVAC system from debris and dirt buildup. The airflow arrow should point towards the furnace/blower motor to collect harmful particles before it reaches the furnace's equipment.

What Happens If You Install A Furnace Filter Backward?

Which side of the air filter goes up?

If your filter is on the wall, the arrow should face the wall. Does your filter not have an arrow on it? First check again as nearly all filters do have it, likely in the corner of one of the sides. If it does not have an arrow though, you'll want the side with the wire-frame to be facing outward.

Why is my furnace not blowing hot air?

Troubleshooting Furnaces Not Blowing Hot Air

Check batteries of your thermostat and replace the drained or faulty one. Check the fan settings on your thermostat if they are set to “auto” instead of “on”. Make sure someone else has not set your thermostat to a lower temperature.

Which way does the arrow point on a furnace filter?

The arrow points in the direction of the airflow. The point should go toward the inside of the furnace compartment. If the filter goes inside the ductwork, it should point toward the air handler or the furnace.

Which side of furnace filter should be dirty?

In all cases, the furnace filter should be dirty on the side that the air comes into the furnace from. If your air filters are dirty in some other fashion, it is likely your furnace is not working properly, or the filter was installed incorrectly.

How often should furnace filters be changed?

In general, this is how often changing furnace filters needs to be done: For 1- to 2-inch filters, replace them every 1 to 3 months. For 3- to 4-inch filters, replace them every 6 to 9 months. For 5- to 6-inch filters, replace them every 9 to 12 months.

Why is my furnace blowing cold air?

If your furnace is blowing cold air in your home, this is a sign of an issue with the flame detector, gas supply, air filter, pilot light, or condensate lines. Many of these issues are able to be easily solved on your own by sanitizing or replacing components in the gas furnace.

What does the arrow on a furnace filter mean?

Not every furnace filter has an arrow stamped on its side, but when you do see it, it indicates which direction the filter has to face. It always points to the direction of the furnace's air handler or blower compartment.

Can a dirty filter stop a furnace from working?

Dirty air filters are often the culprit behind an inefficiently performing furnace. That's because air filters trap dust, dirt and debris like hair, which over time can restrict or block vital airflow, overheating the heat exchanger and preventing your furnace from working as it should.

Which way should air vents point?

As a general rule, AC vents should point upward (but not enough to narrow the openings too much). This allows cold air to displace hot air before sinking. An exception is when the vents are located on the walls right below the ceiling. Here, vents must point parallel to the ceiling or slightly down.

Should I turn my furnace off if its blowing cold air?

When a furnace only blows cold air, there's a chance the heater could have overheated. But don't worry, this usually doesn't mean the unit is broken. When the system overheats, there's a safety feature that shuts the system off. This is a good thing—it could prevent a fire, carbon monoxide leak, or even an explosion.

Why is cold air coming out of my vents when the heat is on in my car?

Low Coolant Level

The coolant (usually a mixture of water and antifreeze) in your engine doesn't just work to keep the engine from overheating: It's also the source of heat supporting the heating system. If there isn't enough coolant in your system, the heater core will blow cold air into your car.

Should I feel air coming out of furnace?

Unfortunately, if you have a furnace that is leaking air, then it is a problem. Air leaking from your furnace is inefficient and can decrease energy within the home. If your furnace is leaking air, it could be due to poor manufacturing, incorrect installation, or wear and tear over time.

Why does my furnace filter get dirty so fast?

Your filter gets clogged faster when your furnace is running more often. That's because more air is cycled through your filter when your furnace goes through more heating cycles, so more contaminants get caught on the filter's media. The colder it gets outside, the faster your filter will get clogged with dirt.

Can you vacuum furnace filters?

Vacuuming a Filter Can't Reach the Inner Fibers

The contaminant particles can get buried deep in the filter's fibers, so a vacuum cleaner won't extract all of them. The particles will create a barrier in the air filter and prevent air from passing through, which could damage your HVAC system or make it less efficient.

Why does my furnace have 2 filters?

A lot of central air units have at least two filters, though you can find systems that have only one. The reason why there are a couple of filters is because not only the air that is traveling into the air handler needs to be filtered, but also the air passing through the return vents.

Why is my furnace filter not getting dirty?

If the filter is not installed correctly, then the air can flow around the filter and not into it. When that happens, the filter won't get dirty because all that air isn't going anywhere near it.

Why is my furnace air filter black?

Excess Amounts of Dirt and Debris – Including Soot

The more there is, the quicker your air filter will become clogged. If you don't regularly check your furnace filter often, the sheer amount of dirt could make the air filter black. This is especially true if you burn candles or have a fireplace.