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Mobile ViewAIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS A/C - HEAT PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES A/C DATA TAGS A/C - HEAT PUMP CRITICAL DEFECTS A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs A/C REFRIGERANTS A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES AGE of WATER HEATERS AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART AIR CONDITIONER COMPONENT PARTS AIR CONDITIONER TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES AIR CONDITIONER NOT WORKING AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS Air Filter Accessibility Air Filter Bypass Leakage Air Filter Installation Procedure Build Large Air Filters Air Filter Location Dirty Air Filter Problems ENERGY SAVINGS by AIR FILTERS Air Filtering Strategies Missing or Leaky Air Filters AIR FILTERS, OPTIMUM INDOOR Air Filter Efficiency Optimum Air Filter Design / Location How to Cascade Air Filters CONTINUOUS BLOWER FAN OPERATION AIR FILTER EFFECTIVENESS MERV, HEPA Definitions MERV Air Filter Ratings How Air Filters Work Particle Sizes & IAQ Gasketed air filters Debris in Return Air Plenum Washable air filters AIR FILTERING STRATEGIES FIBERGLASS & AIR FILTERS Air Filters Shed Fibers? Fiberglass & Test Lab Accuracy Variations in Fiber Size SOURCES FOR AIR FILTERS OTHER AIR CLEANERS AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS ADDING A/C: RETROFIT SIZING BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BLOWER LEAKS, RUST & MOLD COOLING / EVAPORATOR COIL DEFECTS DAMAGED COOLING COIL DIRTY A/C BLOWERS Leaks, Rodents In Air Handlers Mold Growth in Air Handlers DIRTY COOLING COIL DIRTY COIL CLEANING PROCEDURES FROST BUILD-UP on AIR CONDITIONER COILS ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BOOKSTORE - Air Conditioning "How To" Books CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS CAPILLARY TUBES CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA COMPRESSOR CONDENSER CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS COOL OFF HEAT Thermostat Switch COOLING CAPACITY, RATED COOLING COIL or EVAPORATOR COIL COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS DATA TAGS on AIR CONDITIONERS DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms DEHUMIDIFICATION PROBLEMS DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-BOILER DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-FURNACE DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUCTS - Asbestos AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS ALLOY SYSTEMS FLEXDUCT ASBESTOS HVAC DUCTS ASBESTOS PAPER on DUCTWORK ASBESTOS TRANSITE DUCTWORK BALANCING AIR DUCT FLOW DUCT & AIR HANDLER ODORS DUCT DAMAGE, MECHANICAL DUCT INSULATION - Asbestos Paper DUCT ROUTING & SUPPORT DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? FIBERGLASS DUCT, RIGID CONSTRUCTION FIBERGLASS HVAC DUCTS GOODMAN GRAY FLEXDUCT INCREASING RETURN AIR LEAKY DUCT CONNECTIONS LOCATION OF REGISTERS & DUCTS MOLD in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK NOISES in DUCT SYSTEM ODORS in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK OWENS CORNING FLEXDUCT OWL FLEXDUCT RETURN AIR REGISTERS & DUCTS SOUNDPROOFING for DUCTWORK SUPPLY DUCTS & REGISTERS TRANSITE PIPE AIR DUCTS UNDERSIZED RETURN DUCTS UNSAFE DUCT OPENINGS VIBRATION DAMPENERS WATER & ICE IN DUCT WORK WET CORRODED DUCT WORK DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper DUCT INSULATION for SOUNDPROOFING DUCT SYSTEM NOISES DUCTS, Asbestos Transite Pipe DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? EDUCATION, HVAC SCHOOLS ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS EVAPORATOR COIL or COOLING COIL EXPANSION VALVES, REFRIGERANT FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS FAN LIMIT SWITCH FAN NOISES FURNACES, HEATING FURNACE CONTROLS & SWITCHES CAD CELL RELAYS DRAFT HOODS DRAFT REGULATORS FAN AUTO ON CONTROLS FAN LIMIT SWITCH What is a Fan & Limit Switch? Sensing Furnace Temperatures How to Set the Fan & Limit Control How to Test the Fan & Limit Control How to Install the Fan & Limit Control How to Wire the Fan & Limit Control FAN LIMIT SWITCH TROUBLESHOOTING SPILL SWITCHES STACK RELAYS THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING ZONE DAMPER CONTROLS FURNACE OPERATION DETAILS HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in buildings HEAT PUMPS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSPECTION LIMITATIONS LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LOST COOLING CAPACITY MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH NOISY AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE Air Leak Noises AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP NOISES OPERATING COST OPERATING DEFECTS OPERATING TEMPERATURES PORTABLE ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS PRESSURE READINGS, REFRIGERANT REPAIR GUIDE, AIR CONDITIONERS / HEAT PUMPS REPAIR & DIAGNOSTIC FAQs for A/C REFRIGERANTS GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST REFRIGERANT CHARGING PROCEDURE REFRIGERANT DRIERS & FILTERS REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION REFRIGERANT LEAK REPAIR REFRIGERANT METERING DEVICES TEVs REFRIGERANT METERING CAPILLARY TUBES REFRIGERANT PIPING & DISTANCES REFRIGERANT PRESSURE READINGS RETROFIT SIZING for A/C or HEAT PUMPS SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS SWAMP COOLERS SYSTEM OPERATION THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVES WATER COOLED AIR CONDITIONERS More Information |
This article explains in detail how to find the filters on an air conditioning or hot air heating system. This website answers almost any question you might ask about air filters for heating or air conditioning systems. We continue to add to and update this text as new details are provided. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. AIR FILTER LOCATION - How to Find the Air Conditioning Filter on Air Conditioners or Hot Air Heating SystemsIf you can't find your air conditioner system filters (there may be more than one air filter) here are some places to look. After reviewing this list of air filter locations, if you still cannot find your heating or air conditioning system air filter read our detailed instructions on how to find air filters which follows just after this list.
If after reading this simple catalog of air filter locations you still can't find your air filter, below we provide a Detailed Guide of where and how to look for filters on an air conditioning or hot air heating system. A Detailed Guide on How to Find the Air Filters on an Air Conditioning or Heating SystemCentral air conditioning filters (or heating system filters if hot air heat is used as well) are sometimes hard to find. Here are some tips on where to look to find the filters on your central air conditioning system: How to Find Air Conditioning Filters Located in the Air Duct SystemCentral Air Return Registers and Filters on Air Conditioning or Heating Systems
Individual Room Air Returns and Filters on Air Conditioning or Heating SystemsIndividual room air returns - look in each room where there is an air conditioning supply register to see if the room also contains a return air registers. Since some rooms have multiple air supply registers and ducts we need to know how to distinguish a supply air register from a return air register. How to identify individual room supply air registers
Which way is the air blowing, in or out of a heating or cooling register?
How to identify individual room Return Air registersOnce you've located the air conditioning or heating air supply registers, look in the same room to see if there are other registers that collect return air to take it back to the air conditioning air handler. Return registers are usually louvered as well, but will normally not have adjustable openings that can be opened or closed. Main air filters are rarely installed on individual room return (or supply) air registers, but identifying the presence and the location of both supply and return air registers will help us understand whether or not the system uses central returns or individual room air returns, or a mix of both. That in turn will tell us whether or not to look for filters at central return registers. Individual air register filters: Sometimes you may see some filter like material installed right on individual air supply or air return registers in rooms. These are usually "add-on" products that occupants have installed, perhaps in complaint that the duct system itself is dirty and that central filters have proven ineffective, or people may install individual register filters out of a general anxiety about building indoor air quality. OPINION: individual air supply or return register air filters are either ineffective (not trapping much debris), or if they are effective, they are at risk of significantly reducing the air flow into the rooms where they are used, reducing the effectiveness of the cooling or heating system or increasing system operating costs. If the building duct system is so dirty that people are installing these filters it may be preferable to have the duct system professionally cleaned. If a building uses both supply and return air registers in every room, that is, if it is not using central air return registers at just a few locations, then the air filters for the system are most likely going to be found on or very close to the individual air handlers or blower units themselves. How to Find Air Filters Located At or Near Air Conditioning or Heating Air Handlers or Air Blower UnitsWhen air filters are not found at return registers in a building the most likely place for an air filter to be found is at or even inside the air handler itself. Some buildings use multiple air handlers, providing air conditioning and/or heating to individual floors or to different building areas on the same floor, so be sure you locate all of the air handlers or blower units in the building. How to find Air filters located at the return air plenum next to the air handler unitAt the blower unit observe that large ducts will be connected to bring return air from building return ducts into the blower unit and to send conditioned air (cooled or warmed) out of the blower unit into the building supply ducts. Look first outside the blower unit where return air is entering the blower cabinet. How to Identify Horizontal, Vertical, Up-Flow or Down-Flow Air Handlers or Blower UnitsAir handlers are installed either horizontally (in an attic or crawl space) or vertically (in a basement, high attic, or other building area). Photos of horizontal and vertical air handlers are shown in this article and at our website.
Other vertical air handlers may be a "down-flow" unit which has return air entering the top of the air handler or blower and conditioned air passing out into supply ducts connected at the bottom of the unit. Which side or end or top or bottom of the air handler blower has incoming return air and which has outgoing supply air?Follow the duct work: If you were able to spot central or room air registers inside the living space, at the air handler unit you should be able to spot where those ducts enter the air handler itself. That will tell you which end of the air handler has entering return air. Feel the outside temperature of duct work at the air handler: If you cannot determine where return air ducts are entering the air conditioning or heating air handler, if the system has been running in air conditioning mode the supply or outlet air end of the ducts connected to the air handler will be cool or even cold, and the return air end of the ducts connected to the air handler will be warmer to the touch. If the system has been running in heating mode, the supply or outlet air ends of the ducts connected to the air handler will be warm to the touch and the inlet or return air ducts will be cooler. How to find the Air Filter at but not inside of the Air Handler
How to find the Air Filter that is Located Inside of an Air Handler Blower Compartment
SAFETY WARNING - injury risk: when opening a blower cabinet, older units may lack a safety interlock switch that turns off power to the blower fan. Reaching inside of a blower cabinet when the fan is running is very dangerous as you can lose fingers in the spinning air conditioner blower assembly fan or its drive motor or belt. To be safe, turn off power to the unit before opening the blower compartment to inspect for and change a filter. Opening the blower compartment door on these systems will expose one or several filters which are simply set in place on a frame. Normally the filters are placed inside of this box in a location which will filter air before it reaches the blower fan itself. SAFETY WARNING - filter direction: be sure to place the new air filter properly into its slot (at the air handler) or grille (for ceiling or wall mounted central air return filters). The edge of most air filters has an arrow showing the intended direction of airflow through the filter. The filter is installed so that the arrow (and air flow) show air moving through the filter INTO the duct system (at a central air return grille) or INTO the air handler (for filters installed on the blower unit). This is important because many filters are reinforced to prevent the airflow from collapsing the filter material and drawing it right into the blower fan itself. A collapsed filter that is drawn into a blower fan can cause fan overheating and even a building fire. MAINTENANCE TIP: when inspecting the blower compartment interior of a central air conditioning or central heating air system look at the blower fan itself. Usually these are a round squirrel cage fan driven either directly by an electric motor or driven by a fan belt which is in turn connected to a pulley on a nearby electric motor. Use a good light to examine the blades of the blower fan itself. If the air conditioner or heating blower fan blades are clogged with dirt (or mold (as in this photo)) you should have the air handler unit thoroughly cleaned by a professional, including the fan blades themselves. We've seen a 100% improvement in air conditioning or heating airflow when a very dirty blower fan was cleaned. Of course a very dirty air filter will also slow air movement and increase operating cost in an air conditioning or heating system. Change the air conditioning or heating system air filters every month when the air conditioning system is in operation. Make sure you find all of the filters as some systems have multiple filters and even multiple types of filters installed, such as a fiberglass or pleated paper filter, a washable filter, and an electrostatic air cleaner. These last two are cleaned, not replaced, when they're dirty. After you have located the air filter(s) document the placement of the HVAC system air filters for future building owners, occupants, or repairmen. Knowing where the air filters are located, and that you've found all of them, eases air filter inspection and regular changing during the cooling or heating season. Each month during the heating or cooling season, inspect the air conditioning filter type and condition. What about air filters that are missing completely or are very dirty? What about other air filtration methods like electrostatic air cleaners, HEPA or high efficiency air filters, or UV light disinfection systems? What problems can a dirty or blocked air conditioner filter cause for the air conditioning system and how do we fix these snafus? That's what we'll cover in other sections of this article - see links below. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the location of air filters on air conditioning & heating systemsQuestion: Should I remove the air filter installed at the air handler and just filter at the return air inlets?
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AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
A/C - HEAT PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
A/C DATA TAGS
A/C - HEAT PUMP CRITICAL DEFECTS
A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs
A/C REFRIGERANTS
A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES
AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS
AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES
AGE of WATER HEATERS
AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART
AIR CONDITIONER COMPONENT PARTS
AIR CONDITIONER TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES
AIR CONDITIONER NOT WORKING
AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS
Air Filter Accessibility
Air Filter Bypass Leakage
Air Filter Installation Procedure
Build Large Air Filters
Air Filter Location
Dirty Air Filter Problems
ENERGY SAVINGS by AIR FILTERS
Air Filtering Strategies
Missing or Leaky Air Filters
AIR FILTERS, OPTIMUM INDOOR
Air Filter Efficiency
Optimum Air Filter Design / Location
How to Cascade Air Filters
CONTINUOUS BLOWER FAN OPERATION
AIR FILTER EFFECTIVENESS
MERV, HEPA Definitions
MERV Air Filter Ratings
How Air Filters Work
Particle Sizes & IAQ
Gasketed air filters
Debris in Return Air Plenum
Washable air filters
AIR FILTERING STRATEGIES
FIBERGLASS & AIR FILTERS
Air Filters Shed Fibers?
Fiberglass & Test Lab Accuracy
Variations in Fiber Size
SOURCES FOR AIR FILTERS
OTHER AIR CLEANERS
CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C
CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP
DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-BOILER
DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-FURNACE
DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS
DUCTS - Asbestos
DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC?
EDUCATION, HVAC SCHOOLS
ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE
ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH
ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT
ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings
EVAPORATOR COIL or COOLING COIL
EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS
EVAPORATOR COIL or COOLING COIL
EXPANSION VALVES, REFRIGERANT
FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT
FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch
FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT
FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS
FAN LIMIT SWITCH
FAN NOISES
FURNACES WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS
GASES, EXPOSURE, TESTING
Carbon Dioxide - CO2
Carbon Monoxide - CO
METHANE GAS SOURCES
GAS MEASUREMENT TOOLS
GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST
HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in buildings
HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) INDICATORS
HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION
HEAT PUMPS
HEATING SMALL LOADS
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
INSPECTION CHECKLIST - OUTDOOR UNIT
INSPECTION LIMITATIONS
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LOST COOLING CAPACITY
MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC
MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH
MOLD in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK
MOLD INFORMATION CENTER
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