How to Install a Home Air Filter
- 1). Locate your main air return. This is a large vent that will be located close to your furnace or air-handling unit. Examine the front of the vent cover to see how it comes off. Some models may simply latch on using metal tabs that can be lifted with your fingers, while others may be screwed into place. Lift the tabs or remove the screws, and set the vent cover aside. You will now have access to the filter.
- 2). Remove the filter by sliding it straight up and out of its holder. Discard it immediately to avoid confusing it with the new one. Take off any protective wrap or film from the new filter and slide it into place the same way the old one came out. Replace the vent cover and press it into place until the tabs click back in, or put the screws back in with the screwdriver.
- 3). Make a note on the calendar of when you replaced the filter, and mark a date in the future to replace it. Though six months is the standard, you may wish to change it sooner for optimal efficiency. If you live in a high-dust environment, or have pets, you may have to replace the filter as often as every month. You can tell when the filter needs replaced by doing a visual inspection. When the surface looks like it has a layer of dust on it, it's time for a new one.
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