Furnace Filter “Airflow” Direction
January 3, 2020
Which Direction Should My Furnace Filter Go In?
The Quick Answer
Let’s cut straight to the chase - all of our furnace filters and most filter brands stamp their filters with a pointing arrow stamped “Air Flow”. Air flow means toward and into the furnace. So, the arrow should be pointing right at your furnace as shown in the photo above.
Being in field technicians we frequent hundreds of homes per year and find a great percentage of home owners are installing their filter in the wrong direction. Furnace filters are manufactured with a pointing arrow and are stamped “Air Flow”. A lot of homeowners are wondering “What direction does the arrow go in?”. The arrow direction is very important to get right because if you install your filter in the right direction your blower motor will run with a higher efficiency. If installed in the wrong direction you will experience inefficiency and poor air quality.
Why is direction important?
Furnace filters are designed for air flow only in one direction this way dust does not build up on or get into the blower motor and the mechanical system. There are is a major benefit in clarifying in what direction to install your furnace filter. It often seems to be a tiny mishap however there are major disadvantages to installing your furnace filter the wrong way. Avoid the direction mishap and take full advantage of saving money with high efficiency, great air quality and protection for your furnace and air conditioner.
The direction of a pleated filter is critical. If you take a visit into your mechanical room and find that dust is building up on the metal mesh side of the filter, then your furnace filter is installed incorrectly. The metal mesh side of the furnace filter is the filter backside and the air should flow through and into the front side. Take the filter out, look for an arrow and make sure the arrow is pointing towards the furnace as illustrated in the photo above. Do not be afraid to be creative and perhaps take out a marker and mark the correct direction.
Reusable Filters
Many homeowners have furnace filters which are reusable. Therefore, this requires taking out the old filter, cleaning it and reinstalling. The first time may be a bit tricky and we always advise homeowners that if they are unsure they should snap a quick photo before taking anything out to making reinstallation easier. Always make sure your filter cabinet door is closed and sealed properly.
In Conclusion
Furnace filters are critical to change and cost money. So, we highly recommend taking a few minutes out periodically to check out your furnace filter and make sure everything is installed correctly. If you’d like to read our article on when you should change your furnace filter click here. Of course, always make note of the last time you changed your furnace filter. If you would like to read our article on how often you should be changing your furnace filter click here.
Contact Us
If you are confused or have any questions feel free to send us a photo of your filter and one of our team members would be glad to reach out to you. Contact Us here.
