Can’t seem to keep your furnace air filter in place? Most furnaces feature a dedicated slot for the air filter. Located near the blower, it plays an essential role in cleaning indoor air. Conditioned air will flow through this slot before entering the ductwork. The air filter in this slot will remove dust, dander, pollen, mold and other contaminants from the air.
Even if you installed it correctly, though, the air filter may not stay in place. It may fall out of your furnace’s slot, or the air filter may get sucked into the ductwork.
Check the Size
If your furnace air filter won’t stay in place, you should check the size. Air filters are available in different sizes. The size of an air filter is represented by three numbers. The first number is the air filter’s length. The second number is the air filter’s width. The third number is the air filter’s depth. A 14X20X1 air filter, for instance, is 14 inches long, 20 inches wide and 1 inch deep.
Different furnaces support air filters of different sizes. Using the wrong size may result in your air filter falling out. If it’s too small, it will fit loosely in your furnace’s slot. The air filter may then fall out.
Consider the Static Pressure
Assuming the air filter is the right size for your furnace, it shouldn’t fall out. If it continues to fall out, negative static pressure could be to blame.
Static pressure is air resistance. If there’s too much negative static pressure in the ductwork, it may create a strong pulling force on the air filter. It will pull the air filter into the ductwork. Rather than staying in your furnace’s slot, the air filter will get pulled into the adjacent ductwork.
Change the Air Filter
Dirty air filters may not stay in place. Air filters work by catching particular matter in the air. As air flows through them, the filters will catch and hold particulate matter.
Air filters don’t last forever. The longer an air filter goes unchanged, the more debris it will contain. All of this particulate matter-based debris may then restrict the flow of air. When you turn on your furnace, the dirty air filter may move around due to all of this debris. For proper airflow, try to get into the habit of changing the air filter in your furnace once every few months.
Why Your Gas Fireplace Is Beeping (and What You Should Do About It)
Upon hearing an unfamiliar beeping sound, many homeowners assume a smoke detector or carbon monoxide (CO) detector is to blame. Smoke and CO detectors are battery powered. As their batteries begin to die, they’ll beep. But unfamiliar beeping noises aren’t limited to smoke detectors or CO detectors. Gas fireplaces can beep as well.
Backup Ignition Module
Your gas fireplace may beep if it features a battery-powered backup ignition module. Many newer gas fireplaces don’t require manual lighting. Rather, they feature an electronic ignition system. When turned on, they draw electricity to create a spark, which then ignites the natural gas.
The problem with electronic ignition systems, though, is that they are susceptible to power outages. If the power goes out in your home, you won’t be able to use your gas fireplace – at least not with the electronic ignition system. Some gas fireplaces are designed with a battery-powered backup ignition module as an alternative ignition method. They will draw electricity from a set of batteries to create a spark.
If the batteries in a backup ignition module begin to die, the gas fireplace may beep. Therefore, you should consider replacing the batteries if you hear a beeping sound originating from your gas fireplace. Most backup ignition modules require two D-cell batteries. Removing the old batteries and replacing them with new batteries should eliminate the beeping sound.
Remote Control
Your gas fireplace may beep due to a dying remote control. Some gas fireplaces are remote-controlled. You turn them on and off – as well as adjust the size of the flame – via a remote. If the batteries in the remote are about to die, you may hear a beeping noise.
Like with a backup ignition module, you can replace the batteries in the remote to eliminate the beeping sound. New batteries should disable the beeping noise.
Keep in mind that the receiver box may contain batteries as well. The receiver box is designed to receive the signals sent by the remote. When you press a button on the remote, it will send a signal to the receiver box. Receiver boxes may contain their own batteries. And if the batteries in the receiver box are about to die, you may hear a beeping noise.
Gas fireplaces can beep for different reasons, most of which involve dead or dying batteries. If you hear a beeping noise, you should check the backup ignition module, the remote and the receiver box.
