Where to Find Air Filters for Your Air Conditioner in Fort Bend County

Replacing air filters in your air conditioner is one of the easiest maintenance tasks you can do. When done regularly, clean air filters keep your HVAC system clean and operating efficiently. We get a lot of questions about what kind of air filters to use and where to find them in Fort Bend County, Texas. Read on for ideas about how to find the best air filters for your central air and heating system to keep your air conditioner in top shape.

What kind of air filters do I need?

In general, we recommend disposable air filters that are about 8-11 MERV, designed for the residential market. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reported Values and refers to how efficient your filter is at capturing very small particles.

Air filters with higher MERV values capture very small particles, such as allergens and mold spores. Conversely, filters with low MERV values filter out larger particles – dust, hair, dander, etc. The drawback of picking an air filter with the highest MERV rating is that it restricts airflow. This can cause problems with your HVAC system later on.

Unresolved air restrictions that are severe can cause HVAC parts and motors to wear out sooner than normal and can cause the system to break down or freeze up. This is why we recommend air filters that are a happy medium, with good filtration and airflow.

ProTip: If you have a 4-5″ media filter in your furnace already, you don’t need additional air filters in the return air vents. We call this double-filtering and it will reduce the efficiency of your central air and heating system.

What size air filter do I need?

Air filters come in a variety of standard sizes, depending on the size of the air return vent(s) in your home.

Any brand that meets MERV requirements is good. We recommend 8-11 MERV pleated air filters in most cases.

Make sure you purchase the size filter that fits correctly in the return air vent, so it is snug but not too tight. If it fits too loosely, not all of the air will be filtered. Dirt and dust can get inadvertently sucked into your HVAC system to recirculate around the home.

An improperly fitted air filter can make indoor air quality suffer. Over long periods of time, the situation may result in your HVAC system benefiting from air duct cleaning.

Where do I find my return air vents?

Air return vents are typically located in the wall or a ceiling in most homes.

You can tell it is the right vent by paying attention to the airflow. When your system is on, air is drawn into the central air and heating system from return air vents. Generally, air filters are installed in return air vents.

By contrast, other registers and vents throughout the home will be pushing conditioned air in the other direction for distribution throughout the home.

Buy your air filters locally in Fort Bend

Are you a fan of buying local? If so, locally-owned hardware stores can be a good place to pick up air filters for your air conditioner. They all carry a good stock of different sizes of air filters. Here are hardware stores that are close by. We recommend calling ahead if you’re unsure if they carry the size filter you need. They may be able to special order it for you.

Purchase Air Filters from Fort Bend Home Improvement and Big Box Stores

When you’re out shopping, you can find air filters for your air conditioner at home improvement stores and big-box stores that have a lot of variety. Larger grocery stores also carry some of the sizes if your home uses the most popular air filter sizes. Many of these can be ordered and delivered curbside or online.

Lowe’s Home Improvement

  • Rosenberg – 28005 Southwest Fwy, Rosenberg, TX 77471
  • Sugar Land – 16510 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land, TX 77479
  • Missouri City – 3807 FM 1092 Rd, Missouri City, TX 77459
  • Cinco Ranch – 9505 Spring Green Boulevard, Katy, TX 77494
  • Katy – 19935 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77094

The Home Depot

  • Grand Parkway – 6850 S Fry Rd, Katy, TX 77494
  • Katy – 1111 N Fry Rd, Katy, TX 77449
  • Rosenberg – 24400 Commercial Dr, Rosenberg, TX 77471
  • Sugar Land – 15505 Sw Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478
  • Kingsbridge – 10419 Highway 6 South, Sugar Land, TX 77498
  • West Houston – 2828 South Highway 6, Houston, TX 77082
  • Missouri City – 5900 Hwy 6, Missouri City, TX 77459

Walmart

Target

  • Richmond/Grand Parkway SW – 10241 W Grand Pkwy S, Richmond, TX 77407
  • Katy (Cinco Ranch at Market Center) – 23710 Westheimer Pkwy, Katy, TX 77494
  • Rosenberg (Brazos Town Center) – 23912 Commercial Dr, Rosenberg, TX 77471
  • Sugar Land – 16300 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land, TX 77479
  • Missouri City – 6000 Hwy 6, Missouri City, TX 77459
  • Houston Far West (Market Square at Eldridge) – 2700 Eldridge Pkwy, Houston, TX 77082

Purchase air filters online

If you’re not interested in purchasing locally, you can always find air filter dealers online. FiltersFast.com is an American-owned filter distributor from Charlotte, North Carolina. They sell all sorts of filters from air filters for your HVAC system to pool/spa filters and more.

Alternately, if you subscribe to Amazon Prime, they can be another source of where to find and purchase air filters online. Use search terms similar to “pleated air filter 20x25x1” to find what you need fast.

Need a trusted HVAC partner?

You can learn more about maintaining your central air and heating system, including which tasks you can take on yourself and which require a licensed technician for thoroughness and safety. Replacing air filters is easy and relatively inexpensive to handle yourself.

Of course, having a trusted HVAC partner who lives in and serves Fort Bend County and nearby West Houston, Texas is a smart choice to keep plugged into your address book.

Learn more about Terry’s A/C & Heating and why customers choose us to professionally inspect, repair and maintain all makes and models of air conditioning and heating equipment. If you let us know what air filter sizes you need in advance, we can source them for you, deliver and install them on your upcoming visit. Give us a call at 281-495-7830 to schedule your service visit.

Image Credit: Terry’s A/C & Heating