You probably don’t think about your furnace every day, even while you’re enjoying the comfort it produces, so it’s understandable that the simple task of changing the filter in your furnace is so easy to forget. But because it’s also so important, make sure to plan for it. Keeping your filter fresh will help keep your equipment working at its highest efficiency.
Check your furnace filter monthly. You may need to change it that often, depending on the type of filter you use and how often your furnace is running. Some filter manufacturers recommend changing the filter every three months or as needed, but a monthly check is still good preventive care.
A good rule of thumb in determining whether the filter in your furnace needs changing is to hold the filter up to the light after removing it. If you can’t clearly see the light, it’s time to change the filter.
A dirty air filter will cut down on air flow to your furnace, which will make it work harder and lead to poor performance, high energy bills and eventual breakdowns. It also will result in dirtier air, as dust and debris get blown past the clogged filter and into your indoor air and onto system components.
What type of filter should you buy? That depends on your needs and desires:
- To simply keep dirt out of the blower motor, you can buy an inexpensive fiberglass filter.
- To cut down on airborne dust, you can use a one-inch disposable filter – the standard pleated filter.
- To remove smaller particles, go with an electrostatically charged fiber filter.
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) ratings indicate the particle size the filter will remove. The glass fiber filters are rated from MERV 1-4 and remove particles of 10 microns and larger. The pleated filters range from Merv 5-8 and remove down to 3.0 microns, while Merv 9-13 and MERV 13-16 filters remove to 1.0 and 0.3 respectively. As you move higher on the MERV scale, the likelihood increases that the filter will impede airflow. Consult with your trusted HVAC technician to find the ideal filter for both your furnace and your air quality expectations.
Keeping up with filter changes is part of a healthy home and family. We’ll be glad to tell you more; just contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. We’ve been serving the Dayton area since 1948.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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