When and How to Change Your Furnace Filter

Caring for your furnace can go a long way in the time in between furnace service appointments. One of the simplest, and crucial, ways to take care of your furnace is in replacing your furnace filter. Having a clogged air filter may contribute to a variety of unfavorable concerns for your heating and cooling system, its efficiency, and ultimately, how much your energy expenses are month after month.

So what goes in to deciding when you should switch out your furnace filter?

• Type of filter: the two most common filter sizes are 1 inch and 3 inch filters. 1 inch filters usually need to be switched out every month and 3 inch filters should be replaced every three months, based on the recommendations of the filter maker.
• Home habits: if you have pets in your home, it might make sense to switch out your filter more often as a result of pet dander. If someone in your family has allergies or asthma, think about replacing your home’s air filter more regularly to help potentially decrease their symptoms.

Now you’re possibly wondering how to swap out your furnace filter. Obviously this will vary depending on what furnace you have, but usually: 

• Open or take off the air filter panel around the bottom of your furnace to expose an open compartment.
• On the top of that open compartment is where your furnace filter is resting on two metal supports.
• There will be a small amount of space to move your filter back and forth that allows you to remove one end of the filter and remove it from the compartment.
• When adding the new filter, look at the perimeter of the filter for an arrow that shows you the air flow direction, to make sure you’re installing the filter in the proper direction. In the majority of cases, the arrow should point at the main part (or top) of the furnace.