When and How to Change Your Furnace Filter

Taking care of your furnace can help quite a bit in the months in between furnace service appointments. One of the simplest, and essential, ways to take care of your furnace is in replacing your furnace filter. Having a filthy air filter may contribute to a number of adverse problems 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 change 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 replaced every month and 3 inch filters need to be replaced every three months, based on the recommendations of the filter company.
• Home habits: if you have pets in your home, it may make sense to change your filter more often because of pet dander. If someone in your family suffers from allergies or asthma, contemplate switching out your home’s air filter more regularly to help with their symptoms.

Now you’re possibly wondering how to change your furnace filter. Inevitably this will vary depending on what furnace you have, but normally: 

• Open or take off the air filter panel close to the bottom of your furnace to uncover an open compartment.
• On the top of that open compartment is where you’ll see your furnace filter resting on two metal brackets.
• There will be a small amount of space to move your filter back and forth that allows you to pull down 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 ensure you’re installing the filter in the proper direction. In the majority of cases, the arrow should point to the main part (or top) of the furnace.