Let’s Talk Dirty Furnace Filters

Want in on a dirty little secret? A less-than-pristine furnace filter could be costing you. Furnaces with dirty filters or ducts waste energy and money, shorten the life of your furnace, and pollute your indoor air. The good news? Cleaning up your furnace’s act starts with changing the filter regularly.

It is recommended that you change your filters at least every 3 months, but the more people and pets you have in your home, the more you should think about changing your filters. All of the air in your home passes through your furnace filter so if you have a family member with allergies, it is recommended to change your furnace filter as much as once a month.

How to do it

First of all, you need to remember to change your filter on a regular basis, try scheduling a monthly reminder to help you remember to check your filter monthly and change it when it’s dirty.

Your furnace manufacturer should have instructions on how to find and change the filter for your system. A quick Google search can help you find the exact details for your system.

Here’s an overview of what you will need to do:

1. Your furnace filters will either be located in your return vents or some HVAC systems have two filters located within the actual furnace.
2. Note the filter size. This is usually printed on the cardboard frame. We recommend stocking up on new ones when you go to the hardware store so that you don’t have to run to the store each time you want to change your filter.
3. When installing your new filters, make sure to note which direction they should be installed in. To ensure proper airflow, the arrow on the edge of the filter should be pointing towards the blower motor.