When was the last time you checked on your furnace filter? Not so sure? Then it is high time you did. Replacing your furnace filter is straightforward and very important. This is an important part of an average homeowner’s ‘honey-do’ list. Running efficiently on a clean furnace filter will save you money and keep your home comfortable and cozy.

Why Your Furnace Filter Needs to Be Replaced

It’s a bigger deal than you might realize—changing your furnace filter regularly can also save you money in the long run. A dirt-clogged filter makes your furnace work harder, resulting in higher energy bills or even system breakdowns. By going through the process of keeping your furnace filter clean, what you get is not just the maintenance of your heating system, but a clean home air supply and maybe an extended life span of your furnace.

What Does a Furnace Filter Do?

Your furnace filter is one of the most important parts of your home heating system; in essence, it filters dust, pollen, and other particulates suspended in the air going through your furnace. This will help clean the air inside your home while preventing the same particles from reaching and accumulating in your furnace. Furnace filters have nothing to do with heating because clean filters allow unobstructed air passage. What this means is that your furnace has to do much less work when it comes to heating up your home, because there will be no blocked-off or partially blocked-off venting that can occur with dirty filters.

Some Facts About Filters For Your Furnace

They come in various sizes and types so that they match and fit appropriately in various models and makes of furnaces. This means you want to make sure you know the make and model of your furnace so that you can get the appropriate filter replacement for your furnace.
These days there aren’t just disposable filters for furnaces. Depending on how new your furnace is, you may be able to purchase a filter that is washable and able to be reused several times before you need to purchase a replacement filter.
Their efficiency is measured in terms of their MERV rating – that is, Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. An ineffective filter can cause a decline in the efficiency of your furnace.

When to Check and Replace Your Furnace Filter

How often replacement of your furnace filter will be necessary depends on use, type of furnace filter installed, the home environment, and how frequently and for how long the heating system is operated. As a general suggestion, your furnace filter should be checked at least once a month during the heating season. There are different factors that go into the frequency you should check and replace the filter in your furnace.

If Your Furnace Uses a 1″ Thick Filter

Assuming you have a 1-inch thick furnace filter, it should typically be replaced every 1 to 3 months. Because this kind of filter has less surface area, they have a tendency to get clogged relatively fast; therefore, lots of dust and other particles will be stuck to the filter and not let other particles come in, weakening the efficiency of the filter. Changing this type of filter with regularity will serve as a measure to retain proper airflow and at the same time ensure your heating system works efficiently.

If Your Furnace Uses a 4″ Thick Filter

If you are using a 4-inch thick furnace filter, you can usually replace it within 6 to 12 months of use. They provide more surface area, where particles in the air can be collected, thus staying longer in active service compared to thin filters. It’s still well worth checking on them periodically, though, to make sure they are not clogged up and working well.

Houses with pets or allergies

If you have a house with pets or someone in your family who is allergic, you should check your furnace filter more often for replacement. This filter could efficiently get clogged with pet hair, dander, and other allergens, causing airflow to lessen and, in turn, lowering air quality. In such a situation, you have to consider doing a filter check on a monthly basis and changing it as soon as it starts worrying you in order to support good habitation.

Again, these are just general guidelines. The best way to know if you need to change your furnace filter is to monitor it. If it’s dirty or clogged, then change it.

4 Signs That You Might Want to Check the Furnace Filter More Often

There are also times when your furnace will let you know that you should monitor your filter more consistently. Take the following as red flags:

Sign 1. There’s More Dust in Your Home Than Usual

If you notice that there is too much dust on every surface of your room every time you’re cleaning, then it’s high time to point out a clogged air filter on your furnace as the likely culprit. A dirty filter cannot trap the airborne particles in the air and may enable the circulation of excess dust throughout your home. Of course, inspect and install a new furnace filter so as to help reduce dust and improve the air quality inside your home.

Sign 2. Your Utility Bills Are Knocking You Off Your Feet

Are your energy bills creeping up without a clear reason? The energy bills may be creeping up because a dirty furnace filter can overload your heating system and increase energy consumption. Your furnace strains a lot more to be able to push air through the clogged filter, which consumes extra energy and ends up raising your energy bills. Having a clean furnace filter helps maintain efficiency and lowers energy costs.

Sign 3. Weak Airflow from Your Vents

If you have been experiencing weak air from your vents, the filter in your furnace may be to blame. Clogged furnaces lower the airflow in your heating system, which is quite inconvenient because the system struggles to send the warm air around your house to heat it. In that regard, cold spots are bound to be evident in some sections of your residence, and the feeling is quite uncomfortable. Make a point of regularly checking your furnace filters so that you are assured of adequate airflow and comfort.

Sign 4. Your Furnace is Running More Than Normal

Is your furnace running more often than usual? This easily could be a sure sign your furnace’s filter isn’t clean and desperately needs replacing. Although it won’t cause damage, a rugged furnace filter will hold your heater laboring away over the set target temperature and be the victim of needed wear and tear unnecessarily. This will help your system run more efficiently and reduce its workload.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it means it’s time to inspect the filter in your furnace, as it might be to blame.

How to Inspect The Filter in Your Furnace

Inspecting the filter in your furnace is quite easy and takes just a few minutes. Here’s how you do it in just a few steps:

Locate your furnace filter. It’s typically positioned in a slot near the bottom of your blower compartment.
Remove the filter and hold it up to the light.
If you are unable to see light pass through it, then it is already time to replace the filter.

When adding a new filter for the furnace, just make sure the new one is installed facing the correct direction. Ordinarily, an arrow is posted on the filter case, as it is on this home furnace filter, showing the proper direction of airflow.

Don’t Neglect Your Furnace Maintenace Or Filter Changes

It’s just a small job, but it really can be a big deal in how comfortable your home will be and how far you can stretch your heating system’s efficiencies. Checking your furnace filter is a small task that can be one of the huge ways you can make sure your heating system runs well, the air is clean, and the energy bills are kept in check. So, has it been a while since you’ve checked your furnace filter? Why not check it out today? Your furnace will thank you and you can avoid getting stuck in the cold this winter.

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Has Your Furnace Filter Been Replaced Recently? If Not, It Absolutely Must Checked Before Winter.