When and How to Change Your Furnace Filter

Maintaining your furnace can help quite a bit in the months in between furnace service appointments. One of the most basic, and essential, ways to maintain your furnace is in replacing your furnace filter. Having a clogged air filter can contribute to a variety of unfavorable concerns for your heating and cooling system, its efficiency, and ultimately, how much you’re spending on your energy bills month after month.

So what goes in to determining 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 normally need to be replaced every month and 3 inch filters ought to be swapped out every three months, dependent on the recommendations of the filter manufacturer.
• Home habits: if you have pets in your home, it could make sense to replace your filter more often as a result of pet dander. If someone in your family suffers from allergies or asthma, consider switching out your home’s air filter more frequently to help ease their symptoms.

Now you’re likely wondering how to swap out your furnace filter. Inevitably this will change depending on what furnace you have, but usually: 

• Open or remove 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 supports.
• There will be a bit of space to move your filter back and forth that allows you to remove one end of the filter and take it out of the compartment.
• When adding the new filter, look at the perimeter of the filter for an arrow that specifies the air flow direction, to ensure you’re installing the filter in the correct direction. In most cases, the arrow should point at the main part (or top) of the furnace.