Importance of Changing Your Furnace Filter

Breath Easier - Stay Safer

Everyone enjoys curling up on a cold winter night. So what happens if you haven’t taken care of your home’s furnace and it stops working? It is so important to change your furnace filter regularly. A dirty filter can make your furnace overheat, become clogged, start a fire or simply make your furnace shut off. Filters even clean the air that your family breathes. So with winter right around the corner, now is the time to change your furnace filter.

First thing you want to do is inspect and replace. If you cannot see light through the filter, then it is time to replace. Filters should be cleaned or replaced at least every three months. If you have smokers or pets in the home, you may have to clean or replace your filter more often. The same is true for those homes located near dirt roads or dusty environments. Some people can get away with replacing their filter once per season. It all depends on your home and your family which is why it is important to inspect the furnace filter monthly.

To inspect or replace your filter, make sure the furnace is turned off. Find the service panel on the furnace’s lower front or side. Then gently pop off or slide up the panel door with your hands. Locate the furnace filter. Check to see if it has brown, dusty build up on the mesh screen. If so, then you need to clean or replace the filter. Plastic frame or metal frame filters can be sprayed off with a garden hose. The disposable cardboard filters should be thrown away and replaced by a new one. Do not use your furnace until you have cleaned or replaced your filter.

Furnace’s keep us warm in the winter. They keep our water pipes from freezing. Dirty filters can cause your furnace to overheat and catch on fire. A clean, effectively working furnace also lowers your energy cost. Changing the furnace filter is the cheapest and easiest thing you can do to maintain your furnace. Don’t be one of those homeowners who find out the hard way that their filter needed to be replaced. Check your filter and replace it often.