Replacing the air filter is essential for extending the life of your furnace, reducing energy bills, and improving indoor air quality. Changing your air filter regularly can help your HVAC system work more efficiently and keep your home's air clean. The terms 'air filter', 'furnace filter', and 'HVAC filter' are all used interchangeably for the same filter if you have a central HVAC system. If you're unsure of how to replace your furnace filter, you can get help from a home protection plan.
They can provide you with the information, maintenance, and filters you need and show you how to do it. If anyone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma, you should change your furnace filter more often. Central forced-air heating and cooling systems rely on regular filter maintenance to work optimally in the long term. The types of air filters are based on the materials they are made from and the size of particles (measured in microns) that they effectively block.
Filter efficiency is also important and is expressed as MERV (Minimum Efficiency Report Value). If you wait too long to replace your furnace filter, it can cause health problems, broken furnace parts, system failures, and higher bills as the furnace is forced to work harder to pump air and achieve adequate airflow. For every furry family member living in your home, the lifespan of the filter is reduced by approximately 30 days, so you should change your furnace filters more often. When selecting a new filter, be sure to note the dimensions, thickness, and MERV of the existing filter before going to the hardware store.
Making sure your furnace filters are clean and changed regularly not only means having a cleaner, healthier home but also a utility bill that is between 5-15% lower. When you can replace the air filters in your home, you'll move towards cleaner air in every room. The main function of a furnace filter is to trap airborne contaminants not for air quality reasons but to keep them away from the heating and cooling system. Changing a household furnace filter regularly is the quickest and easiest way to ensure that the furnace is running smoothly and efficiently and to help purify the air in your home.
In larger homes, furnace filters are changed more frequently than in homes with only one or two occupants. If you have problems with air quality in the house, the furnace filter won't last as long as it does in a home with good indoor air quality. When looking at the filter replacement aisle at your local hardware store, you'll see that there are many options to choose from with different types of filters that influence how often they need to be changed.
