Replace Your Furnace Filters Often To Extend The Life Of Your Furnace

Furnaces and air conditioning systems rely on furnace filters to keep the system clean and to keep the air in your home pure. These filters are an effective way to remove dust, pollen and debris from the air so that it is not deposited into the heating or cooling coils and so that it is not deposited into your lungs. A good filter will help to keep your home free from dust and cleaner. It will also increase the life of a furnace or air conditioner. Dirty filters cost you money in heating and cooling bills.

After living in a home for a while, you will begin to get a sense of how often you need to check the furnace filter. For the first few months, you may need to make monthly checks, then you will know how often the furnace needs to be changed.

Here is how to clean or replace your furnace filter. Begin by turning off the system. You can do this at the thermostat or at your circuit breaker box. Next, you will need to locate the filter. Some filters are located just behind the air return duct and others are located in the furnace or HVAC system itself. If the filter is in the unit, you will need to remove a service panel.

Once you have removed the filter check to see if you can see light through it. If you cannot see light clean or replace the filter.

There are two basic types of furnace filters. The permanent filters have a metal or a fiberglass frame. Disposable filters have cardboard frames. While disposable filters may be cheaper in the beginning, monthly replacement may eventually cost you more. On the other hand, permanent filters cost more initially, but will not need to be replaced. They do require monthly cleaning however.

Be sure that you note the filter size before shopping for replacements. Look for the MERV rating. The higher MERV rating indicates a more effective furnace filter. This rating is an effective way to choose furnace filters.

Most disposable filters rely on mechanical forces to trap particles in a mesh. These disposable filters are inexpensive, but not very effective at capturing many allergens in the home. This type of filter requires changing once per month.

Electrostatic filters are somewhat more effective at removing the particles from the air. Most are considered permanent filters and have the metal frame or fiberglass frame. They do need to be cleaned at once every three months.

Electronic filters are very efficient. They do not have fibers but a grid of wires that are electrically charged to attract the debris. These filters are so efficient that they have to be cleaned once a week.

The most efficient filters are HEPA filters, however they are expensive and normally only used in special places such as hospitals, operating rooms or laboratories. These filters are so effective that they rate off the MERV scale so the filters do not have a rating.

If you have a furnace or an air conditioning system, your system will have some sort of furnace filter. These furnace filters help to remove pollen, debris and particles from the air before it enters the furnace or HVAC system.