When it comes to getting the most out of your furnace and maintaining your utilities– checking and changing your air filter is very important. Routinely replacing your furnace’s air filter prolongs the life of the furnace, as well as makes heating and cooling more efficient.
Not only does changing your filter make your house’s heating and cooling better, but it also saves a little money on your utility bills. Whether you don’t know how to replace your air filter, or how often to do it, following these easy steps will guide you through the process.
Change Your Filter Monthly
To avoid purchasing too many filters while still getting the best performance out of your furnace, you should change its air filter after about a month to three months. To determine whether or not it’s a good time to switch out for a new filter, all you have to do is follow a few easy steps:
Remove Your Filter
Turn off the furnace:
To take out your furnace’s filter, first, you need to switch off your furnace, so air isn’t blowing through while you’re replacing the filter. To turn off the furnace, all you have to do is turn the valve handle on the gas line leading into the furnace until it is perpendicular to the pipe.
Remove the filter cover:
Next, remove the cover in front of the filter. To do this, locate the skinny rectangular cover in between two sections of the furnace’s face and take it off. Some covers require a screwdriver to remove, but most are simple slide-off covers.
Remove the old filter:
Once the cover is removed and off to the side, slide the filter out from its slot and look at it. If you can still clearly see the light through the filter, then it’s still in good shape to use. If you can’t see the light through it, it’s time to replace it.
Put in Your New Filter
Check the new filter’s dimensions:
Dispose of your old filter. Make sure the brand new filter is the same size as your previous filter because filter sizes vary in width, length, and depth. Making sure the dimensions are correct will save a lot of hassle.
Put in the new filter in the right direction:
Once you’ve confirmed that your new filter is the right size, look for the arrow on the sides of it. Turn the filter so that the arrow is pointing in the direction of airflow and slide it straight into its slot. It should slide right in, but if it doesn’t after several times, check the dimensions again and make sure it is the right size corresponding to the furnace.
Put the filter cover back on:
Now that the new filter’s in place, you can put the cover back on. Screw it back on, or slide it back into place, whichever your model does. Once the cover’s back in place, you can turn the furnace back on.
Switch the furnace on:
With a new filter in your furnace, you can turn it back on. Just as you did to turn it off, you turn the handle so that it is in the position it was before you turned it off.
Another benefit of routinely changing out your Utah furnace filter is the improvement of your home’s indoor air quality. By keeping the air in your house clean from dust particles, you also lower the risk of respiratory complications in people with issues such as asthma and bronchitis.
As far as handling an old filter goes, you should avoid reusing or recycling one. Most filters are made out of Polyester fiber or fiberglass, and paper or cardboard. Polyester is only semi-recyclable, but fiberglass is not recyclable at all, so it won’t help to put the old filter in the blue bin. Besides, handling the dusty filters will force you to come into contact with the dust and the particles you were trying to avoid.
By following these simple steps, you’ll get the best out of your furnace’s air filter and improve your home’s air quality while reducing your costs.
