Replacing your furnace air filter is essential for the comfort of your home and the efficiency of your HVAC system. A clogged filter can make the system inefficient, harm your health, reduce the life of your system, and increase your maintenance costs. The primary purpose of a furnace air filter is to trap airborne contaminants and keep them out of the heating and cooling system. This helps to improve air quality in your home.
Unfortunately, changing furnace filters is a home maintenance task that is often forgotten, which can put your system, comfort, and budget at risk. Clogged air filters can cause significant damage to your HVAC system. Dirt on the filter prevents air from flowing through the unit, leading to overheating and malfunction. Replacing air filters regularly can extend the life of your system and improve air quality in your home.
A dirty filter is the most common cause of breakdowns in the heating and air conditioning system. If the furnace filter becomes clogged, less air circulates and you may find that surfaces are dirtier than normal. Generally, you should change a basic fiberglass furnace filter every one to two months and paper furnace filters every four months or a year. Use a filter with a MERV rating of 12, such as the Nordic Pure filter (available on Amazon), if your furnace can do so.
Because filters with higher MERV ratings are denser, your furnace must work harder to draw air through them and not all furnaces are powerful enough to do so. Honeywell Ultra Efficiency filters (also available on Amazon) have more square inches of space to trap dust, so they often require fewer changes, usually every 90 days. Changing furnace filters regularly has a big impact on home comfort and indoor air quality, as well as the performance, energy efficiency and longevity of your HVAC system. Make sure you remember to perform this essential household maintenance task to keep your home comfortable and safe.
