When and How to Change Your Furnace Filter

Caring for your furnace can help quite a bit in the time in between furnace service appointments. One of the simplest, and essential, ways to take care of your furnace is in changing your furnace filter. Having a filthy air filter could contribute to a number of unfavorable problems for your heating and cooling system, its efficiency, and ultimately, how much you’re spending on your energy bills every month.

So what goes in to consideration when you should change your furnace filter?

• Type of filter: the two most common filter sizes are 1 inch and 3 inch filters. 1 inch filters normally need to be replaced every month and 3 inch filters need to be changed every three months, dependent on the recommendations of the filter company.
• Home habits: if you have pets in your home, it might make sense to replace your filter more often due to pet dander. If someone in your family suffers from allergies or asthma, contemplate replacing your home’s air filter more regularly to help potentially decrease their symptoms.

Now you’re probably wondering how to replace your furnace filter. Obviously this will vary depending on what furnace you have, but usually: 

• Open or take off the air filter panel near the bottom of your furnace to uncover an open compartment.
• On the top of that open compartment is where you’ll see your furnace filter resting on two metal lips.
• There will be a little space to move your filter back and forth that allows you to bring down one end of the filter and pull it out of the compartment.
• When adding the new filter, look at the perimeter of the filter for an arrow that indicates the air flow direction, to ensure you’re installing the filter in the correct direction. In the majority of cases, the arrow should point towards the main part (or top) of the furnace.