If you’re like most people, chances are you don’t really care about details of your furnace as long as it does a good job of keeping you stable in any weather condition.
But if you want that good job to continue, you have to pay more attention to your furnace. If you don’t take care of it, sooner than later, it will malfunction and stop taking care of your home. So if you want to keep enjoying being warm during winter and cool during summer, take this point seriously.
An important step in maintaining your furnace is by cleaning or changing the filters every now and then. This task is not as easy as it seems, so I’ll give you everything you need to know about furnace filters. The information will help you pick the right filter in a sea of options out there. Let’s start with the function of a furnace filter.
What does a furnace filters do?
Contrary to the popular belief that the finance filter is meant to clean the air, the principal job of a filter is to protect the furnace’s blower fan from all forms of dirt that can possibly enter from the return ducts. It automatically means cleaner air, but that’s not the main function of a filter.
Types of furnace filters
- Disposable fiberglass filters – these filters are the cheapest you will find. They are not rated as high as other types and must be replaced more frequently than other types.
- Washable or permanent reusable filters – these filters last longer and are more effective than the disposable types. When maintained by checking and washing every 3 months, they can last for up to five years.
- Pleated filters – though not as costly as the permanent filters, they are more expensive than the fiberglass. They’re the most commonly used type of filters, and if you want to get the best out of them, clean every 30 days and replace every 90 days.
How to buy a good furnace filter
Buying a wrong filter can do a lot of harm to your furnace, to ensure you get the best, take a good look at the MERV rating. It’s usually between 1 to 16, and a higher number means the filter can remove more dirt.
Don’t rush to buy higher ratings though, as it is known to restrict airflow. Settle for a filter between 8 to 11 MERV rating. You can buy from websites such as https://www.mervfilters.com.
Replacing your furnace filter
Before you replace the filter, it’s good to vacuum the filter openings and corners of the furnace to prevent having a mess.
Now, get a bag and keep it close by, then carefully open the filter compartment door and take out the old one. Place it in the bag and dispose of it.
If you are using a washable filter, vacuum it and wash it well. Then leave it out to dry completely before putting it back into the furnace.
Make sure you face the arrow on the filter to the furnace side when you slide it in.
