Few home maintenance tasks are easier to accomplish and easier to forget than changing your furnace filter. Frigid winters like the ones in Scranton, PA, can be a stark reminder of the importance of this task. If a dirty filter causes your heating system to struggle, your warm home can cool down in a hurry!
How Often to Replace Furnace Filters
Most people aren’t sure how often they should replace their furnace filters. The simplest answer is that you should swap your filter every 90 days, but the more accurate answer is, “It depends.”
Several factors can determine how frequently you should change your filter. These can include:
- The size of your home
- The air quality where you live
- How many pets you have (if any)
- The thickness of your filter
A larger house may need to have its filters replaced more frequently than a smaller house. Similarly, if you have multiple cats or dogs in your home, you will need to change your filters more frequently. A thicker furnace filter can be replaced less frequently because of its increased surface area.
What Exactly Does a Furnace Filter Do?
A furnace filter is made from cotton or fiberglass mesh material. They are designed to keep dust and debris out of your furnace. With time, manufacturers have enhanced filter design to create products that not only keep your furnace protected, but also improve the air quality in your home.
What If I Don’t Change My Furnace Filter Often Enough?
If your filter is not changed regularly, it could damage your furnace and negatively impact your home’s air quality.
Furnaces that are trying to pump air through a clogged filter have to work harder. This can shorten the life of your furnace and cause your electric bills to be higher. Filters that are very dirty stop trapping airborne particles, and those particles end up back in the air you breathe.
How Do You Know What Kind of Furnace Filter Replacement to Use?
Your filter should have its dimensions – the length, width, and thickness – printed on its frame. Make sure you buy a filter with the same dimensions.
Something else to watch for when you’re buying your replacement filter in Scranton, PA, is a number that identifies the new filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). A higher MERV number indicates a filter is more efficient and will better trap airborne debris. Filters with a MERV lower than 8 will still protect your furnace, but a value greater than 8 can improve your air quality.
How Do You Change Your Furnace Filter?
Changing furnace filters is easy. Unlatch or unscrew the cover, remove your older one, and place your new furnace filter in its place.
Count on T.E. Spall & Son for Your Furnace Needs,
If you have questions about your furnace, reach out to T.E. Spall & Son today for assistance. Our heating experts can guide you through the process of changing your filter. We can help you to make sure you’re using the best furnace filter for your needs.
Contact us online or give us a call at (570) 281-0155 for more information or to schedule an appointment for furnace service in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, or the surrounding Pennsylvania areas.
