Yes. Every 3 to 9 months, it’s time to change your furnace air filter. Just as your car needs it’s oil changed, or your smoke detectors need new batteries, your furnace air filter needs to be changed or cleaned every 3 to 9 months. Why? Here are 3 reasons.
3 reasons to change or clean your air filter:
Easy airflow = longer life. Better airflow saves the life of your equipment. Whether you’re heating or cooling, air is drawn in and passed over the heat exchanger, and then pushed out into your home through a filter. The air filter catches things like hair and dust particles before they are put into the air you are breathing. As you can imagine, those filters get pretty clogged up. The more clogged they are, the harder your furnace has to work to push the air through. And the harder your furnace has to work, the shorter the life of your furnace will be.
Less energy = less money. A fresh filter saves energy and money. Just as it takes more energy to push open a door in a wind storm, it also takes more energy for your furnace to push air through a clogged filter. With buzz words such as, reduce your carbon footprint, and decrease greenhouse gasses, saving energy is not only admirable, but also quite fashionable these days. Keeping the air flowing easily through your filters will allow your furnace to consume only the energy it needs for optimal efficiency. And, not allowing for excess energy waste is not only better for the environment, but it’s also better for your wallet!
Clean filters = less unscheduled maintenance. With clean filters, you will reduce those annoying furnace breakdowns. Another undesired result of your furnace having to work harder due to clogged air filters, is the higher likelihood of breakdowns. If the heat exchanger is working too hard, it will get too hot. Newer furnaces monitor the heat exchanger temperature through a control that will shut the furnace down before it gets too hot. This feature will save your furnace from overheating and causing major damage, but it can be very inconvenient when you are left without heat. If this happens, you’ll need to call for a service repair in order for your furnace to work again.
Is changing my furnace air filter every 3 to 9 months really necessary?
Depending on the manufacturer, the recommended time frames vary from 3 to 9 months. A good way to remember, is to change and/or clean your air filter when you change your clocks according to day light savings. Many people use that as a reminder to change their smoke detector batteries too. Why not add your air filter to that to-do list? Put it on your calendar. It will save the life of your furnace, save you money, and save you from the headache of breakdowns when you least expect it!
How do I change my furnace air filter?
If you have reusable filters, you will just need to take them out and spray them with a hose. Your Genesee Energy service tech can show you how to do this next time you have your furnace serviced. Contact us for an appointment. If you have the disposable filters, you can buy them online at discountfilters.com or Amazon.com. Or you will also find air filters in hardware stores such as Lowes or Home Depot.
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