How Tin I Tell That My Filter Needs to be Changed?

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Signs your furnace filter needs irresolute:

  • The filter is noticeably gray in color, and you can see dirt and dust built up on the filter media.
  • Your home is dustier than usual.
  • Your heating or cooling system is cycling longer than it usually does.
  • Your electric current filter has been in use longer than the manufacturer'southward recommendation (anywhere from one to six months, depending on your filter).

Why Modify Your Furnace Filter

The furnace filter is a key role player in home comfort and indoor air quality. Changing your furnace filter regularly offers the following benefits for homeowners:

  • Better organisation performance: The furnace filter is an integral component of your heating and cooling system. When the furnace filter is muddy and clogged with contaminants, air cannot broadcast properly through the arrangement. Your equipment will work harder to move air, stressing the system. This can cause breakdowns and overheating. A clean, regularly changed air filter allows air to move properly through your system and keeps out contaminants, keeping your equipment healthier.
  • Meliorate comfort: If a chock-full air filter doesn't allow air to circulate through your HVAC system properly, it is also restricted from inbound your home. A dirty air filter can limit the amount of conditioned air moving into your home, causing discomfort.
  • Better energy efficiency: A dirty furnace filter burdens your organization in the ways mentioned in a higher place. Components are working harder, meaning they are drawing more energy to do the work – with a clean air filter, less energy is consumed, making your heating and cooling systems more than efficient.
  • Better indoor air quality: Your furnace filter removes airborne contaminants, pulling them from the air before information technology circulates back to your living areas. If your filter is dirty, it will be unable to capture contaminants properly, so more than volition be left in the air you breathe. Airborne contaminants can cause health and allergy bug, equally well as brand your home appear dirtier.

How Often Practise I Need to Change My Furnace Filter?

The frequency of filter changes needed volition depend on the recommendation of the filter'south manufacturer, its efficiency, your HVAC organization use, and characteristics of your household.

  • Filters with low MERV ratings will need changing more than oftentimes than high-efficiency filters.
  • Check your filter's packaging to see how oft the manufacturer recommends replacing the filter with a new i.
  • Furnace filters typically require more frequent changing during periods where your HVAC system is in use more often. During the peak of summer and middle of winter, your air conditioner and furnace are running more than they are during jump and fall, so more air is passing through the filter and more contaminants are being removed. Information technology'due south smart exercise to check your filter monthly during periods of high system use, and supervene upon it as you notice buildup.
  • If there are pets or smokers in your household, your filter will likely crave more frequent changes. There are more than contaminants in your home – pet hair, pet dander, and smoking byproducts – so filters become clogged at a faster charge per unit than a habitation without pets or smokers.