As the height of heating season approaches, you may start to think more about how to save heating costs and improve the air quality in your home since you may be spending more time indoors. Replacing your furnace's filter is one of the best and easiest things you can do to save money and keep your indoor air clean.
Furnace filters are your home's first line of defence against allergens, dust, and other airborne particles. They also protect your furnace's fans and heating coil from potential damage caused by these particles. So let's take a closer look at the benefits of regularly checking and replacing your furnace's filters.
- Protection from Airborne Particles. Your furnace works by pulling cool air from your home into the vents and furnace where it is heated and sent back out. The filters protect the fans and heating coils from being damaged by particles that get pulled in with the cool air. A filter's main purpose is the protection of these mechanical parts, and cleaning air is only a side effect. As the filter becomes dirty, your furnace must work harder to pull in the cool air. This results in possible damage to the furnace and a reduced lifespan.
- Improved Furnace Efficiency = Cost Savings. As mentioned above, when your filter becomes dirty the furnace must work much harder to pull in cool air. This means your furnace is not working as efficiently resulting in higher heating costs. Not to mention the cost of repairing/replacing parts more often as they break down.
- Improved Air Quality. A nice added benefit of furnace filters is the improved air quality of your home. There are different types of filters available on the market ranging from basic fiberglass to electrostatic and HEPA filters which filter out smaller particles like cigarette smoke and bacteria.
How Often to Replace Your Filter
The frequency at which you replace your filter will depend on the furnace and your home. Some things that might affect how often you need to replace the filter are:
- How many animals you have in the home
- If anyone smokes inside
- How often you have the furnace running
- How dusty your home is
- How often you have windows and doors open
A general guideline is to replace your filter every 2-3 months. For those with smokers inside or more pets, you may want to replace every month. Always check your furnace manuals to see if your furnace requires a particular replacement schedule.
Georgian Duct Cleaning is a family owned business in Simcoe County with over 20 years experience working with residential, commercial and industrial HVAC ducts. Call us for a free quote or for more information. (705) 722-5952 Or 1-800-363-2563