Dirty furnace filters or super thick filters not only increase furnace wear and tear, but also fail to keep dust and allergens from circulating through your home. Changing filters every three months is the rule, however, during a typical Kansas City winter, filters may need changing more often since the furnace is running for longer periods of time.
One-inch filters are the norm. However, many people are using the thicker, pleated filters like the 3M ultra-allergen version which offer the most health benefits. They also have limitations. They require changing more often because they get dirty quicker, causing your furnace to work harder to push air through. Regardless, health benefits should outweigh functional limitations when it comes to the air you and your family breath.
Another option for trapping dust and allergens is investing in a four-inch filter. Lennox offers a hospital grade, four-inch filter that catches bacteria and viruses. They can be pricey, but worth the cost if you have certain health issues that are worsened by dust and allergens. Installing a four-inch filter requires our residential heating technicians to reconfigure your filter slot to accommodate the larger size and add a door to enclose the filter. It’s a pretty quick and simple process.
Be sure you know what type of filter your particular unit uses. With hundreds of different filters on the market, there are tons of filter replacement options available. Ordering the wrong filter is a waste of time and will only land you in trouble with your heating unit.
When it comes to changing air filters in furnaces, there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to install them. An improperly installed filter causes the unit to work harder than usual. When a machine is overworked, it will decrease its lifespan. Efficiency drops and the unit will end up spiking your energy bills.
Be sure to install the filter with the porous side facing out. Without this tiny detail, the filter will just be blocking the space where the furnace delivers air. Learning how to replace a furnace filter can save you money over time, so take the time to read your operator’s manual. If you can’t find it, do a Google search for your make and model and see if someone in cyberspace has a copy.
Most filters have indicator marks pointing the way, but some do not. Open the package and take a hard look at the filter to see if there are indicator marks to guide you during installation. These marks will show you how to replace your furnace filter in just a few steps, making things so much easier. Ignoring the arrows can lead to a heating disaster.
Each household needs their own schedule for changing an air filter in a furnace. This can depend on several factors.
If you need a more hands-on approach, schedule an appointment today and we can show you how to replace furnace filter.