Why Furnace Air Filters Need To Be Changed

This simple task offers several benefits!

Winter brings extra chores here in Central Massachusetts such as shoveling snow, spreading de-icer on the driveway and walkways, and mopping up melted snow by the door. There’s something else you need to do: Change your furnace’s air filter.

Set a reminder on your phone or write on your calendar to check the air filter once a month and change it as needed. Do it more frequently if you have dogs, cats or other furry pets because pet hair and dander can clog up your air filter faster.

Changing the air filter provides these three benefits.

1. You save money. Because a clogged or dirty air filter makes your HVAC system work harder, it results in increased energy costs. A clean air filter and regular expert maintenance help your furnace operate at peak efficiency, ensuring that you spend the least amount of money possible on keeping your home warm and comfortable.
2. You prevent breakdowns. A dirty or clogged air filter is one of the most common reasons a furnace breaks down. If you don’t change your filters, not only does your furnace work harder and create greater wear on parts but dust and dirt can get on the parts. Both of these increase the risk of a breakdown and expensive repairs. The increased wear also reduces the life expectancy of your furnace, forcing you to replace it sooner than necessary.
3. Your indoor air quality is better. If your air filter isn’t clogged, it traps airborne dust, dirt, and allergens and prevents them from circulating in your house. It’s critical to check and change your air filter on a regular basis if you or someone in your family has allergies, asthma, or breathing difficulties such as COPD. There is another benefit to regularly changing the air filter: Cleaning the house is easier because there is less dust and dirt circulating all over!

How to change your furnace’s air filter

The first step is to figure out the size of your current air filter. Look in your furnace’s user guide or check the present filter for more information. The width, length, and thickness of a filter are on the filter. If your air filter reads 16x25x1, that means your filter 16 inches wide, 25 inches long, and 1 inch thick.

HVAC air filters are readily available at your local home improvement shop. Pick up a few so that changing them is simple all winter long.

Turn off the furnace first to inspect and replace your air filter. Locate your furnace’s air filter. The majority of filters are housed in the blower compartment or in the ductwork before the blower fan.
Remove the old air filter, noting the arrow on the filter frame that indicates the proper airflow direction. Make sure to install the new filter in the same way as before. It might be useful to mark out the direction of airflow with a permanent marker on the furnace housing or ductwork near the filter.

After removing the old filter, place it into a trash bag as right away to keep it from spreading dust and dirt.

Whatever your home heating needs, Pioneer Oil & Propane can take care of you! Become a customer today.