Changing a furnace filter in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Changing a furnace filter is the fastest and easiest way to maximize the efficiency of your heating system—and help clean your home’s air.
What is a furnace filter? Put simply, it is a removable filter that is designed to trap the dust, dirt and other airborne particles in your home’s air. Filters prevent damage to your heating system by catching these particles. More expensive furnace filters perform a similar role, and can also enhance the air quality in your home by trapping pollen, bacteria and mildew.
A dirty filter reduces the airflow through your furnace, so it is essential to change these filter whenever it becomes too dirty! What happens? Low air flow causes the temperature in the heat exchanger to increase, causing a safety limit switch to turn the furnace off for safety reasons.
When it is time to change a furnace filter? It depends on the home, but roughly every 30 days for standard 1” filters. Larger or electronic filters can go 2, 3 or 4 months. Factors that affect the air quality of your home can change how often you should replace your filter as well, such as:
- You have cats or dogs.
- You notice excessive dust buildup in your house—yuck!
- You or someone you live with smokes.
- Your heating system fan runs often.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to change it:
- Find out what size of filter you have so you can buy a new one.
HVAC tip: To find out what size filter your furnace uses, remove and check the old filter (the size will be written on the filter’s frame).
- Turn your furnace off!
- Make sure you install your filter facing the right way. Many filters will have an arrow that will tell you which side to face toward the blower motor.
- Slide the new filter into your furnace.
- Turn your furnace back on and you are done!
If you have any questions about this process, or if you are still worried about furnace maintenance, schedule an appointment with us here at Afterglow. We provide service in: Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Fergus, Elora, Elmira, St. Agatha, St. Jacobs and New Hamburg.
Fun fact: besides replacing your furnace filter on a monthly basis, we recommend purchasing some indoor plants to help clean your home’s air. Meet five plants that will seriously purify your home’s air here.
Afterglow. Water, warmth, well-being.