Oftentimes, furnace filters take a back seat when it comes to the list of household items that need to be checked regularly. You might even be asking; does your house have a furnace filter? What does it look like? How to check furnace filter?
In this article, we are going to discuss what a furnace filter is. We are also going to talk about how to properly take care of a furnace filter and determine the major problems that come with owning one.
What is a Furnace Filter?
A furnace filter is part of a bigger machine that is in charge of the heating and cooling system of your house. Its purpose is to strain the fan for any air particles, such as hair, dust, ash, pet hair, and other air contaminants.
It also greatly affects the quality of air in your house since the air that you breathe in would most probably be cleaner with the use of a furnace filter. Basically, a furnace filter removes all the air contaminants and also prevents those contaminants from recirculating inside your house.
How Does a Furnace Filter Work?
The furnace filter would draw in air using return ducts. It would then warm the air via a heat exchanger; the blower fan also helps in this process.
Once properly heated, it would push the heated air to different vents inside your house. It would keep on doing so until the temperature in your house reaches your preferred thermostat setting.
The same goes when you have an air conditioning in your home; the process is similar, but instead of hot air, the furnace filter pushes cool air to the vents of your home.
How to Check Furnace Filter
You might ask why you have to check your furnace filter. The answer is simple; just like any other machine, the owner should at least maintain its good state for it to work well.
How to check furnace filter? There are two things that you should check to determine how you should maintain it:
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value Ratings (MERV)
This is a rating system that determines how much air can course through your furnace filter. The logic is simple, the more air suction, the more dust accumulation would occur.
Type of filter
There are many types of furnace filters, and how often you should clean or replace your machine depends on the quality of its material.
Types of Furnace Filters
There are three common types of furnace filters and these are easily available in the market.
Disposable Pleated
This type of furnace filter is the most common of all the types. The material used for it is paper and polyester. This type of filter is also good for filtering dust and other air contaminants.
You should replace this type of furnace filter after 90 days of use.
Disposable Fiberglass
This is probably the cheapest furnace filter that you can find. The material used for this furnace filter is quite flimsy and has a lower MERV rating compared to others, so you need to replace this furnace filter more often.
Permanent Reusable Filters or Washable Filters
This type of filter is made of aluminum. It is also a winner when it comes to efficiency against a disposable filter. It comes in different sizes, and might last up to five years when cleaned regularly.
How to Replace Furnace Filters
Once you have already checked the things needed to be checked for you to know when to replace a furnace filter, it is now time to do the dirty work. Follow the steps below if you need to replace your furnace filters.
- Always turn the furnace off before handling it.
- Open the compartment door which is usually located between the furnace and air intake.
- Once you locate the filter, slide it out and properly dispose of it.
- If you have a permanent filter, slide it out then vacuum it first before cleaning it with water. Allow it to completely dry before putting it back in.
Summary
Proper maintenance of furnace filters is a very important if you want to have healthy air at home. If you do not clean, or even check your furnace filter, you might be breathing in harmful allergens that would eventually lead to sickness. Now that you know how to check your furnace filter, you can now easily take good care of it.