Five Tips To Follow When It’s Time To Replace Your Furnace Filter

With the weather getting chillier every day, furnace efficiency is more
important than ever. There are a number of things you can do to keep your
furnace running at peak efficiency, and changing the filter is not only
one of the easiest, but also one of the most effective. As winter rolls
along, consider these furnace filter tips.

1. Don’t procrastinate.

You may be tempted to put off changing your furnace filters, either because
you want to save money by using fewer filters, or because it’s just
not a particularly fun job. But you should understand that the longer
you procrastinate and the dirtier your filter gets, the less efficient
it becomes and the harder your furnace has to work to blow air through
the built-up dust and dirt.

2. Buy in bulk.

If you buy your filters by the case — each case usually contains
6 to 12 filters — you will reduce the cost of each filter change.
Keep the case of filters somewhere near the furnace to remind yourself
that they need to be changed and lessen the temptation to keep putting it off.

3. Consider an upgrade.

Disposable fiberglass filters have one advantage: they are cheap. But
they have a disadvantage as well: they don’t do a very good job.
HEPA filters, pleated filters and electrostatic filters may cost more,
but they do a far better job of removing dust and other particles from
the air. You can use the MERV rating on the package to judge filters’
efficiency. A higher number means the filter can remove smaller particles.

4. Never use the wrong size filter.

Dust and debris can get past an incorrectly sized filter, finding its
way into your air and clogging your air conditioner coils, leading to
reduced efficiency and possibly a costly problem in the future.

5. Don’t Guess.

If you have questions, or are unsure about which filter to use or how
to change your filter, don’t guess. Contact Blanton’s Heating
& A/C for all your furnace needs. We’ve been serving the Fayetteville,
North Carolina area since 1951.