by Benjamin Lloyd

Created on: June 30, 2009   Last Updated: July 05, 2009

Replacing the filter in your air furnace is simple and rewarding.

Filters act as catchalls for removing airborne dust from your house. They also prevent that dust from reaching your unit.

Some air filters are located in the unit itself. Others are located in grills in the ceiling, on the wall, or in the floor. Regardless of where they are are located, changing these filters is the easiest thing a homeowner can do for preventive maintenance and air purification.

The first thing to remember when replacing the filter is to get the proper size. Too small of a filter could let dust particles by. This will defeat the purpose. Too big of a filter and you will have to cut it down to make it work properly. So always get the right size. Grab a tape measure and measure it yourself or call your local air conditioning contractor.

Secondly, get the proper air filter. If you can see through the filter, then dust can obviously get past the filter. The best filter on the market is the pleated style filter, shaped like this: /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ . You cannot see through it, but air can get through. The pleated filters cost a couple of dollars more than others, but they are well worth it in the long run.

Third, remember that filters do not change themselves. You must change them regularly. Check them at least every thirty days, especially if you have indoor pets. If it is dirty, replace it. If it doesn't appear to be dirty, use it for another month. They also have four and five inch filters available now that only have to be changed once a year, but these are expensive.

Having a dirty filter or a dirty coil due to lack of a filter can cause damage to your unit. Your unit could freeze up because it is unable to pull the heat out of the house due to blockage. If it freezes up, it will start leaking in your house.

If it runs too long while it is frozen, your outdoor unit will overwork itself and end up failing.

Having a dirty filter is like having a stopped up nose. You can still breathe, but not as efficient as you could. The air furnace will still operate, but not like it should and maybe not for long.

Also, changing your filter could save you a service call due to dirty coil or a leaking coil. You could reward yourself with the money you just saved.

So remember these three things about changing your air furnace filters: right size, right type, and right time.

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