Why Is A Furnace Filter Important?
What makes a furnace filter so important? Air Quality. All of the hot air being pushed inside your home goes directly through the furnace’s filter. The filter’s job is to catch all contaminants and potentially harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) before they reach your family. This means your furnace filter is directly linked to your indoor comfort and quality of life for those suffering from allergies, asthma, and other related ailments. This is extra important during the winter season in Windsor-Essex as trapped air increases with homeowners trying to keep every little bit of warmth inside their homes.
When Should You Replace A Furnace Filter
Have you changed your furnace filter since the last winter? No? Don’t worry you are not the only one. We cannot remind our homeowners enough how important replacing your furnace’s filter is to daily life enjoyment. As a rule of thumb, our Home Comfort Specialists recommend changing furnace filters every three months. This is subject to change based on the type of filter, the breathing conditions of the inhabitants, the number of pets, etc. However; if you are unsure and the DIY type, 3 months is a good place to start!
Four Types of Furnace Filters
So you are interested in purchasing a new furnace filter? The first thing you will need to do is examine your furnace. Understand the size of filter your model requires and if it has a specific model that it needs. With that sorted out, let’s go over the four basic types of furnace filters.
- Fiberglass Furnace Filter: The most common type of furnace filter you will find! The 1-inch fiberglass construction allows for the capture of large particles.
- Pleated Furnace Filter: The most affordable type of furnace filter with a cotton or polyester construction that captures small particles. These filters should be replaced more often (unless purchasing a more expensive high-efficiency version).
- Electrostatic Filter (Disposable): This furnace filter is made of a self-charging electrostatic construction allowing for the capture of small and harmful particles.
- Electrostatic Filter (Permanent): The same as the previously mentioned electrostatic filter in a permanent variation. This filter substitutes replacement for regular cleaning.
Can I Change My Furnace Filter Myself
A heat pump is a more energy-efficient solution for your home. The heat pump does not require the burning of fuel and only needs electricity to repurpose the outdoor air into heat for your home. A Trane Heat Pump is capable of outputting up to 300% more energy than it consumes.
Which One Is Better Suited to the Windsor-Essex Climate?
So you got the filter picked out and now you’re ready to make the swap… how do you do it? It’s quite simple. Although these steps will slightly vary from furnace model to model, these four basic steps are all you need to swap out the filter!
Ensure your furnace is turned off.
Locate the compartment, door, panel that houses the filter.
Slide the old filter out and slide the new filter in.
Turn your furnace back on.
That is it! Swapping out your furnace filter is a simple task you can complete to improve the air coming out of your HVAC system and the overall quality of life for all inhabitants. Of course, if you experience any issues with locating your furnace’s filter, making the swap, or purchasing the right replacement filter, we are just one call away! Our certified furnace technicians are ready and willing to help you.
We hope this helps all the Windsor-Essex homeowners with optimizing their furnaces for the upcoming Windsor-Essex winter! You can take this a step further and have an Absolute Comfort Home Comfort Specialist complete a free in-home consultation for a personalized solution.
