Find out when to change a furnace air filter to keep the air in your home clean.
There are many tasks that need to be checked off yourhome maintenance liston a regular basis.
Another crucialhome maintenancejob that all homeowners should know about ischanging the air filter in the furnace.
Credit:BanksPhotos / Getty Images
Dust, dirt, hair, and other debris get trapped in the air filter.
What Is an Air Filter?
There are two common types of home air filters, including spun fiberglass and pleated paper.
Credit: Grandbrothers/Adobe Stock
This is especially important in homes with individuals that suffer from allergies or respiratory conditions.
MERV is an acronym for minimum efficiency reporting value.
This rating can be used to determine how effective a filter is at stopping dust and other contaminants.
How Often Should You Change an Air Filter?
This reduces the efficiency of the system, leading to higher heating and cooling bills.
Just keep in mind that every home is different.
Signing up for anair filter subscription servicecan make it easier to stay on top of a replacement schedule.
A pleated air filter should be replaced about once every three to six months.
On average, an air filter lasts longer in a small home than in a large home.
This is because there is more air to filter through in a large home.
More people create more dust, dirt, hair, skin, and other debris.
Pets should also be factored into the replacement time frame.
Another sign that a home’s air filter needs to be changed is reduced airflow through the vents.
When the filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, the air cannot pass through the filter properly.
This can also result inincreased dust quantitiesthroughout the home.