How To Tell if Your Furnace Filter Needs Changing: A Guide
Your furnace may be a powerful piece of equipment, but it still needs help to work at its best. Learning how to tell if your furnace filter needs changing will not only extend your unit’s lifespan, it could even lower your energy bills and improve your air quality.
Conway Services is a family-owned business that helps homeowners with everything from bathroom remodeling to air conditioning installation. Reading our guide will help you know not only how to swap out your old filter, but also when to call a professional for an inspection.
How Do I Know When My Furnace Filter Needs Replacing?
Your furnace filter isn’t shy about telling you when it’s getting old or damaged. Make a habit of inspecting your furnace’s filter every month or so for any of the following signs.
- Brown or gray discoloration from dust or dirt
- Running longer than usual because the furnace can’t maintain its temperature
- Inconsistent temperature as the furnace tries and fails to heat the room
- Worsened air quality, such as increased dust or musty odors
Still not sure how to tell if your furnace filter needs changing? You may have a deeper problem that needs inspection. Our maintenance services can spot problems like clogged filters (as well as anything else that might have slipped your notice).
What Happens If a Furnace Filter Is Not Changed?
Your furnace needs a clean filter to distribute warm air and cycle consistently. Without a clean filter, you’ll experience short-term and long-term issues such as:
- Spiking energy bills due to your furnace working harder for longer
- Worsening air quality that can aggravate seasonal allergies or asthma symptoms
- Musty, burning odors caused by the furnace pushing heat through a dirty filter
- Ongoing system damage that increases the risk of sudden breakdowns
If your furnace filter doesn’t look dirty, but your furnace is still not working right, you likely have another problem that needs fixing.
Want us to change your filter for you or inspect for other underlying issues? We offer heating services that can rule out different causes of lackluster performance. Our team will be more than happy to inspect your unit and restore it to peak working condition.
The Reason Behind Changing Your Furnace Filter
Furnace filters help protect a furnace’s blower motor from excess dirt and dust. When a filter is too dirty, the air is unable to move properly through your heating system.
Lack of airflow due to a dusty filter may cause your furnace to overheat and shut down. In fact, the same thing can happen with air conditioners. Filthy filters cause coils to freeze up and may stop the system altogether.
When a heating system overheats, it may suffer other damage that will require professional HVAC repair. Preventative maintenance for your furnace nips these problems in the bud by preventing clogs, cycling, or surprise breakdowns.
How Often Should Furnace Filters Be Changed?
Wondering when to change a furnace filter? Many homeowners think that changing their furnace filters once a year will suffice. However, changing your furnace filter only once a year will likely shorten your furnace’s life.
To prevent costly repairs, get into the habit of checking your filter monthly and changing it frequently, depending on the type of filter you use. Your standard furnace filter needs changing every 90 days or so, while a HEPA-grade filter needs to be changed every 6 to 12 months.
To determine if your filter is dirty enough to replace, remove the filter and hold it up to a nearby light source. If you can no longer clearly see light through it, you should change your furnace filter.
How to Change Your Furnace Filter
You may be wondering, “Should I learn how to change the filter on my furnace?” We recommend learning this useful skill so you can maintain your unit more easily throughout the year.
Changing your furnace filter is quick, simple, and may save you money if done regularly. Below is the proper way to install a furnace filter:
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Turn off your furnace.
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Remove the existing furnace filter. (It’s usually found inside the furnace or the return air vent.)
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Look for an arrow indicating airflow direction through the filter. (This will help you to place the furnace filter correctly when you install it.)
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Find the right replacement for your furnace. Disposable filters are typically 1 or 2 inches thick. Find one that fits your furnace at a local hardware or home improvement store. (Some furnaces can handle up to 5-inch filters, so check yours to make sure.)
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To install your new filter, slide the filter back into place (and make sure it’s facing the right direction). Note when you changed it, so you know when to check it again.
Do you have a gas furnace? We have a few gas furnace tips you should know, in addition to learning to maintain your filter.
If you’re unsure about replacing your filter yourself, we can help. One of our professionals will give your furnace a thorough inspection and make sure everything is running properly.
Learn More About Our Maintenance
3 Additional Furnace Maintenance Tips
Learning how to tell if your furnace filter needs changing will be easier with ongoing maintenance. These tips make it easy to analyze your furnace’s performance and can even help you heat your home for less.
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Install a Programmable Thermostat
A packed schedule makes it tough to constantly tweak your thermostat and save money. A programmable thermostat gives you a hands-off means of maintaining a consistent temperature throughout the home.
You can schedule your furnace to turn on or off at specific times. You’ll also get accurate readings on your indoor temperature, so you don’t accidentally waste money.
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Ensure Proper Airflow
Make sure not to put any furniture or decorations too close to your furnace. Not only is that a fire hazard, but it also makes it harder for your furnace to consistently push out warm air.
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Regular Furnace Inspections
Sometimes your furnace will have internal problems you can’t spot. A professional will be able to dive deep into your unit to look for issues like faulty wiring, dirty coils, or failing parts.
Our team has several years of experience inspecting, repairing, and maintaining furnaces. Schedule an appointment with us to keep your unit in peak condition when you need it most.
Why Choose Conway Services for Furnace Filter Replacement?
Learning how to tell if a furnace filter needs changing is only half the equation. If you don’t feel confident changing the filter yourself, or you just want a more thorough inspection, Conway Services is a local resource you can rely on.
Since 1990, we’ve been exceeding our customers’ expectations with our dependable results, friendly customer service, and commitment to a personal touch. You’re not just another customer to us: We treat all projects as unique to ensure you get an excellent experience every single time.
When we maintain your furnace, you save money, enjoy a more comfortable home, and keep your unit around for a long time. If your furnace is too old, we can help you choose a new energy-efficient installation instead.
We also offer a variety of heating, plumbing, electrical, and remodeling services so you can get multiple projects done in one place.
FAQ
If you have questions about furnace filters (and when to replace them), find our tips and answers here.
Why should I change my filter regularly?
Changing a filter at least once a season ensures that your system has clear airflow and is able to extract contaminants from the air. Clean filters trap dust, particles, and allergens while ensuring the furnace is always working smoothly.
How do I choose the right furnace filter?
Learning how to tell if your furnace filter needs changing includes looking at furnace sizes and materials, such as fiberglass, pleated, HEPA, synthetic, and electrostatic. Higher MERV ratings for each type indicate a higher level of filtration.
Choose the MERV rating for your household needs and confirm that you get the right size for your HVAC unit.
How can I tell when I need to change the filter?
You may notice that your filter needs changing before you look at it. If your home seems particularly dusty or you observe a drop in your heating and cooling system performance or efficiency, you may need to change the filter.
Can changing the filter improve my HVAC lifespan?
Changing your filter every few months (or more frequently) can improve the lifespan of your HVAC unit by preventing dirt buildup. Dirty filters force the system to work harder, and they cannot keep the system components clean.
Regular filter replacement may help prevent these problems.
Does my HVAC system require special filters?
The right filter for your HVAC unit depends on the type of furnace, the overall configuration, and your household needs. You may need to choose a different filter for a gas furnace than you would for an electric furnace.
What happens if I don’t change my furnace filter?
If you don’t change your furnace filter every few months, you may lose efficiency and performance from the unit over time. As the filter gets increasingly dirty, you run the risk of system overheating, inefficiency, and low air quality.
Should I check other things on my furnace besides my filter?
If you suspect issues with your heating system, you can do more to troubleshoot than simply change the furnace filter. Confirm that the power supply and gas supply have a tight connection.
Test the thermostat settings, then check to see if the vents are open fully and inspect the ductwork for gaps or signs of damage. For any other issues, you may need to call our technicians for assistance.
Questions? Contact Conway Services for Help
For questions about changing furnace filters or other heat-related issues, it’s best to contact a heating professional in your area for detailed advice and assistance. At Conway Services, we have the heating services and repair you need to keep your furnace working well.
We appreciate your need for an effective furnace during the cool Tennessee winters. You can count on our technicians to provide excellent furnace repair and installation, helping you troubleshoot existing problems or find the best new system.
The experts at Conway Services take pride in our ability to address your concerns promptly and courteously. We can teach you how to tell if a furnace filter needs changing, as well as other ways to improve your unit’s performance.