The filter in your home’s furnace is a vital part of your heating & cooling system. Yet with so many types and features on the market, there are many furnace filter questions that crop up for homeowners. No one wants to risk damaging their HVAC system, after all.
Galmiche & Sons is a St. Louis based HVAC company with decades of furnace maintenance and repair experience under our belts, and we can answer any of your furnace filter questions. Our goal is to help local businesses and homeowners enjoy their heating & air conditioning system for many years, and that includes you! Please give us a call, today!
Below, we provide common furnace filter questions and answers, so homeowners can be confident in maintaining their home’s furnace.
What are the differences between furnace filters?
A search for a new furnace filter will yield various available models. This includes both single use filters and reusable filters that are designed to be washed and reused. Therefore, the first furnace filter question that often comes is which is better: disposable or washable?
- A washable filter is reusable but requires careful cleaning. The filter needs to be removed and washed according to instructions and completely dried before being reinserted into the furnace. These are typically more expensive, but because they are reusable, do not have an ongoing cost.
- A disposable filter can be pulled from your furnace and tossed in the trash. Homeowners benefit from the simplicity of replacing it with a new, clean filter, with the downside being an ongoing cost.
Furnace filters, how do they work?
Your furnace circulates air throughout your home, sometimes rife with pollutants like dander, dust, and mold spores. The filter traps and pulls particulates and contaminates from the air as it circles back into your heating and cooling unit. In short, the filter scrubs the air clean, resulting in better air for your home.
Filters protect your furnace too! Using a clean filter also protects the HVAC unit’s components from a buildup of dirt and dust inside the equipment. This helps extend its life, lessens the need for HVAC repairs, and helps your equipment do its job.
How long do filters last?
Many common furnace filter questions homeowners have regard furnace filter service life. The answer depends on various factors:
- Efficiency rating – The higher your filter’s efficiency rating (or MERV rating), generally the longer your filter will last. Lower rated and low efficiency filters will often clog quicker.
- Air quality – If you have a pet or if you smoke, that naturally increases how many contaminants are in your home’s air. Those higher concentrations of particulates mean the more often your furnace filter will become clogged. You should also change the filter more frequently if you suffer from asthma or allergies.
- HVAC usage – The more your furnace is used, the more often it is cycling air through your air filter. This furnace filter question seems obvious, but many homeowners don’t realize how much they use their system during the summer and winter months.
When should I replace my filter?
This furnace filter question depends a lot on the factors above as well as your particular HVAC unit. The manufacturer should list how often your filter will need to be changed. Visually inspect your filter for signs such as debris on the filter’s surface or discoloration if the filter is gray with dirt. Furnace filter questions you should ask yourself include: is there more dust in your home, or does your furnace need to run longer than usual? If so, it might be time to change your filter.
A basic guide for changing your furnace filter is based on the width:
- 1 and 2 inch filters – every 1 to 3 months
- 3 and 4 inch filters – every 6 to 9 months
- 5 and 6 inch filters – every 12 months
What furnace filter size should I buy?
This furnace filter question can be answered by your system directly. Most filters have their sizes printed on their frame, listing length, width, and height. Before tossing your old filter, note the dimensions and search for the same sized model. If you are having trouble finding the dimensions, look for the model number, which you can then look up online.
Get Answers to More Furnace Filter Questions
Have another furnace filter question that’s not listed here? We will be happy to answer your furnace filter questions or other HVAC maintenance queries you might have. Contact our St. Louis heating & air conditioning experts today online or by phone!
