Professional maintenance for your home’s forced-air HVAC system (furnace and air conditioner) twice during the year is key for a long service life, lower utility bills, and peace of mind that you won’t suddenly lose heating or cooling during extreme weather. Right now, with our tough winter approaching, is the time to schedule the maintenance for your furnace.
Although it requires trained professionals to handle full regular maintenance, there’s one step that you have to do yourself during the rest of the year, which is to regularly change the HVAC air filter. This filter protects the internal components of the air conditioner and furnace from debris that flows in through the return air ducts. The filter accumulates dust and debris over time until it clogs up, creating higher bills and potentially damaging the system.
How Often to Change the Filter
Filters need to be changed every 1 to 4 months, depending on different factors. During the height of summer and winter, when either the AC or furnace runs the most often, you’ll need to change the filter with greater frequency. Inexpensive fiberglass filters usually need to be changed every month during peak use, while pleated polyester filters can go for around 3 months.
How to Change the Filter
First locate where the filter is housed. Usually, the filter slides into a slot against the side of the HVAC cabinet near to the blower. Check the point where the return air duct connects to the side of the cabinet, and you should find the filter there. If you can’t find it at this spot, look behind the grill of the return air vent in the house itself.
Changing the filter only requires sliding it out and putting in the new one in its place. We recommend writing the date you replaced the filter on the side of the new one; this will help you know when it’s time to replace it in the future.
If you need assistance with your HVAC filter, let our technicians show you what to do during the regular maintenance visit.
Freedom Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. offers the Freedom Club to help you with your heating maintenance (and AC maintenance) each year. We serve Plymouth, MN and throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul.