No matter where you live, winters can be brutally cold. When temperatures reach sub-freezing, you want peace of mind knowing your furnace will keep your home safe and comfortable. One of the simplest and most affordable ways to maintain peak performance from your heating and cooling system is to replace the furnace air filter as needed or according to your equipment’s specifications.
AC and furnace filters trap harmful air particles and prevent them from clogging your furnace and distributing dirty air throughout your home. However, a clogged filter can be damaging to both your home and your HVAC system. Air filter replacement is vital to your furnace’s performance and your family’s health. With winter on the way, now is the time to learn about furnace filter replacement.
Below is a quick guide detailing how often you should change your furnace filter in the winter. If you have further questions, feel free to reach out to the experts at Discount Filters.
Does My Furnace Filter Need Changing?
How Can I Tell If My Furnace Filter Needs Changing? The best way to tell if your furnace filter needs changing is to perform a visual furnace filter inspection. Follow these quick visual inspection tips:
- Check for deep dust and dirt accumulation within your air filters.
- Look for material discoloration or darkening.
- Inspect for tears, holes, or damaged edges.
- Hold the filter up to light for transparency.
- Examine the filter frame for warping or damage.
- Make sure it still fights tightly and securely in the air handler.
Beyond the visual inspection, there are ways to tell that furnace filter maintenance or replacement is necessary. Let’s look at a few of them.
Poor Airflow
Check the air handler and the vents. If it feels like there is little air flowing through the system, the filter is clogged with too much buildup. It’s time to replace it with a fresh filter.
Worn Out Furnace
Ever wonder what happens when the air filter is clogged and airflow is restricted? It wears out the blower motor, heat exchanger, limit switch, igniter, control board, capacitor, fan belt, and bearings. Plus, the ductwork develops leaks from increased air pressure. These are all signs that it’s time to change the filter.
Dirty Air Around the House
You may notice more dust buildup around the house than normal. Or, something is triggering your allergies or asthma attacks. A dirty filter eventually releases dirty air into your furnace, which distributes it through the ductwork and back into your house. It’s bad for your furnace and bad for your health.
Do You Really Need to Change the Furnace Filter Every 3 Months?
The answer is yes. At most, you need to change the furnace filter every three months. However, you need to replace some filters sooner for maintaining indoor air quality. How often to change the furnace filter depends on several factors. Let’s cover a few factors below:
| Filter Type | Pleated filters typically last longer than flat panel filters. Change pleated filters every 30 months. Flat panel filters (like cheap fiberglass filters) should be changed monthly. |
| Pets | Homes with pets require frequent filter changes due to increased fur and dander in the air. |
| Number of occupants | More people in the home leads to more contaminants and dust activity, More people require more frequent filter changes. |
| The Winter Season | People stay indoors during winter. As indoor activity increases, you’ll need to change the filter more. You’ll also need to change it more if you use a fireplace or wood stove. |
| Poor Indoor & outdoor air quality | Homes in areas with high pollution, pollen, or ongoing construction may require more frequent filter changes. |
How Does Thickness Impact Furnace Filter Lifespan?
Thicker filters generally last longer before you have to replace them. Thicker filters have more surface area to capture contaminants, allowing them to maintain efficiency for a longer period.
Here’s a comparison of filter thickness and typical replacement frequency:
| 1 inch | Every 1-3 months |
| 2 inches | Every 1-3 months |
| 3 inches | Every 3-6 months |
| 4 inches | Every 3-6 months |
| 5 inches | Every 3-6 months |
Why Is My Furnace Filter So Dirty Every Month?
If you’re noticing a dirtier-than-usual furnace every month, it could indicate one or more issues with the furnace, air conditioning, ductwork, home activity, or home environment. Keep in mind that people stay indoors for most of the winter. Higher indoor activity can aggravate issues that may already exist. Let’s take a look at some common causes of dirty furnace filters.
- Poor indoor air quality: Homes with high levels of dust, pollen, or other airborne particles will clog filters faster.
- Pets: Pet dander and fur can quickly accumulate in filters, especially with multiple or long-haired pets.
- Bad filter: Lower quality or thinner filters may clog more quickly than higher-efficiency or thicker filters.
- Home activities: Cooking, smoking, using the fireplace, or renovation projects can increase airborne particles.
- Outdoor pollution: If you live in an area with high pollution or near construction sites, more particles enter your home.
Remember that leaky or dirty ducts can introduce more contaminants into your system and trigger frequent filter changes. Plus, an improperly sized filter may allow particles to bypass and accumulate in the system and around the house faster.
Is It Bad to Not Change Your Furnace Filter?
The consequences of not changing your furnace filter can be widespread. Neglecting the filter can lead to frequent furnace maintenance, premature repairs or replacement, poor indoor air quality, health problems, and frequent dusting. The EPA recommends “upgrading the air filter in your furnace or central heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system can help to improve indoor air quality.“
You may also notice that your monthly heating bill increases due to poor furnace performance. To make matters worse, your entire family stays inside all winter long. Keeping them warm and comfortable becomes more difficult if your furnace is in bad shape due to furnace filter neglect.
Remember: Changing the furnace filter takes five minutes every 30 to 90 days. Five minutes makes a huge difference in:
- How well your furnace runs.
- How much money do you spend on repairs and maintenance?
- How much is your energy bill each month?
- How much do you spend on healthcare?
- How much time do you spend dusting and cleaning your house?
Plus, changing the filter is the most affordable part of operating a furnace throughout the long, harsh winter months.
Buy Affordable, Durable Filters Online From Discount Filters
A clean, healthy home environment begins with proper filtration. Discount Filters is committed to helping you breathe easier with high-quality, durable AC and furnace filters. Order your furnace filters online and have them shipped straight to your doorstep. Got questions? Contact one of our filter experts via live chat or call our toll-free number.