Follow These Five Steps If It’s Time To Replace The Filter In Your Furnace < Return
This is the time of year in Tampa Bay that you want to make certain your furnace is operating at optimum levels, and that includes your furnace filter. To ensure your home air is free of pollutants, such as dirt, dust mites and various other types of airborne bacteria, and provides heat efficiently, follow these five steps:- Turn off the furnace -- Always turn the furnace off before you perform any any of these steps. And turn the thermostat down to make certain that it will not suddenly start the furnace up. Do not assume that because you do not hear the furnace emitting a sound that it is not on, or that it is not operating.
- Locate the furnace filter -- On the furnace, look for a slot containing the filter, normally located either on the top, at the side or on the bottom of the system. Alternatively, it may be located within the blower compartment. If you are experiencing difficulty in locating the air filter, do not hesitate to check with one a certified HVAC expert.
- Examine the filter -- Take the filter out and examine it evidence for of dirt or grime buildup. If there is visible grime or dirt on the filter, then it should be either cleaned or replaced. Remember it is more economically prudent to replace a furnace filter than to spend excess dollars on repairing or replacing a furnace, as a dirty filter can sometimes lead to a system failure.
- Clean the filter -- While replacement of the furnace filter is often necessary when a filter is dirty, you might have a type of filter that is washable. Check with the filter's user guide for guidance. To clean it, hold the filter under running water to rinse it off, or vacuum it, in order to remove buildup.
- Purchase the correct type -- There are many types of furnace filters available. To make certain that you select an energy-efficient filter, and one that will work with your particular heating system, talk to an expert technician.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ductwork and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Simpson Air – The Coolest Guys in Town! services the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. View our special offers to get started today!
