| If you live in a home with furnace heat that you | | | | through your heater system. If the filter is coated |
| use regularly, or are getting set to use your | | | | black, it is time to go. The condition of your filter |
| heater throughout the winter, then one of your | | | | should be obvious through simple visual inspection. |
| major home maintenance priorities is to make | | | | 5. Your filter is not the only place where dirt |
| sure that your heater's filters are changed | | | | collects however, especially if your filter is |
| regularly. There is no reason to worry however; | | | | extremely clogged. Be sure to check for other |
| changing your furnace air filter is a quick and | | | | accumulation in the blower itself, and in the |
| simple task that you can perform by yourself. | | | | venting system immediately surrounding your |
| The general recommendation made by | | | | heater unit. Any obstruction of the furnace airway |
| manufacturers is that you change furnace filters | | | | can cause not only inefficiency, but is also a major |
| on a monthly basis. Your furnace manual should | | | | fire hazard. |
| specify the recommended filter maintenance | | | | 6. After determining that the filter does need |
| schedule if you are unsure of the frequency of | | | | changed, and that no other obstructions exist, |
| recommended filter changes for your heater's | | | | simple refer to your owner's manual, or to the |
| model. When you are sure that it is time to | | | | description given on the old filter, so that you can |
| change your filter, your next step is to read your | | | | get another filter from your local hardware store. |
| instruction manual to make sure that you are | | | | Filters DO NOT usually interchange between |
| following the proper sequence of actions to | | | | models, so it is very important that you buy the |
| change the filter on your particular model. To help | | | | correct one. If you have a washable furnace filter, |
| you, I have listed a general outline of the normal | | | | remove it and wash all the dust out and replace |
| steps taken to change a furnace filter. | | | | the same way you removed it. |
| 1. Using the electric switch supplied on your | | | | 7. After purchase, simple replace the new filter |
| furnace, you need to disconnect the power, | | | | into your furnace system in the exact same way |
| before you perform any furnace maintenance, | | | | that the old one came out. This is very important, |
| including filter changes. If your heater is gas | | | | as the filtration is unidirectional, meaning that the |
| powered and not electric, you should also shut | | | | filter must be inserted so that the airflow is |
| down your gas line connection. | | | | directed through it in the proper direction. Do not |
| 2. Again referring to your specific model's manual, | | | | put your filter in backwards. Most filters are |
| you need to locate and open the furnace blower | | | | fiberglass, with one side that is slightly oily. This |
| door. Your reference manual should describe | | | | side usually faces the blower, and the other side |
| where it is and how to open the door on your | | | | collects the filtered material for disposal. If the |
| furnace model. | | | | texture (and of course your manual's description) |
| 3. Once the blower door is open, your furnace | | | | does not give you an indication of the correct |
| filter should be clearly visible. Simply slide out the | | | | installation direction, then you might simple look at |
| filter to replace it with the new one. If you run | | | | the filter itself. Most models will have printed |
| into any problems or it seems to remove only | | | | arrows on them to show you which direction you |
| with great difficulty, then I recommend you refer | | | | should insert your filter. |
| to your heater model's manual. | | | | 8. When you are done, make sure that the |
| 4. When you remove the furnace air filter, it | | | | blower door is securely closed, your power and |
| should be easy to see if it does indeed need to | | | | gas connections are reactivated, and your |
| be replaced. The purpose of a filter is to remove | | | | thermostat is set at the appropriate temperature. |
| dirt and other particles from the air that flows | | | | |