Furnaces are a big investment. You want your furnace to live as long and as efficiently as possible. That’s why our Kelowna furnace repairs team encourages you to take a simple maintenance step that can have a big impact on your furnace’s performance—changing the filter.
At home, most of the air you and your family breathe in circulates through your HVAC system. In addition to purifying your air, clean furnace filters lighten the load for your furnace. That means you’ll see efficiency and savings as well as extend the life of your furnace.
Why your furnace runs more efficiently with a clean filter
A furnace filter’s job is to trap dirt and dust as well as airborne particulates so they won’t get into your furnace system and wreck the fan or heating coil. If a filter gets too dirty, your furnace can overheat and shut down because of a lack of airflow.
How you can tell if your filter needs to be changed
It should be easy for you to tell if your filter is too dirty. Just remove it and hold it up to the light. If you can’t see light through the filter, it’s time to change it.
Many homeowners aim to change their furnace filters every two to three months, but our Kelowna furnace experts suggest checking it monthly and changing it as needed.
When your furnace needs an inspection or repair, contact one of the most trusted Kelowna furnace companies, Vision Plumbing Heating Cooling. Phone 250.470.9552 or email info@visionplumbingandheating.com
How to change your filter
First, find the right type of filter based on manufacturer’s recommendations and your needs. There’s a range of filters, from glass fiber to pleated disposable to reusable electrostatic filter models, which trap almost everything in the air and last years.
Changing the filter itself is the easy part. First, turn off your furnace. Some homes have the furnace on/off switch on an adjacent wall; others will see theirs on the ceiling.
Between your return air and your supply air, you’ll see a chamber or service panel that houses your filter. Now you can see how your filter works to trap dust from return air to your supply air (furnace). Open the panel and slide out the old filter.
On your new filter, look for the arrow. You want to make sure the arrow is pointing toward the furnace (not the return air). Now that your filter is pointed in the right direction, slide it into the panel and close the panel door. Turn your furnace back on, and you’ve just done your furnace and your home a big favour.
Ensure your furnace is performing at its best by replacing the filter and taking a few other maintenance steps outlined in our post Is Your Furnace Ready for Winter?
