Replacing a Furnace Filter

Written by April Reinhardt (last updated April 27, 2020)

Originally designed to protect the furnace motor and internal components, furnace filters are housed between the air intake and the heating coil, motor, and fan of the furnace. Furnace filters trap dust that can cause damage to the furnace motor. More importantly, however, furnace filters improve airflow and efficiency of a furnace. Without a filter, the furnace would quickly become clogged with dust, forcing it to work harder to expel air, and eventually overheat and break down. If your furnace filter does become clogged, then its purpose is defeated.

Follow these guidelines to replace your furnace filter once a month:

  1. Locate the furnace filter. Your furnace filter can be anywhere in the space between the return air grill and the air handler. The return air grill is one that draws air in instead of blowing air out. In general, however, the furnace filter is inside of the blower compartment.
  2. Turn the power to the furnace off at the main circuit breaker.
  3. Remove the filter and look for size markings on the frame. If you cannot read the markings, use a ruler or yardstick to determine its size.
  4. Replace the filter the same way you removed it.
  5. Turn the power to the furnace back on.
  6. Purchase the same size filter from your local home improvement store.
  7. Turn the power to the furnace off at the main circuit breaker.
  8. Pay attention to the way the current filter is placed when removing it, and then install the new filter the same way. If the new filter is marked with arrows, make sure that the arrows align with the direction the air is to move through your furnace.
  9. Some units require that you remove doors. When replacing the door, make sure that you replace it tightly as some doorframes engage safety switches that control the furnace.
  10. Turn the power for the furnace back on and check to make sure that the furnace is operating correctly.

Most furnace filters today are disposable, although some are meant to be cleaned and reused. You can purchase furnace filters for just a few dollars, or spend a substantial amount of money for permanent filters and those designed to improve air quality. Most furnace filters are made from fiberglass and are rated by the MERV ranking system, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. The higher the MERV rating, then the more efficient the filter is going to be. Higher quality filters are available to help improve air quality for household members with allergies and respiratory problems and those filters can make a huge difference.

Author Bio

April Reinhardt

An admin­istrator for a mutual fund man­age­ment firm, April deals with the writ­ten word daily. She loves to write and plans to author a memoir in the near future. April attend­ed More­head State Uni­ver­sity to pursue a BA degree in Ele­men­tary Edu­ca­tion. ...

MORE FROM APRIL

Cleaning Self-Cleaning Ovens

It is always wise to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using your self-cleaning oven. It is also good to resist ...

Discover More

Choosing the Best Flower Garden Location

There is more to growing flowers than simply digging holes for seeds or plantings. Choosing the best flower garden ...

Discover More

How to Shape Eyebrows

Shaping your brows is fairly easy and should be done about once a month. Over-tweezing is a common mistake you should ...

Discover More

Cordless, Compact, and Powerful! DeWalt's 18-volt drill-driver kit packs a big punch in a small package, with a powerful high-performance motor tucked away inside a compact design. A great addition to the tool chest of any professional or DIYer! Check out DeWalt 18-Volt Drill/Driver Kit today!

More Home Improvement Tips

Installing Ductwork

One of the keys for lowering your home heating and cooling bills is having the proper ductwork in place. If you don't ...

Discover More

Checking for and Eliminating Drafts

An easy way to check to see where a draft is coming from is to stand with a lighted candle next to a window or door. The ...

Discover More

Choosing Efficient Air Filters

Choosing efficient air filters is one of the most important processes that a homeowner can do to ensure that their HVAC ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 8 + 5?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)