Aside from an annual furnace tune-up at the beginning of the heating season, the most important preventive maintenance step a homeowner can take is to check the furnace air filter every month and replace it when it’s dirty.
A clean filter will prevent dust buildup inside your furnace. This buildup can cause expensive damage to the fan and heat exchanger. A clean filter will also improve your indoor air quality, better trapping particles like viruses, pollen, mold, dust and bacteria.
What MERV means to you
Air filters are given a rating on the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV, scale. The higher the MERV, the better the filter will be at trapping more and smaller particles in your air.
- MERV 1-4 filters are very inexpensive and the least effective at improving your indoor air quality.
- MERV 5-8 filters are of medium quality and are sufficient for most residential applications.
- MERV 9-12 filters are of high quality and are ideal for those suffering from allergies and asthma.
- MERV 13-16 filters are the of the highest quality and are generally used only in commercial buildings.
Before upgrading your filter, check the specs of your system to determine what kind of filter it will accommodate. Higher MERV filters are thicker and denser and can impede the flow of air to some systems, decreasing their efficiency. It’s important to balance air-cleaning qualities with optimum airflow when choosing a filter for your furnace.
How to change your air filter
Your filter is most likely located in the blower compartment of your furnace, which is found between the cold-air return and the furnace unit. Slide out the old filter and insert the new one. The arrows on the frame of the filter should point toward the furnace.
Please feel free to contact the Rheem Pro Partner for more expert advice about choosing the best air filters for your furnace. We serve the Denver and Colorado Springs areas with a high level of customer satisfaction.
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