If you are hoping to avoid furnace repairs this winter, make sure to regularly change your furnace filter. Not only can a dirty furnace filter cause your monthly heating bill to skyrocket, but a dirty filter can actually damage your furnace. Monitoring your furnace filter and changing it once a month when your furnace is running on a regular basis is essential. Homeowners should not hesitate to frequently change their furnace filter. It’s a simple task that almost anybody can complete on their own.

If you want to reduce the likelihood that you will need furnace repairs in the future and if you want to reduce your home heating costs, change your dirty furnace filter as soon as today!

Need guidance on how to change your furnace filter? Read on for a few tips:

• Make sure you have a replacement furnace filter on hand before you remove your old filter.
• If you do not know the correct size filter that fits in your furnace, take a look at the old filter. Its size should be printed on its edge.
• Determine which store(s) sell furnace filters that are the correct size. Typically, hardware stores and stores such as Walmart and Target sell filters that fit most furnaces.
• Make sure your furnace is not running when you remove the old filter.
• Slide out the old filter, and replace it with new one.
• Make sure to place the new filter with the correct side facing the outgoing flow of air.

Don’t Want to Replace Your Furnace Filter Without Help?
Despite the fact that replacing a furnace filter is a relatively straightforward task, some homeowners simply do not want to complete the job on their own. That’s perfectly fine. However, it’s important to not ignore the fact that a furnace filter must be replaced every month or so. If you are unable to replace your own furnace filter (or it’s something that you don’t want to do), make sure to hire an HVAC technician or a handyman to complete the job for you. Making sure your furnace filter is regularly changed is essential if you want to keep your furnace repair costs down.

Replace Furnace Filters Every Single Month?
The general rule is that furnace filters should be replaced every month. However, the actual frequency can be adjusted depending on several factors including:

• The climate in which you live (e.g. dry vs. humid)
• The number of people and pets that live in your home
• Whether or not the home is frequently exposed to outside air

For professional advice on how often you should change your furnace filter, make sure to ask your HVAC technician next time you have your furnace serviced or you have furnace repairs. Remember, regularly changing your furnace filter is one of the easiest ways to protect your heating system from damage – and will also keep your energy costs lower in the winter.