Simple Ways Series - Episode 2: Clean Furnace Filters

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A. Caleb Hartley on December 26th, 2007 filed in Simple Ways

According to Warren Leon (Director of Renewable Energy Trust) in his report “Your Most Important Environmental Choices,” home heating, hot water, and air conditioning represents 16% of an average consumer’s greenhouse gas contribution. It also adds up to 11% of their air pollution impact, and 3% of their water pollution contribution.

Learning this made me want to run out and buy new, high-efficiency furnaces for my house. After checking with my wife, I found out that we can’t afford to buy new furnaces right now - so I looked for other ways to reduce my impact without replacing my existing furnaces.

The easiest way to reduce the impact of your home heating is to ensure that your furnace filters are clean. If you have a “normal” furnace (by definition, “normal” means “like mine”), you have a few options:

Fiberglass Furnace Filter A Fiberglass Filter

Poly Furnace Filter A Poly Filter

Pleated Furnace Filter A Pleated Filter

A Micro-Allergy Furnace Filter

A reusable Furnace Filter (a.k.a. “permanent” filter)

If you use any of the above filters (excluding the reusable filter), you’ll want to replace your filter AT LEAST every 3 months. My deep research (consisting of the top handful of over ONE MILLION webpages - thanks Google) tells us that professionals suggest replacing your filter monthly. Further research brings us to the conclusion that you should replace your filter “when the filter needs to be replaced.”

“Wha…!?”

Seriously, though - check your furnace filter monthly and when it looks like it has dust and dirt and grime all over it, change it. Most likely, that will be between one and three months while your furnace runs (i.e. when it’s cold). If you use one of the reusable filters, check it monthly and when it is looking dirty, clean it (with a vacuum or running water or however the manufacturer recommends - probably NOT a vacuum AND running water), then put it back where it came from in the furnace.

Additionally, saving energy and reducing pollution might not be the only reason you might want to replace your furnace filters regularly - so here are a few articles and posts about furnace filters (who knew it was such a hot topic? - bad pun, I know):