topic Re: Changing Furnace Filters in Home

Changing Furnace Filters

FlowerBear — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:15:08 GMT

Do you change yours regularly even if it doesnt look dirty? I didnt change mine for about 3 months since each time I checked it it had no dirt or dust on it that I could see. Then I read you should change a filter every 30 days whether it has dust on it or not!

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

Peaches McPhee — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:18:23 GMT

I've never seen a clean filter after a month of furnace use. Do you live in a warm climate where the furnace is not on much?

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

FlowerBear — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:19:06 GMT

No but each since each time I looked at it, it was clean I didnt know you should change anyway!

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

RedTop — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:23:23 GMT

Yes, I do change ours monthly.

There is always dust trapped in the filter, some months it’s heavier than others. I’d rather replace a cheap furnace filter each month than pay for a service call.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

shaggygirl — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:28:00 GMT

@FlowerBear wrote:
No but each since each time I looked at it, it was clean I didnt know you should change anyway!

@FlowerBear

I've never heard of that business about changing it anyway. I look at it and make a judgement call. On average I'd say every 2 months it's changed.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

Kachina624 — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:29:57 GMT

My evaporative cooler doesn't need a filter but I change the furnace filter about every 3 months in the winter. It always needs changing.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

fthunt — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:29:59 GMT

I have an add-on 'box' attached to the furnace for cleaning the system. Filters are large - I change filter with the seasons - 1 - Fall....1 in the Spring that goes pretty much through the summer. Furnace isn't on in the summer - so less dirt and dust.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

Pook — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:30:13 GMT

We usually change ours every fall.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

Bhvbum — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:32:54 GMT

@FlowerBear wrote:
No but each since each time I looked at it, it was clean I didnt know you should change anyway!

I have 4 air conditioner filters (big ones for my AC returns) in my house (I don't have a heat pump, I have an old house with radiators for heat in winter, but do have big AC units just like a heat pump with units in the yard, that take filters)

I can always see by the filter that they need changing, but this is only for the summer. Mine are for 3 mos but I change every 2 mos and they look ready to change. I also date them when I put a new one in. The dust, etc certainly isn't invisible so your house may be super insulated and just doesn't get that dusty.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

Krimpette — Wed, 13 May 2020 21:06:18 GMT

I change mine every other month.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

Carolm — Wed, 13 May 2020 22:33:41 GMT

It may depend upon what type of filters you use. I was told by the company who installed my furnace a couple of years ago, and also the technician who services hvac spring and fall to use the cheapest filters available and to change them every two to three months.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

LilLadyNJ — Wed, 13 May 2020 22:33:49 GMT

I change mine every three months. I use the 3M filters.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

stevieb — Wed, 13 May 2020 23:14:52 GMT

Depending on the quality of the filter, changing every three to four months seems adequate. Of course they want you to change them more often so you can buy more of them... Helps their bottom line but doesn't do much for yours...

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

akaburtonfan — Wed, 13 May 2020 23:12:38 GMT

We use the inexpensive filters and change them every 4-6 weeks. Our furnace runs from September or October until May. It’s actually still running but thankfully not as much. Hoping for a warm up soon.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

ValuSkr — Wed, 13 May 2020 23:18:10 GMT

My thermostat tells me when it's time to change the filter. It's based on the number of hours the fan has run, including both furnace and a/c.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

Eileen in Virginia — Thu, 14 May 2020 00:09:08 GMT

We change ours once a year. We had been changing them every 6 months, but the person who installed our furnace told us we could go to changing it annually.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

on the bay — Thu, 14 May 2020 00:52:44 GMT

I use to change mine a lot, at least every 2-3 months when I got the inexpensive ones.

I recently am getting one that says it needs to be changed once a year!

I find that hard to believe but I'm trying it and I do vacuum it every once in awhile. I'm glad to see someone else has a once a year.

Mine is in the ceiling now so I have to stand on a ladder! Whoever heard of putting a filter in the ceiling!

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

Bhvbum — Thu, 14 May 2020 01:16:06 GMT

@on the bay wrote:
I use to change mine a lot, at least every 2-3 months when I got the inexpensive ones.
I recently am getting one that says it needs to be changed once a year!
I find that hard to believe but I'm trying it and I do vacuum it every once in awhile. I'm glad to see someone else has a once a year.
Mine is in the ceiling now so I have to stand on a ladder! Whoever heard of putting a filter in the ceiling!

lol, it's in the ceiling because in the summer that is where the hot air is and the air is recycling. My filter on 2nd floor is in the Ceiling because that air goes back to the air circulator in my attic and all the duct work is right above it.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

aubnwa01 — Thu, 14 May 2020 02:07:07 GMT

I change the 20" X 30" filter in my air return about every 3 months. I buy good quality Filtrete 2200 filters when Costco has them on sale for $29.99 for a 3 pack. The return is in the ceiling in my hall, so I write the date I changed it in large numbers on the edge of the bottom of the filter in Sharpie so I can see the date looking up when I stand in my hall. The current filter was put in on 3-7-20 & is looking like it will need to be changed soon, but living in AZ my AC has been running for a month or so already.

Re: Changing Furnace Filters

godi — Thu, 14 May 2020 11:16:11 GMT

Every two months here. I notice dust settles more when we try to go three months.