How to Change a Gas Furnace Filter

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to maintain your gas furnace plus save energy is to change your furnace filter. The filter takes particles of dust and debris out of the air before it goes into the furnace to become warm. A new filter will allow more air to be draw into the furnace and allow for more efficient running of the furnace.

Instructions

1. 

   Locate the furnace filter. The filter is usually between the cold air intake and the furnace. Cold air from your house's cold air registers comes into the furnace to become heated air. When the furnace runs cold air is drawn through the cold air registers and into the furnace passing the filter along the way. Many times the filter compartment will be marked which makes this easier.

2. 

   Get the right size filter. Each furnace has a correct size filter. The easiest way to find out which size your furnace needs is to look at the old one. It will say on the filter the size. It maybe 18x20x1 or something like this. The manual to the furnace may also have the filter size in it. Heating and air conditioning shops can also help with this. You can purchase furnace filters at all hardware stores.

3. 

   Changing the filter. Changing the filter is really quite easy. I like to make sure that the furnace is not running at the time. I will wait until the heat kicks off and then open the filter compartment. It becomes harder to pull the filter out if the blower is running. The cold air draw makes it difficult. It can be done and will not hurt your furnace expect that unfiltered air is passing throughout your house. Pull out the old filter making sure to check the air direction flow on the filter. This tells you the way the air should flow through the filter. Usually this will point into the furnace itself. Replace the filter with the new one.

4. 

   Mark your calendar. Mark your calendar that you changed your filter. It's easy to forget when you changed the filter. Depending on the filter purchased will dictate the frequency of changing the filter. Some filters are once a month while others are longer. The lower the frequency of changing usually means more cost for the filter. Changing the furnace filter is one of the easiest home maintenance jobs that can be done. Changing the filter can save money and make the quality of air in your home better.