How to Install a Furnace Filter

The homeowner has many difficult tasks he must accomplish if he wants to keep his home up and in good repair. However, one of them is not changing the filter on the furnace. This is a very simple task and it is easy to accomplish.

Instructions

1. Figure out where the filter on your furnace is. If you have moved into a new home, your builder should give you a "tour" of all your vital appliances. This includes the furnace. The filter is usually in an easy-to-reach spot that makes it easy to change. The filter is usually perpendicular to the floor, right next to one of the large vents next to the blower that sends the heat throughout your house.

2. Pull the filter out by it edges. The edge of the filter will be sticking out through its metallic home. You should be able to grab it easily and pull it out in one motion. Sometimes a filter will need a little manipulation and "jiggling" before it comes out. Maneuver the filter until you feel it will slide out of its spot easily.

3. Change your filter every month so that your furnace operates at peak efficiency. The filter will trap dirt, dust and other extraneous matters. As it gets filled, it is able to trap less dust and dirt. Changing the filter every 30 days will allow your furnace to operate efficiently and economically.

4. Teach your spouse and perhaps an older child to change the filter on the furnace. It is really an easy job and if you can share the responsibility with other family members it will make others feel as if they are contributing in an area that they have not been involved with in the past.

5. Notice the size that is printed on your filter. When you pull the filter out of its hold, it will say something like "16x25x1." That means it's16 inches tall by 25 inches long and 1 inch wide. Go to your local hardware store and purchase 3 or 4 filters of a similar size. By purchasing several at a time, you won't have to run to the hardware store every month to buy a new furnace.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not turn your furnace off to change the filter. It is not near any of the electrical or gas elements that could start a fire. Do not take the filter out just because it is dirty if you do not have a replacement. It is better to leave a dirty filter in than let your furnace run without one.