- Forced air furnaces have a filter to filter the air moving through the furnace. Open the door to the forced air furnace and locate the filter. The compartment is usually marked, but may not be on older models. Pull the old filter out, note the dimensions and purchase a new filter with those dimensions. There are many different types of filters, choose one that meets your needs. If you have pets, consider choosing a filter that has a higher filtration. If you have minimal dust or no pets, the additional price may not be necessary.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to vacuum the area inside the furnace. Use a crevice tool to vacuum the hard to reach places. Be sure to clean the furnace door to remove dust that is in the grid. If your furnace is located in a closet, clean the dust from the vents in the door.
- Inspect all the exposed duct work for leaks or deterioration. Seal leaks with duct tape. Be sure to check all joints thoroughly. If the duct tape around joined sections of duct work appears to be lifting off in places, remove the old duct tape and replace with new by wrapping two or three overlapping, but offset, layers of new duct tape around the joined sections of ductwork.
- Go through the house and vacuum out all of the heat vents and return vents. Use a screwdriver to remove the covers and push the vacuum hose as far into the ductwork as possible. Place a filter in each heat vent if needed. This provides additional filtration and also prevents dust from entering the duct work through the vent.
