The Importance of Checking Furnace Filters

There are quite a few people who don't get around to either changing or cleaning the furnace filters in their home. This often occurs because they can't be bothered to make the trip down to the basement convinced that it is a burdensome job. However, maintaining your furnace and furnace filter is critical for a number of reasons.

First of all, a clean furnace air filter means air can get through the small holes and the furnace can work efficiently. If the filter is clogged with dirt and dust, the furnace has to work harder to get air through the filter and working harder means using more energy and higher utility bills for you. In addition, this puts unnecessary stress on your furnace which will increase the chance of parts breaking and maintenance by a professional being required. Getting a repair man to look at your furnace can be costly and it is something that is entirely preventable with a little regular maintenance.

You have a furnace for a reason. It is meant to heat your house and the furnace filters are meant to keep the air clean. When furnace air filters are left in place too long and not cleaned or changed, all you are doing is circulating dirty air through your home. For people who have alergies or asthma, this can have a very detrimental effect on their health. Even healthy people can be effected by the germs that get rotated through the rooms of the house. Together with the heating, the germs and viruses have a perfect breading ground and a healthy family can easily get sick. This is the reason that viruses spread so quickly through office buildings in the winter time.

The last and most extreme chance you are taking by ignoring your furnace maintenance is the possibility of the dirty filters and furnace catching on fire or even causing an explosion. This is a rare occurrence but something that can happen if you don't check your furnace regularly.

For all these reasons it is crucial to make a regular schedule to check your filters. Once a month is reasonable. Keep in mind that this doesn't mean you'll always need to clean or replace the filters. Depending on the time of year and usage of your furnace, it will sometimes be clean and sometimes need cleaning.

If you own a Honeywell furnace, you should use Honeywell furnace filters. Even if you have a different type of furnace, a Honeywell furnace filter will work well and is one of the most reliable brands on the market. Most filters are of the 1 inch variety and are popular because they are cheap. However, they clog up very quickly and therefore need to be replaced very often. They are also not reusable. In the long run, these reasons make it more expensive and not less and it initially seems. Honeywell furnace filters are 4 inch and collect a lot more dust and particles from the air. In addition, they can be cleaned and resused. Although they are a little more expensive, they'll save you a lot of money in the long run.

So, for good health and to prevent costly repairs and accidents, check your furnace filters regularly and change or clean them when necessary.

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