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Changing a domicile furnace filter regularly is the fastest and easiest manner to make sure your furnace is running smoothly and efficiently, equally well as to help purify the air in your home. Check the furnace filter monthly to see when it needs to be changed. Dispose of it and supersede it with a new furnace filter of the same size when it gets dirty. This will keep the air flowing through your furnace, minimize the strain on your heating system, and help filter dust and other particles out of the air in your home.

  1. 1

    Turn off your furnace before checking or replacing the filter. Set the furnace's thermostat to the "off" position. This volition forestall the furnace from turning on while you are checking or replacing the filter.

    • If the furnace turns on while there is non filter in it, and so it can suck up potentially-damaging loose debris.
    • Refer to the owner's manual for your furnace for whatever specific instructions regarding how to supercede the filter.

    Tip: Cheque your filter every month to see if it needs replacement. About disposable types of filters are designed to be replaced every 1-2 months. If you lot take furry pets or your furnace runs all the fourth dimension, so your filter will get dirty more quickly.

  2. 2

    Open or slide the door panel off of your furnace. There will be a door on your furnace that either swings open up or slides off. Open or remove the door to provide access to the inside of your furnace.[one]

    • If your door is the type that slides off, and then you can typically remove it past simply lifting it upwardly until it comes gratis, and then set it aside.

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  3. three

    Locate the filter in your furnace and remove any cover that is over it. The filter is usually located at the air return duct or the entrance to the blower sleeping accommodation. At that place is sometimes another cover over the filter that y'all will have to pull off.[2]

    • Look for the vents where the air enters into the furnace arrangement to locate the filter well-nigh either the air render duct or the entrance to the blower bedroom.
  4. 4

    Slide out the onetime filter and hold information technology up to the lite. Use both easily to carefully pull the filter out for inspection. Hold it up to a light source to check how dingy it is and determine if it is time to replace it.[3]

    • If in that location is any resistance when you lot endeavor to slide the filter out, so in that location may be a locking mechanism keeping it in place. Check for such a arrangement and slide the lock out of the mode to release the filter.
  5. 5

    Replace the filter with a new one if you tin't run across through it. Information technology'south fourth dimension to replace the filter when no low-cal shines through the filter when you hold information technology up to a light source. Information technology's important to change the filter regularly to go on good airflow going through the furnace and go along information technology from overheating.[4]

    • Disposable filters have a paper-thin frame. If your filter has a plastic or metallic frame, then information technology is a reusable filter than you tin clean instead of replacing it with a whole new filter.

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  1. 1

    Look on the cardboard frame of the old filter to find the dimensions. The filter size will be printed somewhere on the frame of the disposable filter. Note information technology downwardly so that you can refer to the measurements when you shop for a new filter.[5]

    • If your filter does not take the dimensions printed on information technology, and so measure it with a measuring tape, or check the owner's manual for the manufacturer'southward recommendations to ensure you become the right replacement filter.
  2. ii

    Purchase a replacement filter of the correct size. Head to a dwelling hardware store or home improvement heart to find a new filter. Refer to the dimensions of the old filter and buy a filter of the same size.[6]

    • The cheapest disposable furnace filters are fiberglass with paper-thin frames. This kind of filter will trap big particles of dust and is designed to be replaced every 1-ii months. If you desire to upgrade your filter, y'all can get a slightly more than expensive disposable pleated filter, which will trap smaller particles of dust , pollen, and dirt. These filters last longer; from 4 months to i year.

    Tip: If you or someone in your household has allergies, y'all might desire to invest in a highly efficient particle air (HEPA) filter. These types of filters are antimicrobial and specially designed to trap things like mold, mildew, fungus, yeast, and algae. They are available in both disposable and reusable varieties.

  3. 3

    Look for an arrow on the filter that shows which way it needs to face. Your new filter will accept an arrow that shows which way the air flows through it. Find this arrow to determine which way to slide the filter into your furnace.

    • Home furnace filters are made to filter air in a single direction so that they do not collapse or fall apart as they trap grit and other debris.
  4. 4

    Slide the filter into place and supervene upon any cover that goes over it. Slide the new filter in then that the arrow is facing the furnace'south blower motor. Snap the filter embrace back into place if you removed one to take out the filter.[7]

    • If you put the filter in backwards, then your furnace won't take sufficient airflow and it can overheat and shut down. This tin too happen with a muddy filter, so make sure to proceed checking your filter monthly and replacing it when it is dirty.
  5. 5

    Close or supplant the door panel of the furnace. Swing the furnace'due south access door airtight or slide it dorsum on if you removed it. Your furnace will at present be fix to use for at least some other month.[8]

    • Remember that if you lot accept hirsuite pets or you run the furnace very regularly, then you volition need to replace the filter more than frequently. Check your filter every calendar month and whatever time y'all discover grit edifice up in your dwelling.
  6. 6

    Plough your furnace back on. Set the furnace's thermostat back to the "on" position now that you have replaced the filter. Your furnace volition exist protected from loose droppings by the filter and is rubber to run every bit normal.

    • You might want to brand a notation of the date yous changed the filter to remind yourself to check it once again in a calendar month.

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