Post by misty on Jan 21, 2009 13:57:16 GMT -6
Time: 15 minutes
Cost: $100 for a 10-year permanent filter
Savings: $30 to $44 per year
Frequency: once a month during periods of heavy use
A dirty filter makes your furnace work harder, so cleaning or replacing yours can cut your heating costs by as much as five percent. Beyond the savings, clean filters keep dust and mold spores out of your house, helping reduce allergy symptoms. They can also prevent more expensive maintenance work or even the failure of your furnace.
A high-quality permanent filter may cost $100, but over its lifespan it will save far more than you would spend purchasing disposable filters, which can cost up to $15 each.
Cleaning or replacing the filter
Step One: Turn off power to the furnace, either from the circuit breaker or the switch at the furnace itself.
Step Two: Vacuum around the base of furnace. The furnace blower draws air from the room, so any lightweight material around the furnace can get drawn into the filter, shortening its life.
Step Three: Remove the filter. The filter's location varies between furnace models, but a safe place to start is the service panel located at the front. No tools should be necessary, and the panel, which you should find below the return-air duct, will either lift or slide out. In some cases you may need a screwdriver to remove it.
Noting how the filter is positioned, in particular the directional arrows on the filter frame, remove and inspect it for dust build-up.
Step Four: Determine if the filter can be reused.
A cardboard frame indicates the filter is disposable and should be replaced with one for your specific make and model of furnace (even during periods of low use, no more than three months should pass between filter changes).
A plastic or metal frame means it can be cleaned and reused. Vacuum the mesh, spray it clean with a hose and let it dry. If the plastic frame or mesh is torn, the filter should be replaced.
When replacing a filter, you'll find a range of prices, but the cheapest products will be less effective. Look for a Minimum Efficiency Report Value (MERV) rating of between 7 and 13, which the EPA says is nearly as effective as a true HEPA filter (which most furnaces cannot use).
Step Five: Before installing the new filter, inspect the interior of the furnace from the access area. Using the wand end of a vacuum cleaner, remove dust and cobwebs, and try to improve your reach by removing any other furnace parts.
Step Six: Install the new or newly cleaned filter, replace the access panel and turn the power back on.
www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/home-improvement/furnace-filter?source=email_gg_20090121&email=gg
Cost: $100 for a 10-year permanent filter
Savings: $30 to $44 per year
Frequency: once a month during periods of heavy use
A dirty filter makes your furnace work harder, so cleaning or replacing yours can cut your heating costs by as much as five percent. Beyond the savings, clean filters keep dust and mold spores out of your house, helping reduce allergy symptoms. They can also prevent more expensive maintenance work or even the failure of your furnace.
A high-quality permanent filter may cost $100, but over its lifespan it will save far more than you would spend purchasing disposable filters, which can cost up to $15 each.
Cleaning or replacing the filter
Step One: Turn off power to the furnace, either from the circuit breaker or the switch at the furnace itself.
Step Two: Vacuum around the base of furnace. The furnace blower draws air from the room, so any lightweight material around the furnace can get drawn into the filter, shortening its life.
Step Three: Remove the filter. The filter's location varies between furnace models, but a safe place to start is the service panel located at the front. No tools should be necessary, and the panel, which you should find below the return-air duct, will either lift or slide out. In some cases you may need a screwdriver to remove it.
Noting how the filter is positioned, in particular the directional arrows on the filter frame, remove and inspect it for dust build-up.
Step Four: Determine if the filter can be reused.
A cardboard frame indicates the filter is disposable and should be replaced with one for your specific make and model of furnace (even during periods of low use, no more than three months should pass between filter changes).
A plastic or metal frame means it can be cleaned and reused. Vacuum the mesh, spray it clean with a hose and let it dry. If the plastic frame or mesh is torn, the filter should be replaced.
When replacing a filter, you'll find a range of prices, but the cheapest products will be less effective. Look for a Minimum Efficiency Report Value (MERV) rating of between 7 and 13, which the EPA says is nearly as effective as a true HEPA filter (which most furnaces cannot use).
Step Five: Before installing the new filter, inspect the interior of the furnace from the access area. Using the wand end of a vacuum cleaner, remove dust and cobwebs, and try to improve your reach by removing any other furnace parts.
Step Six: Install the new or newly cleaned filter, replace the access panel and turn the power back on.
www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/home-improvement/furnace-filter?source=email_gg_20090121&email=gg
