Filter Changes for Your Gas Furnace

I know we’re always shouting from the roof-tops about changing the filter in your furnace and it can seem repetitive and annoying, but I promise you there are reasons!

When air flow is restricted in your furnace because of a dirty or clogged filter, the static pressure builds within your system.  Think of a large amount of air trying to be blown through a small opening or holding your hand over the nozzle of an air hose.  When this happens, you will feel little to no air coming from your vents.  The blower motor is working overtime at this point and is at risk of being burned out.   The metal tubing of your heat exchanger also overheats because the air can’t distribute said heat, causing rust and holes in the heat exchanger and letting flue gases and carbon monoxide into the air in your home.  Your furnace is now dangerous to run and will then be condemned; you will need either a new heat exchanger or entire furnace replacement.  Carbon Monoxide is nothing to mess with.

If you have a condensing furnace, dust and debris from a clogged filter will make its way inside your blower compartment and onto the copper coils. When those coils sweat and carry the debris into your condensate drain pan, the drain line can become clogged and overflow causing all kinds of water damage in addition to everything listed above.

So much doom and gloom!  As you can see, it really is out of love for your equipment that we remind everyone to the point of aggravation to change their furnace filter; it’s that important.

Now let’s talk filters.  Home Depot, Lowes, even Target carries furnace filters you can buy and of course you can find them online by the box.  If you prefer to shop locally, all heating contractors should have stock on hand for sale and will usually give you a discount for buying box quantities.

We hope this sheds some light on the subject and at the very least makes us seem less bothersome when we bring up filter changes.