Time to change your furnace
filter
A new filter will improve comfort, generate savings, and ensure your
furnace fan has a longer life
As the warm weather gradually
recedes, Ontarians are preparing for the inevitable snow and cold
temperatures. Green$aver, Toronto's leader in environmental energy
efficiency and home energy audits would like to remind homeowners that
household winter preparation should also include replacing the furnace
filter.
A simple check can provide valuable benefits
Each winter, homes across the country depend upon some form of home
heating, including a forced air furnace. In 2005, 52% of Canadian homes
use forced air furnaces as their principle heating and cooling system.
These operate throughout the year, moving cool air through the house in
the summer and warm air in the winter. This constant operation means
homeowners should check their furnace filter at least every six months (or
more often in dusty conditions) to make sure the filter is clean. If your
filter is dirty, consider replacing it with a HEPA (high efficiency
particulate air) filter - they will catch 99.97% of air particles.
Installing and checking your furnace filter
If the floor or area near the furnace is covered in dust, vacuum or sweep
prior to replacing the filter. Next, locate the service panel, usually on
the furnace's lower front or side. Once you've turned off the furnace,
gently pop open or pull down the panel door with your hands; tools usually
aren't needed. Look for a framed-mesh rectangular screen inserted either
horizontally or vertically near the intake-outtake blower. Carefully slide
the filter screen out and look for brown, dusty buildup on the mesh
screen. This is an indication of a clogged or dirty filter.
If you have a reusable plastic-frame or metal-frame filter, use a hose to
rinse away the dust particles on the screen in the backyard or sink. Let
it dry and reinstall.
If you have a disposable cardboard-frame filter, write down the size and
then dispose of the dirty filter. Buy a new furnace filter of the same
size (available at hardware and home supply stores).
Finally, take a look for the "MERV" rating on the filter; the
higher the MERV rating, the better the filtration. Make sure that your
furnace technician approves a change to a high efficiency filter. Some of
the filters with higher MERV ratings will reduce the amount of air passing
through the furnace and affect its performance.
Green$aver encourages homeowners who are considering replacing their
current furnace with a newer, energy efficient model, to check out the
ecoENERGY retrofit rebates offered by the federal and provincial
governments.
For more tips on how to make your home more energy efficient, or to
schedule an ecoENERGY Retrofit assessment, visit www. greensaver.org or
call (416) 203-3106.
Green$aver is an independent non-profit corporation dedicated to
environmental energy efficiency. They have pioneered Ontario
residential energy conservation for 25 years and have an unparalleled
history of performing both economically viable and environmentally
friendly measures to help individuals and organizations with their energy
needs (
www.greensaver.org).
