Home & Garden
Washington DC Homeowners: Furnace Filter Cleaning
Here's how to clean and change your furnace filter this winter.
It may be a mild winter so far in Washington D.C., but that's not an excuse to slack on cleaning your furnace filter. This small but mighty piece works hard for your heating furnace and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Filters increase productivity and filter out unwanted debris. By cleaning it regularly, you'll extend the lifetime of your system and cut energy costs. Inspect them monthly to check if they need to be cleaned or replaced. Here’s everything you need to know about how to get it done.
How to Clean or Replace Your Furnace Filter
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The first thing you’ll want to do is turn your HVAC system completely off. Then, locate your service panel. This is typically easily removed by hand but some systems will require a screwdriver. Locate your air filter (it’s near the intake/outtake blower) and check its dust level. Is it hard to see through? If you have a reusable filter, rinse away the dust particles in your sink.
If it’s disposable, jot down the size of the filter, toss the old one, and replace it with a fresh product before turning the system back on. If you’ve restarted the system and it doesn’t seem to be working properly, or if you’re unsure of how to replace your filter, enlist the help of an HVAC professional. They’ll be able to help for a small fee.
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Types of Furnace Filters
If your filter has a cardboard frame, it’s disposable. If it has fiberglass or metal framing, it’s reusable. Most filters are mechanical, which means they simply capture debris in metal meshing. If you don’t have severe allergies, they are an affordable and effective way to go.
More nontraditional options include electrostatic (which uses static electricity to attract dust and pollen) and electronic. Electronic models are so efficient that they need to be cleaned weekly. The most efficient is High Efficiency Particle Absorbers (HEPA). These are expensive, and are typically only used in high-sanitary environments like hospitals and laboratories.
Chances are, your home is equipped with a traditional mechanical filter. If you have asthma or other health issues, talk to an HVAC professional about upgrading to a more efficient model.
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