By now, we all should know how often to change an air filter (every 3 months depending on air quality, such as dustiness, and the size of the home). For many however, changing air filters can be something of a hassle. It doesn’t and shouldn’t be that way. We’ve compiled a list of tips to keep in mind when replacing your air filter.
- Buy your filters in bulk. You know your filter needs to be changed, but you don’t do it. Why? You’ll have to get a replacement filter, figure out the size(s) you need and things are so busy around the home between work, kids, life, etc., that you just can’t find the time to replace it. There’s a solution though: Air filters usually come in cases of 6-12 and it is advisable to buy by the case rather than one at a time. You know you’re going to need to change it again in 3 months anyway, so why not have replacements on hand and ready to go when you need it? It’s better to have your new filter on hand as opposed to having to worry about getting one just when things are getting a little hectic around the home.
- Keep note of the size air filters you have. Either in your phone, the side of the air filter itself, or a good old-fashioned sticky note (just be sure not to lose it), be sure to jot down the dimensions of your air filter. If you’re like most people and will need more than 1 sized filter for your home, make note of the location of each sized filter as well (hallway, bedroom, etc.) this will save the time by having to figure out the size later on.
- Always use the correctly-sized filter. Filter bypass is when dust and other contaminants sneak around the filter and into your home. This occurs when there is a filter in place that does not properly fit and can even lead to clogged a/c coils. Always use the correct-sized filter in your home. This leads to…
- Know the difference between nominal and actual sizes. In a previous blog, you can read what we wrote about nominal and actual size filters. Essentially, the actual size of a filter is often slightly smaller than the nominal size and varies between manufacturers. The best way to ensure that your filter will fit is to measure the opening of your unit (or your old filter) before you make your purchase.
- Get into a routine. We’ve all been there. We know the filter needs to be changed, yet here we are months later, and the filter still has not been replaced. Just like we need to get into a routine with car oil changes, getting up in the morning for work, etc., we also need to get into a routine to change filters. One easy way to get into a filter change routine is to let us get into one for you by signing up to our Auto Delivery program. It’s easy, saves you money (up to 10%), and we’ll deliver to your door only when you tell us to.
By keeping these 5 things in mind, your air filter changes will be a lot smoother. If you haven’t been practicing the above suggestions, you can start today by ordering your air filter replacement at FiltersFast.com and have the filters you need delivered straight to your door. If you have any air filter questions, share them with us in the comments and we’ll be happy to assist you!
Additional reading:
Kory says
Yes, the arrow is supposed to point towards the furnace.
Frances says
SO, the arrow is supposed to point toward the furnace, correct? Or if you filters have cardboard “x’s” on one side, they go on the INSIDE (away from you, Towards the furnace?”) I’m looking at the picture posted here, and that’s really all I needed to know.
Amanda Drew says
That’s a great idea to make sure you write down what size of air filters you have as well as where those go. My husband and I just bought a new house for us and our son. It’s our first house, so we want to make sure we do everything right. We’ll have to find some air filters to buy to keep our air clean.
Marcus Coons says
It really helped when you mentioned how you should choose the right size air filters to make sure contaminants do not sneak past it. I can understand that taking the time to understand this can help you get the best air quality you can in your area. We are looking into getting an air purifier and want to make sure we know how to replace its filters and get the most of it, so I’m glad I found your post.
Erika Brady says
I think that is a great idea to buy filters in bulk. I have had a few instances where the filter needed to be changed and I did not have anything to change it with. I will buy a lot of them and keep them in my storage. Then I will create a routine of when they need to be changed so I have a rough idea of how often I should be doing that.