Furnace Filters - Are you Good about It?

**AmyBoz** · 10-09-2009, 12:40 PM

Do you regularly change or clean your furnace filters? I know that I, for one, am not as on top of it as I should be. However, I also know how important it is in keeping the air quality in my home clean.

So, how 'bout it? How good are you at changing your filters?

**monkeywrangler71** · 10-09-2009, 12:56 PM

I'm terrible

**frugalwarrior** · 10-09-2009, 01:15 PM

We have very expensive filter w/ our furnace. We change 2x a year. Also our permanent filter for the humidifier attached to the furnace get cleaned then too. At the same time we change the water carbon filter and the other water filter. We have cats and dogs too so its very important here. We also have a Hepa air cleaner w/ a permanent filter. Love it. Plan to get another when I can afford it.

**frugalfranny** · 10-09-2009, 01:28 PM

Yes! And with allergies and 2 dogs, I have to be.

I write the date that I changed it on the filter and then also put that date/note a month later, on my upstairs calendar as a reminder that it needs to be changed again....during the winter. I use the 'cheap' filters and change them every month......WITHOUT FAIL!

Had been using the more expensive (touted as more allergy friendly) filters when a furnace guy told me that they are harder on your furnace, since it can't 'pull in' the air that it needs to run properly. I also use the filters that fit into the duct work on the floor.

**savvy_sniper** · 10-09-2009, 01:50 PM

I change our central A/C/heat filter on the 1st of every month. In the summer because the A/C runs so much; I vacuum the filter on the 15th of the month. I also buy the better filters that my A/C guy recommended. The really cheap ones don't keep out as much of the dust/dirt, etc.

I always keep 2-3 months worth on hand because I watch for them on sale and buy. That way I never run out or pay full price.

**Momof3girls** · 10-09-2009, 01:52 PM

I am awful about it!

**IntlMom** · 10-09-2009, 01:53 PM

not at all.

our plan? recently we have moved every 2-3 years. we put in a new one when we move in, and that about covers it.

terrible, eh?

**Pemberleyan** · 10-09-2009, 01:57 PM

This is one of those things DH does and he's very on top of it, even writing the date on the filters as he puts them in.

**MaryCarney** · 10-09-2009, 03:11 PM

I must admit, DH is good at this as well as remembering oil changes for the cars.

We made a deal years ago, he would not ask me to pump gas, I would not ask him to cook. We have a fairly agreeable division of labor.

**lisaflex** · 10-09-2009, 06:18 PM

really really bad

i think it gets done 2x yr. when A/C gets checked in May and in Sept. when furnace gets checked!

**Sassyclass** · 10-09-2009, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

not at all.

our plan? recently we have moved every 2-3 years. we put in a new one when we move in, and that about covers it.

terrible, eh?

Now that's a different approach to a problem. Seems to be working.

I vacuum ours about every 6 weeks and change it every 12 weeks. If not my allergies let me know also.

Cat

**Jeanna** · 10-09-2009, 10:23 PM

Ours is in our floor and it gets clogged so fast that I really need to change it every couple of weeks. I have tried cleaning it then and change it once a month. My husband got so fed up he just took out the filter. I do have a room filtration system that I try to run to help with the air.

**tervsforme** · 10-10-2009, 11:21 AM

ACK! I'm horrible at it, thanks for the reminder. I just sent myself an e-mail to my house, I'm at work, to change it when I get home. I have 2 dogs and a cat, I really need to remember to change it every month. Ok, today is the 10th, I just put it in my planner to change it on the 10th of November.

Thanks for the nudge...er...reminder!

**Grainlady** · 10-10-2009, 01:32 PM

We change ours once a month and the thermostat has a pop-up message as a monthly reminder. We are like savvy_sniper, 1st of the month and buy filters when they are on sale. We get bonus "bucks" from ACE Hardware and True Value Hardware and if we don't need anything else, we'll use the coupons for furnace filters and buy ahead.