How and When to Change Your Furnace Filter
Your furnace is an important part of the whole home system that keeps your home comfortable and efficient.
Avalon supplies each upper-level townhome, or garage townhome, with a high efficiency furnace that looks like this.
How your furnace works:
Outside air is pulled in, filtered, and introduced to the home through your Heat Recovery Ventilation System (HRV). This air is warmed and circulated through the home and pulled back to the furnace through the return air vents on each floor of the home. The return air moves down the return air plenum (metal rectangle on the left) and is pulled through the furnace filter (located in the center between the plenum and the furnace). The filter stops dust and dirt from getting into the furnace and home. The air is then super-heated through gas combustion and continues its journey through the ducts to warm your home.
Why it is important to change your furnace filter:
Your furnace needs clean air to work, so maintaining a clean furnace filter is a vital part of a healthy whole home system. A dirty furnace filter will make your furnace less efficient and cost you more money. A very dirty filter can cause your furnace to stop!
If there is an incident with your furnace due to a clogged or dirty furnace filter, the warranty will not cover the service call or any subsequent damages.
The MOST IMPORTANT furnace maintenance is furnace filter maintenance:
- Check your furnace filter once a month to see if it looks dirty and grey. If it looks dirty, replace it with a new furnace filter right away.
- Change your furnace filter at least once every three months no matter what it looks like!!
- A dirty furnace filter can stop your furnace from working – you don’t want this in the winter months!
- A clean furnace filter helps keep your furnace running well and can decrease maintenance requirements and problems over the years.
- We recommend putting reminders in your phone calendar to change your furnace filter.
A little goes a long way!
A little prevention goes a long way in a home and doesn’t have to cost a lot. Your Avalon home is a high efficiency home and saves you money all year long. Your furnace filter is the same! A clean furnace filter saves you money on your energy bills.
You don’t need an expensive filter. So, when you shop for furnace filters, use cheap and cheerful as your motto. Buy inexpensive furnace filters and change them frequently. Make sure you buy the correct size of furnace filter; they vary from furnace to furnace. You can find the size clearly marked on the furnace filter edge.
How to Change Your Furnace Filter:
- Open the door/slider on the left side of the Furnace
- Pull the furnace filter out and slide the new one in.
- Make Sure the arrows on the edge of the furnace filter point towards the furnace.
- Close the door/slider.
Good Job!
You have now changed your furnace filter. Don’t forget to schedule the next furnace filter change in your calendar. Furnace filters must be changed every three months.
Furnace Emergencies:
If you are experiencing a furnace failure during business hours and you are within the 2-year ANHW insurance period, use this QR code to submit a service request right away.
If your furnace issue is taking place after-hours, on weekends, or holidays, please use the emergency HVAC number located on your electrical panel.
Please contact us at Service@avalonmasterbuilder.com to alert us of any after-hours emergency so we can follow up and action next steps if necessary.
Out of warranty?
Contact the HVAC service provider of your choice right away.
Questions and Concerns:
If you have any additional questions or concerns about changing your furnace filter, please contact us at service@avalonmasterbuilder.com.