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A replacement filter strategy will help your home run efficiently and keep your family comfortable
Posted on 17 February 2011
In today's fast paced world it's easy to overlook changing your filters. Operating your equipment with plugged filters can raise your utility bills and even make your family sick. Here are a few tips to make the task a little easier. Before we get started grab your planner, calendar or pda.
Having a replacement air filter schedule makes life easy
Alright, go ahead and pick that one day out of the month where we'll create an appointment called "URGENT: Check FURNACE FILTERS, HUMIDIFIER FILTERS and SPA FILTERS!” Since your humidifier is typically connected to the furnace we might as well check them both at the same time. I recommend checking the furnace filter and humidifier filter once per month, whether it needs it or not. It should take less than 5 minutes and you’ll benefit by becoming more familiar your system. That way you'll easily be alerted if something doesn't sound right or seems out of place. If something's wrong you can catch it before a complete failure occurs which could result in a costly overtime repair. Here's the procedure for checking your furnace filter:
- TURN OFF the electrical switch connected to the furnace (it looks like a light switch).
- Remove either the furnace door to the blower or the air cleaner filter door. A furnace blower door will lift up whereas a typical Aprilaire filter will have a door that you pull towards you.
- 3. Inspect the furnace filter which does double duty as your air conditioner filter. Does it look dirty? Can you see light through it? When was the last time it was changed?
- If you don't know when the filter was changed last use this TIP: Fold up a piece of notebook paper, put it in a small zip lock bag then affix it to the front of the return duct with duct tape. The return drop is the part that curves down into the side of the furnace where the air cleaner filter is. Now you can keep a log of when the filter was changed and take note of any questions you may want to ask your heating contractor during the next annual maintenance appointment.
- This is the easy part. When reinstalling the filter make sure any arrows are pointing towards the side of the furnace, put your panels back on and turn on the switch.
It's always better to replace it before it becomes completely plugged. Keep in mind that utility bills go up as ac filters get dirtier. Here's some pointer's on how long an air conditioner filter will last:
- 1" thick - change every 4-6 weeks
- 2" thick - replace every 2-3 months
- 3"-5" thick - replace every 4-6 months
Save yourself that extra trip by having some spare filters available at the unit. Be sure to read the owner's manual and always follow manufacturer recommendations.
A new humidifier filter maintains proper humidity levels
If ever there was a key to indoor air quality it would have to be humidity. Humans are most comfortable between 40% and 60% relative humidity. It’s at this point that bacteria, viruses, molds, dust mites, dry nasal passages, allergies, asthma, damage to wood and static electricity are greatly reduced. Keep in mind though that the colder it is outside the more difficult it is to maintain high humidity levels inside. In the average home we’ll typically see 35% +/- relative humidity throughout the winter season. To achieve the best humidity levels take the following points into consideration:
- Change your humidifier filter regularly. For portable humidifiers change the filter every 2 to 3 weeks according to manufacturer recommendations. For humidifiers that are mounted above the ac filter change the humidifier filter every 3-5 months during the heating season. It’s best to check it monthly and change it as soon as it begins to become restricted with mineral deposits.
- Clean the humidifier trays, frames, housing and water tanks regularly. Use a humidifier cleaner that will lift any mineral deposits without damaging the plastic components. Each time you fill your portable humidifier mix in 5 milliliters of anti-bacterial water treatment for every 4 liters of water. This will ensure proper performance.
- Do not try to clean and reuse your humidifier filters. The channels in the filter could become clogged and worse yet may even collapse after cleaning. You’ll also remove the highly beneficial anti-microbial coating that’s found on most flow-through humidifier filters. In order to maintain efficiency and cleanliness it’s best to simply replace the humidifier filter.
Something to watch out for is humidity forming on the inside of your windows which results in excessive moisture or frost. This means the humidifier is set too high and needs to be turned down. During temperature swings your windows are a great visual indicator for excess moisture so keep a close eye on them.
A new spa filter will save your pump
With no moving parts or electrical switches to fail, spa filters do not have a defined termination point. Instead the fine interstices of the media matrix gradually plug up over time. In a typical spa, the culprit that plugs the filter cartridge is perspiration and body oils combined with soaps, chemicals and very fine particulate. In a swimming pool, the loading is primarily debris along with sun tan lotions and organic matter such as algae. Assuming the spa filter is properly maintained and correctly sized to the pump, determining when the cartridge is exhausted depends primarily on three factors:
- Shorter cycle time between cleanings
- Low water flow rate and high differential pressure
- Catastrophic failure such as a tear in the media or center core collapse
All three are dependent upon proper pool or spa water chemistry and following a routine maintenance schedule. Homeowners should be reminded that spa filter elements are plastic and should be handled and maintained accordingly. To maximize the life of a spa filter cartridge I suggest:
- Clean the elements per cleaning instructions.
- Never us a stiff brush to scrub the media.
- Maintain pool or spa water chemistry in proper balance.
- Do not allow the differential pressure to go over 8 psi between cleanings.
- Alternate 2 sets of filter cartridges when cleaning.
It's best to have two sets of spa filters to alternate and an additional 1 on standby. We carry a complete line of Unicel filters in stock and ready to ship.
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