Change Air Filters

Tools needed

Materials needed

Time required

  • 1 hour

Cost

  • 10$ - 100$

Priority

  • Medium

Difficulty

  • Easy

Frequency

  • Quarterly

Primary location

  • Inside

Safety notes

  • Only use an appropriate stepladder in good condition when working on items at height. If you haven't already, read our articles on "Ladder Inspection" and "Ladder Selection".

    Also be sure to wear safety glasses, as debris may fall from the old filter during removal. 

Introduction

Changing the air filter on your central heat and/or air system is one of the simplest and yet most important home maintenance tasks you can do. A clean air filter helps save energy, decrease dust and allergens, and extend the life of your system. This task usually takes just a few minutes and requires only basic tools and skills.

Step by step

This task should only take you a few minutes to complete, but is important to maintaining the health and efficiency of your home. Here's a short video from Expert Village that demonstrates the process outlined in this tutorial.

 

  1. Select an Air Filter
    Select an appropriately sized air filter. Don’t forget to purchase some more if you’re running low. A recommended air filter is listed in the Materials section.

    You may notice different MERV ratings for various filters as well as various shapes and materials. In general, the higher the MERV rating (typically 1-20) the smaller the particles the filter will remove. So higher is better, right? Not exactly. Typically higher MERV rating also create more air resistance so your fan has to work harder, using more energy and possibly shortening fan life. Don’t overdo the MERV rating unless you have a reason, like very bad allergies or other respiratory conditions. For most situations, a MERV rating of 8-10 is fine.

    What about material and design? Well the fiberglass filters are the least expensive but usually are also the lowest MERV rating. Pleated filters are slightly more expensive but strike a good balance between MERV rating, efficiency, and cost. These are what we normally recommend for most households.

    Still not sure what filter to purchase? See this article from Lowes for more information.

  2. Gather Tools and Locate Filter
    Reference the tools and materials list on the right hand side of this page and gather all the items you'll need for this task. Depending on whether or not your filter is located in the ceiling or near the floor, you may or may not need the stepladder.

    Filters are always on the return air side of your HVAC unit. That is the section that pulls the old air back from the house before sending it to the unit. The grill covering this return air duct is larger than your supply air diffusers and typically located in the wall, ceiling, or the unit itself.  It is usually right by your thermostat as well. 

  3. Clean the Return Air Grill
    Locate the grill and using the best attachment for your vacuum cleaner, clean the grill of dust, dirt, and pet hair.

  4. Remove & Replace the Filter
    Use a flathead screwdriver to open the return air grill, accessing the filter. 

    Remove the old filter, doing your best not to disturb any dust and dirt collected on it, and dispose of in a garbage bag.

    Place the new filter in with the arrows facing the direction of the airflow, which will be in toward the ductwork.  Close the grill and secure any tabs or screws.

  5. Mark Complete
    Mark this item good to go for another 3 months on your dashboard! We'll remind you next time you're due for a replacement.

Download

Want to get started maintaining your home but not sure where to start? Download our free PDF of a typical home maintenance plan!

For a plan customized to your own home, register for Propsee Premium. 

Flush Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters are efficient and effective, but they require maintenance to ensure they do not build up scale. Flushing your tankless heater is a simple task, but it does take 1-2 hours to complete. For most water quality, completing this task once a year will suffice, but if you have especially hard water you may want to complete more often.

Read More

Flush Tank Water Heater

Tap water has tiny bits of minerals and sediment in it that tends to pile up in the bottom of your water heater. Left unchecked, this sediment builds up over time and will rob your heater of capacity and prematurely wear out the components. Eventually the whole bottom of your tank could rust out and lead to a catastrophic failure and flood. Annual water heater flushes help keep this from happening!

Read More