Changing your furnace humidifier filter is an essential part of maintaining your unit. Not only does it keep the air clean, but it also helps to ensure that the humidifier is running at its peak performance. But how often to change the furnace humidifier filter?
A furnace humidifier helps to add moisture to the air, which can be beneficial for many reasons. It can help prevent static electricity, cracked paint and wallpaper, and make the air feel warmer in the winter. We have put together this guide to help determine how often you should be changing your filter.
What is A Furnace Humidifier Filter?
Your humidifier filter, also known as an evaporator pad, water panel, or water pad, effectively holds and disperses moisture straight to the air as it passes through the furnace. Your humidifier’s filter is more appropriately thought of as a water retention pad.
It stores water for the furnace air to travel through and provides water to the atmosphere in your house. Your humidity control sends water through the pad when it detects a reduction in the humidity percentage to sustain the precise humidity level you want.
The filter is an essential part of the humidifier, as it helps to remove any impurities from the water before it evaporates. It includes things like dust, bacteria, and minerals. Over time, the filter will become clogged with these impurities and need replacement to continue functioning correctly.
How Often Should You Change The Furnace Humidifier Filter?
Now that you know how important it is to have a clean filter, you are probably wondering how often you should be changing it. The answer depends on a few factors, including the type of filter used and the air quality in your home.
If you live in an area with hard water, the minerals in the water can cause the filter to become clogged more quickly. In this case, you may need to change the filter more frequently. Additionally, if you have pets or someone in your home who suffers from allergies, you may need to change the filter more often.
Generally speaking, you should expect to change your furnace humidifier filter every one to three months. However, if you find that you are changing it more frequently than this, it may be a good idea to upgrade to a higher-quality filter. When your house needs humidity the most in the winter, you might need to replace the humidifier filter more frequently.
Choosing the Right Filter for Your Furnace Humidifier
When it comes time to replace your filter, it is crucial to choose one that is the right size and type for your humidifier. If you have a whole-house humidifier, you will need to make sure that you select a filter that is designed for this type of unit.
Additionally, you will need to choose a filter with the right MERV rating. The MERV rating measures how effectively the filter removes impurities from the air. The higher the MERV rating, the more effective the filter will be.
A filter with a MERV rating of 5 or 6 will be sufficient for most homes. However, if you have pets or someone in your home who suffers from allergies, you may need to choose a filter with a higher MERV rating.
Conclusion
Installing a new filter is a relatively easy task that you can do yourself. However, if you are not comfortable doing it, you can always hire a professional to do it for you. When it comes to how often to change the furnace humidifier filter, you should do it every one to three months, or more frequently if necessary. Choosing the right filter is also important, as you want one that is the right size and type for your humidifier and has the right MERV rating.