Have you checked your filters lately?

Mechanical equipment filters in your house impact different aspects of your life namely; Indoor Air Quality, Equipment performance and Cleanliness.

Most houses will have these filters:

• HVAC (furnace),
• Clothes dryer,
• Rangehood,
• Dishwasher drain,
• Window screen.

In addition, some houses will have

• Fridge water line,
• ERV or HRV,
• Drinking water fountain,
• Humidifier,
• A/C exterior unit,
• Furnace condensate neutralizer.

It is important that you find out what your house has. Filters can range from a complicated assembly to a simple screen.   When changing a filter, it is recommended to record the date it was changed.

HVAC (Furnace) filter

The most commonly understood generic term for the filter and equally important also. Replace it every 3 months at least if you have central AC. If you have pets or newly built house with construction work still going around, it is more likely to get dirty sooner; so it’s important to check on a monthly basis. Most furnaces have common sizes available from large hardware or home improvement stores. One important thing to note here is ensuring the right orientation of the filter. The arrow shown on the filter frame must point towards blower fan.

Why: Two answers: One – it significantly impacts your indoor air quality and two – it impacts the performance of the blower motor. Obviously, replacing the filter regularly has a positive impact on both.

How: There are many different types of the filters available in the home improvement stores. They range quite a bit in price and quality. Buy the one that suits your lifestyle. Some furnaces come with electronic air cleaner and it needs to be cleaned

Clothes Dryer

The filters for the clothes dryer are located either on the top of the unit on top loading dryers or inside the unit on front loading dryers. After the dryer load, the lint trapped in the filter should be cleaned. In Canada, we use our clothes dryer probably excessively. It is also recommended to have the dryer ducting between the dryer and the exterior cleaned about once a year.

Why: Failure to clean out lint traps is the main cause of dryer fires, according to Friebe. A blocked vent or exhaust pipe blocks hot air from release, turning the highly combustible lint into a fire hazard. Excess lint in your dryer trap can cause the dryer to work harder resulting in performance issues like long time taken to dry the clothes.

How: Pull out the filter screen and clean it thoroughly with the help of a brush. Place it back in place.

Humidifier

If you have a humidifier, clean the filter every year before the start of the heating season.

Why: The humidifier operation affects air quality. Over time, the screen or filter gets clogged with mineral deposits and may develop mildew spots.

How: Clean all the spaces around the filter first with a mild solution of bleach and water. After that, you can clean the base beneath the filter with vinegar. The vinegar residue will help prevent future build-up and add a pleasant tang to the air as well. Rinse it thoroughly after cleaning. If the mildew is spotty and hard to remove, place the filter in the bleach above and soak for a good hour until you’ve gotten it all. For the filters that are made of certain kinds of plastic or some materials can be harmed by chemicals, do not use vinegar and bleach soakings, just simply rinse and soak the filter in clean water.

Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)

Many builders now provide HRV or ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator). These units provide a source of fresh filtered air into the house and exhaust the stale air. The heat recovery takes place in the core of the unit so that the incoming air is already slightly warm before coming into the house. Most HRV’s have 3 filters – two foam filters (sometimes metal screens) and one exchange core unit.

Why: HRV or ERV units are designed to bring the fresh air in your house and thus impacts the indoor air quality.

How: Every 4 to 6 months, turn off the unit and pull out the foam sheet filters. Wash them thoroughly and let them dry prior to putting back in. Once a year remove the core as well and rinse it well, let it dry and place back. The instruction labels are usually placed inside the unit.

Dishwasher drain filter

Depending on the type of dishwasher, these filters may be easily removable (twist by hand) or may need tools. The clogged filter means the water does not drain and dishes/pots do not clean well. Check your dishwasher manual regarding recommendations but generally cleaning every 3-4 months does the job.

Window or sliding door screens

The screens allow fresh air ventilation on a reasonably good day. They filter out bugs or debris larger than the screen size, which make them dirty. Screens may also get damaged due to improper handling or impact. It is a good idea to wipe clean them with a damp sponge in spring and fall.

Air Conditioner exterior unit

Chances are that if you’ve neglected a spring checkup, your air conditioner didn’t cool nearly as well as it could. Regarding cleaning part, check the outside of the condenser housing for buildup of debris. For better efficiency, trim the vegetation around the unit to allow free air movement.

Why: Dirt and debris clogging the cooling fins and a dirty blower fan filter can significantly reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner and wear it out faster. In older units, the heat exchanger fins can be exposed, be careful not to damage the heat exchanger fins.

How: Using a garden hose with low/no pressure spray the outside to remove buildup of dust, dirt, leaves, and whatever else is stuck on the side. The units pictured are extreme examples of buildup. Much less buildup can still cause issues in cooling. Start by spraying off the outside at an angle and the buildup will come off in a ‘Peeling’ fashion. Then finish up by spraying from the inside out to clean out debris stuck within the fins.

Kitchen Range Hood

Range hood filterw will accumulate grease and dust, reducing their effectiveness.   If the unit recirculates air through the hood back into the room, it will likely also have a carbon filter behind the screen.  Replace these as needed.

 

Fridge and countertop drinking water filters

If you have a countertop drinking water tap or fridge with drinking water/ice dispenser. Make sure the filters of these units are replaced as per manufacturer’s instructions. A clogged water filter is far worse than having none due to the potential health impact.

Condensate neutralizer

High-efficiency gas furnaces may  have a condensate neutralizer on the condensate drain line. These units look like a cylinder made with black ABS plastic or white plastic with the inlet attached to the line coming from condensate drain trap & the outlet goes to the floor drain. The neutralizer is meant to keep the acidic water discharge from polluting the city waste water. If blocked, this will keep water from flowing freely to the drain line and create a back flow into the furnace. In severe case, the furnace may stop working.

Now take a few minutes to walk around your house and look for these items.  My home inspection service will guide you through the specifics of your house and I will even find operating manufacturers manuals for you if you need them.    This is what I do to help owners improve the comfort, safety and value of their homes.