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Maintenance Monday is a regular “column” of sorts in which I share a maintenance tip. I am of the “quality, not quantity” philosophy and, to me, a key element of truly frugal living is buying high quality products and then doing everything necessary to protect that investment and prolong the life of my possessions.
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My mom left yesterday after a week-long visit. Isn't it funny how someone new can walk into a place and immediately notice something obvious that the regular occupants have missed for months?
That's what happened the first night my mom was here. She noticed how dusty it was in my house. Now, I'm not known among my family and close friends as being a first-class housekeeper but I do try to keep dust at a minimum since my allergies are so severe. Truth be told, The Husband and I had both noticed and commented on how dusty certain surfaces were in our house and how quickly they get dusty again after being cleaned. But neither of us got very far in figuring out that there was actually an underlying reason/issue. My mom, on the other hand, glommed onto the problem, and ultimately, the solution -- my furnace filters.
Apparently furnace filters are supposed to be changed approximately every 3 months or every 90 days. I know for a fact that it's been at least three years since I last changed our furnace filters. In all likelihood, it's probably been closer to 4 years -- that's when I had someone come out to the house and add a few extra vents in the basement.
Although it's not excuse, my health issues should certainly count at least a little as a reasonable explanation for this gross (pun intended) oversight. Another issue, on that I was reminded of the other day when replacing the filters, is that I literally have to remove the utility closet's folding accordion door in order to remove and insert the filters. A bummer but not an insurmountable obstacle 
It turns out that furnace filters are not cheap, my friend. My furnace requires two 25 x 16 x 1 filters. Each filter recently cost me $15.97 or a total of $34.24 with tax. I figure that our heat typically kicks on for the first time sometime in September and is used on into early- or mid-May. That would mean that I'd need three sets of new filters each year for a total of $102.72. I've already divided that amount by twelve and added the resulting $9 to my monthly YNAB budget*.
I'm going to make a note to myself to keep an eye on filter prices as spring approaches and see if they ever go on sale. Whether they do or not, I've made a note on the calendar to change the filters in another two months since I figure that my vents might be particularly dirty -- I know my filters were -- after that embarrassing display of neglect. If this set gets me through the end of February, a second set should see me through May when the weather should be warm enough to no longer require the use of the furnace again until fall.
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6 Comments
Interestingly, I haven’t changed my furnace filter since I moved into this house last year. It is pretty dusty. I wonder if the previous owners knew to change it. I will have to check it out! Thanks…
mostprepossessing — Thanks for dropping by! I’m glad my maintenance tip was helpful.
I am new to your site and have been enjoying it…I certainly am thinking more about what I am spending each day. I have a home business that requires me to have my furnace inspected every two years. It has been recommended to me that buying the very inexpensive filters and changing them once a month is better than the expensive filters and leaving them in longer. Also, if you have central air you need to change filters year round. It is amazing what accumulates on them!
Heather, thanks for your comment. I hadn’t heard that “buy cheaper and replace more often” advice. I’ll have to look into that.
I’m assuming that “central air” means air conditioning? Unfortunately, we don’t have A/C nor a swamp cooler. When the hot weather arrives, it becomes a pressure cooker in my house. I’m looking into having the insulation in the attic beefed up as I’m learning that this could help both keep the house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
As far as stuff collecting on the filters, that has me wondering. I’m guessing that maybe one should install new filters just before the heat comes on again in the fall/winter instead of after the heat goes off in the spring/summer.
My husband and I just had a new furnace installed in October. The installer told us to make sure we change the furnace filter at least once every three months. So in January off to the store I went to find a filter. I had a problem finding our size filter, but eventualy found one store in our small town that carried it. I was amazed that it cost $15 . I purchased it, then thought I might be able to find a case of these for a cheaper price on the web. So my search began. I was unable to find them any cheaper on line. I did however come across what I feel to be a much better alternative, permenant washable furnace filter. At a one time cost of $76 I will never have to buy a $15 disposable filter again. I received the filter in 1 week and they are made to order for your exact size. Not only are you not waisting money on disposables, you are also sending less trash to the dump. If anyone is interested the name of the company I bought mine frome is RITE AIR. There are also many other company’s that sell these on the net.
Great to see real world information on the value of furnace filters. Keep it up!