Can we talk about furnace filters and why nobody checks them in this city?

I was up in Lakewood last week helping a friend swap out an old furnace, and the filter looked like it hadn't been changed since 2019. The thing was caked in dust and grime, probably cut the airflow by half. Now I'm reminding every homeowner I know to check theirs every three months, especially with the humidity we get here. Anyone else run into this with rental properties or older homes in Cleveland?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia_anderson1mo ago

Has anyone tested their indoor air quality before vs after?

the_aaron1mo ago

Hang on, is that right? I thought the rule of thumb was every three months for a standard 1-inch filter, but my HVAC guy said to check it monthly during summer and winter when the system's running hardest. In my experience, that dusty Cleveland summer air can clog one up way faster than three months, especially if you've got pets or live near a construction site. I swapped mine out after two months last July and it was already pretty grimy, so your mileage may vary. Just a heads up, don't want anyone thinking they're good for the whole season when their filter's choking by week six.

tara_patel1mo ago

Three months is plenty if you're not a hypochondriac about it, lol. I ran my 1-inch filter for like 4 or 5 months last summer with two shedding cats and it wasn't even that bad when I finally swapped it, just a little dusty on one side. Half these HVAC guys just want to sell you more filters or talk you into some expensive maintenance package, I swear. Unless you live in a literal dust bowl with construction next door, changing it monthly is just throwing money away for no real gain.