Swap the HVAC filter
Nearly four in ten homes we inspect have a heating and cooling system at or past its expected life. A clean filter is the cheapest thing you can do to stretch the one you have.
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- Find the filter. It's either in a slot on the return duct next to the indoor unit, or behind a large return grille in a wall or ceiling. Some homes have both. Check both.
- Turn the system off at the thermostat. Not required, but it keeps the blower from pulling dust into the coil while the slot is open.
- Pull the old filter and read the edge. Size and thickness are printed there. Take a photo before you toss it.
- Hold it to a light. If you can't see light through it, it was overdue. That tells you your real interval, which may be shorter than the box says.
- Slide the new one in with the arrow pointing toward the unit. The arrow shows airflow direction: from the room, through the filter, into the equipment. Backwards filters load up faster and can collapse.
- Set a reminder. One-inch filters every 60 to 90 days. Four- and five-inch media filters every 6 to 12 months. Your Home Care Plan has the schedule for your system.
When it's past the do-it-yourself line
If the filter slot is caked with dust behind it, the blower compartment is dirty, or the system short-cycles after a fresh filter, that's a service call. A tune-up also makes sense once a year before summer.
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Questions about anything here? Text us a photo. We'll tell you whether it matters.