Utility bills are often in the top 5 most expensive budget items for a household.  Therefore, we are always looking for ways to decrease them.  During the heating and cooling seasons, changing (or cleaning if your furnace requires) the furnace filter on a regular basis will prevent airflow restriction, which means that your furnace has to work less hard.  This means that it is more energy efficient resulting in lower utility bills.  It also means less wear-and-tear on furnace parts, resulting in fewer service calls and a furnace that lasts longer, both resulting in more money staying in your bank account.

The big question is, “How often should I change the filter?”  The answer is, “It depends.”  If you own furry pets, you most likely will need to change the filter once a month.  If you have a fur-free home you may be able to extend the life of each filter to 3 months.

Other factors that extend the life of your filter:

(1) Keeping your winter thermostat at a lower temperature means less dry air which means less dust in your home.

(2) Keeping a clean (i.e. dust-free) home means cleaner, longer lasting filters.  This is especially true if you want to counteract the effect of your furry friends.

The best way to determine when it is time to change the filter is to look at it.  I assure you, you will easily be able to see when it is dirty.  I make it a point to write the date on the side of the filter just before I put a new one in.  That way you will know when you change it how long it lasted.  After a few months, you’ll get a feel for how long they last in your home.

If you are still working on disposing of a disposable mentality, here’s a question for you.  Do you still reach for a paper towel for every little spill?  Are you using paper towels for your regular cleaning?  Do you do the dishes with a paper towel?  (Egads!)  Then you still need some practice.  Make a serious effort for the next couple of weeks to make the switch to sponges, dish towels and rags, all of which can be washed and reused.

I admit that paper towels have their purpose.  If I have to wipe some raw chicken juice off the counter, I reach for a paper towel every time.  I increase the chances for a healthy home when all that nasty bacteria goes right into the trash can along with the paper towel.  If I use a sponge or dish cloth in this instance, I run the risk of spreading the bacteria all over the kitchen.  And  a trip to the doctor will definitely cost more than a paper towel.

Nonetheless, if you try, I’m sure you can reduce your paper towel use, thus turning this into this!