Do you have unhealthy air in your home? If you’re seeing dust particles, dander and/or other debris floating through 
your home, it’s a wise idea to check your furnace filter. Keeping your furnace clean and making sure it is providing clean healthy air within your home is something you probably don’t think about too often but changing your filter is one of the easiest things you can do to help clear the air in your home.
Furnace filters are designed to filter out impurities in the air and keep your furnace clean and running efficiently. Most home furnace filters are disposable and range in cost from a couple of dollars to 30-40 dollars depending on their size and rating.
Filters are rated on a scale referred to as MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value). Rated on a scale of 1 to 16, the higher the rating, the greater the amount of particles that can be captured by the filter. You may think that using the highest rated filter is the best option but that isn’t always the case. As the rating increases, there becomes less air moving through your filter while your furnace is on. This could have a negative impact on the efficiency of your furnace so it’s a good idea to first check the recommended filter requirement set forth by the manufacturer.
Most home furnace filters are rated between 9 and 12 and do a pretty good job of capturing most common household particles such as dust mites, pollen, carpet fibers, cement dust and hair. Your filter should be checked at least once a month, and replaced at least every 3 months to prevent unhealthy air in your home.