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Maintenance, Resources + Tips

Furnace Filter Basics

Your furnace filter is an important part of your home’s heating system. Its main purpose is to remove particles and debris from the air entering your furnace in order to protect the mechanical components of your furnace, such as the motor.

Here are some basic tips to make sure that your filter is doing its job:

  1. Check & change your filter regularly – This is typically every 3 months, but more often if conditions require (ex. if you live in an area with a lot of dust, if you have pets who shed, or if you run your furnace fan continuously.
  2. Never try to clean a disposable filter – the materials break down over time and are not meant to be reused or cleaned. Looking for a permanent filter? Find out more about our exclusive Air Renew Electrostatic washable filters.
  3. If your filter doesn’t fit, it doesn’t filter – Air takes the path of least resistance so it is important that your filter fits in as closely as possible. It needs to reach right to the end of the filter track, and there should not be a visible gap on either the plenum or the furnace side. If your furnace needs a specialty size, you should get one, or, get your filter slot changed to fit a standard size. If there is a gap to the sides of the filter and there is not a snug fitting door, using a piece of duct tape down the slot to seal the gaps is a good idea.
  4. More “Merv” is not always better – A good Merv rating for residential use to balance particle trapping with air flow is between 5 and 8. You should consult with an HVAC professional before using a very high Merv filter, as your system may not be able to handle the air drop (decrease in airflow) caused by a very high efficiency filter. If you have a 2” or a 4” filter slot, using a filter with a higher Merv rating will be less of a concern, as the higher surface area of a thicker filter causes less resistance to air.
  5. Consider Running Your Furnace Fan Continuously – To encourage continuous air flow and filtration, run your fan continuously. Keep in mind that if you have not done this before, you will need to check your furnace filter more regularly, as running the fan will pull more air through the filter and cause it to become full quicker.

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Alberta Furnace Cleaning Reviews

Salvador & Alfred’s service are the best. Very professional in handling the services. Alberta furnace has all the needed tools, equipment and PPE needed. Highly recommended!

- April Galong

A big shout out to Andrew and Aaron from Alberta Furnace Cleaning. My husband and I had recently renovated our home and were noticing a fine dust on everything that I couldn’t keep up with. Andrew and Aaron came in and cleaned the furnace, air conditioning unit and all the duct work. It was shocking to see what the found - construction debris, dog toys, tennis balls etc. They definitely have the equipment to thoroughly clean the mechanical and duct work. Both workers used care in removing vent covers, and cleaned all surfaces, properly replacing the grills when done. They were on time, efficient, polite and respectful of ourselves and our home. I could not be happier.

- Kerri Davis

Professional and Excellent Service! The team explained the entire process clearly and even showed me how dusty the furnace was. They performed their duties meticulously, ensuring everything was cleaned thoroughly. Highly recommend their services!

- SB

We have been using Alberta Furnace Cleaning for I believe 20 years now! They have always been bang on with their quotes. They have always done very thorough job, punctual showing up and professional when they are working in your house. I would recommend them to anyone. Thankyou for the great service!

- Amra Fowler

I recently had Alberta Furnace Cleaning come over to clean my furnace and ducts, and they did an amazing job! They were super quick but still really thorough. The team was also very friendly and easy to talk to. I’m really happy with their service and would definitely recommend them to anyone needing their furnace or ducts cleaned.

- Larysa Bilous

I recently have my furnace and ducts cleaned. The two technicians were very professional, thorough and careful in their work. They ensure that nothing was missed and that any debris was cleaned up prior to departure. I know it's not the cheapest option out there for duct cleaning, but I went with a cheaper company a few years back and it turns out that company completely missed one of my cool air intake ducts to empty. Alberta Furnace sucked out A LOT of debris missed in that one duct. You get what you pay for and for their price (which is reasonable) you will get top service. 5 stars!

- Megan L

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