• Section: Ask_Pipey - Category: Air Conditioning and Heating

Dear FIT,

I just recently bought a 2300sf home and the heating a cooling unit was replaced less than two years prior to my purchase. I know this sounds strange, but for the life of me, I cannot figure out where the filter to my furnace is. I know it needs changed. The unit runs constantly. My gas bill is sky high and hardly any air is blowing out of my floor vents. The house I just sold, the filters were in the hallway, two of them, but not the case here. I have also looked right above the unit in the garage, but no filter to be found. The unit is a Lennox high-efficiency. I am stressed out. I need help.

Judy

Dear Judy,

I See this a lot. It sounds like your furnace is plugged up with dust and cannot breathe and I get full of debris and cannot vent. Let’s see if I can help get your Lennox breathing freely again, and you stress free.

First and foremost, let me reassure you there is a filter somewhere. If a qualified heating and cooling contractor was used when installing the unit, and I trust that was the case, then they would have made sure there was a filter in place. Now, two phrases you stated stuck out; One, less than two years old, and two, Lennox high-efficiency system. Based on these facts, and consumers wanting to improve their air quality, I bet it is not a standard thirty day filter, but a media filter four to five inches thick was used.

You stated there were no return filters in the hall as well as no filter right above the unit, it is going to be higher up the return. You have to get up into the attic. I bet my cap there is a pull-down ladder in the garage. Go into the attic. I bet you will see a Lennox filter media box. It should be at eye level and the Lennox plate should be in plain sight. Simply pull gently on the plate, and it should come off with ease. Next, there is a handle. Pull the whole media box out. The down side is you will have to get your filter replacement from Lennox due to the fact it is not a normal, but is an accordion-type filter that you have to put inside the media box. It is a difficult task.

My suggestion is to find a good heating and cooling contractor to do this for you. Trust me, it is hard enough for a trained professional to not damage the accordion replacement material while installing it. The upside is these filters will last six to twelve months, depending upon the air quality. Let me know how this turns out.

Good Luck.