When it comes time to change out your home’s HVAC filter, you might be wondering what you should do with the old one. In this guide, you will learn about each of the three things you can do with an old HVAC filter. Let’s look at what you can do and the benefits of each activity.
Throw It Away
If your air filter is disposable, you can simply toss it in the garbage with the rest of your trash. However, you should put a plastic bag over the filter so that the dust, dirt, and grime built up on the filter doesn’t scatter everywhere.
Ingesting all the harmful pathogens after they’ve collected on your filter defeats the purpose of changing it out; taping a bag over the filter should prevent particles from escaping. Make sure you know whether your filter is disposable or not before you throw it away. That way, you won’t be stuck without a new one after you dispose of the old one.
Recycle It
A more eco-conscious way to dispose of your old HVAC filter is to recycle it. Although it requires a bit more work than simply tossing it in the trash, recycling your HVAC filter is better for the environment.
There are two ways you can recycle an old air filter instead of tossing it. You can either reach out to the supplier and ask if they will take it back or send it in the mail to a recycling company. Some recycling groups will send you a mailer, so all you have to do is pack the air filter and ship it. If you do a little research, you should be able to recycle your HVAC filter easily.
Wash and Reuse It
The last thing you can do with an old HVAC filter is keep it. Depending on whether the filter is reusable or not, you could wash it and install it back into your HVAC system.
Nonetheless, you shouldn’t reuse an air filter if it’s damaged. Knowing the three ways to determine which size air filter you need will help you replace it when you need to. But if your HVAC filter is reusable, all you need to do is follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and you can put it right back where it was.
Overall, it’s up to you to decide what you should do with your old HVAC filter. Now that you know three things you can do with an old HVAC filter, you can make your decision with the right information.
