This post and giveaway is sponsored by FilterEasy. Thanks, FilterEasy!
I have a weird aversion to changing air filters. More specifically, I have a weird aversion to replacing them. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not a gross person – I change my toothbrush sooner than the recommended three months, I go through endless wipes cleaning my kids, and we fly through the hand soap. But for whatever reason, when it comes to filters that all suddenly goes out the window.
For example, we have a nice Dyson vacuum. Every time I take it outside to throw away all of the junk it sucked up, I see the air filter on the top with its recommendation to be changed every six months and I feel guilty. At first, when we officially had the vacuum longer than six months, it was just a little guilt. I was like, “Eh, six months, seven months, what’s the difference?” Then, as time went on, I was like, “Eh, a year…it’s not that big of a difference.” Next, I was like, “Six months is really just a recommendation. These things can last easily two years, right?” And then there’s now, when I hurriedly clean out the vacuum while averting my eyes from the filter so I can pretend it’s not there. It’s my vacuum shame.
But, there’s also the air filter in my car. When I take it to get an oil change the guy always pulls my air filter out and is like, “This is looking pretty dirty. I can throw a brand new on in there for twenty bucks.” Suddenly, this seems unreasonable. “But this is the air your family is breathing, ma’am,” the guy says. “Maybe next time,” I reply. The worst part? Five minutes later I drive away and have no issue with spending twenty bucks at Starbucks on frappuccinos, a blueberry muffin, and a cookie for the kids. I know, I know. I have a problem.
But the biggest filter of all is the one in our HVAC. Have we changed it? Well, I haven’t. Maybe Mike did? I like to think he changes it when I’m out of the house. Of course, our air conditioning unit is like one thousand years old and it’s possible it’s still rocking the original filter, but when that thought crosses my mind I put on the TV and cough a little (likely on account of the filter).
Why is it so hard to change filters? You know, beyond me being a little crazy? For me, I think the biggest reason is that I had no idea where to even get a filter. Plus, other than my vacuum, my filters were totally out of sight, out of mind. Luckily, there is a service that will send you air filters so you never forget to change them again. All I had to do was go to the FilterEasy website, enter in my filter sizes (which was written on the outside of my old filter), and select how often I wanted to receive filters. That was it!
Our filters from FilterEasy came in a giant, hard-to-ignore box:
My kids were like, OMG MOM WHAT AMAZING TOY IS IN THERE?! And I said, AN AMAZING AIR FILTER THAT WILL MAKE EVERY BREATH FEEL LIKE A DAY AT THE SPA!!! and they were like, “…oh.” Kids are so hard to please these days.
It was actually surprisingly easy for me to change the air filter. First, I called my dad and was like, “Hey, want to show me how to change my air filter?” and he came over humored me.
Bampa: “First, you open your air unit…then you take out the old filter…then you pop in the new one and close the door.”
Me: “Wow, that was really easy…you probably could have told me how to do that over the phone.”
Bampa: “…..”
The old filter was horrifying, you guys. I am a changed woman. Meaning, I changed all the filters on everything in my entire house because OMG.
And my new filter is sooooo pretty.
FilterEasy wants to give one lucky reader a $250 gift card to Target!! Just click over to the FilterEasy website and type in your email address to be entered to win. AND, the first 100 readers who enter the drawing will also get their first month of filters for free! Woo hoo!
Good luck!!
Angelita says:
It would be awesome to win $250 gift card to Target for my children’s birthday coming up in October!
Lee Cockrum says:
We change our air filter in the AC a LOT!!!! We have pets, and it gets dusted and fuzzed up really quickly. A dirty filter really cuts down on the efficiency of your AC unit, making it burn more energy!
Aubrey says:
I never let the oil change place change my filter either. I can go buy one at auto one for $8. Then I never do. I even just rinse out the pool filter instead of buying a new one. And the vacuum now that I think of it. I’m a super cheapo. Yikes putting it in writing makes it sound way worse! But you made me think. We moved into our house in March. I should probably check our filter. It’s probably from the 70s like everything else in the house… So thanks for the reminder!
Megan says:
Hmm…is there any way to enter the giveaway without having to sign up for filter delivery? I’m sure this is a great service, but for me, the inconvenience/stress/expense of car maintenance tops changing air filters by far. And I’ve been told the allergen ones aren’t worth the extra expense; the $4 ones at the Lowe’s near my house work just fine for me.
Heather says:
Hmm, you should be able to…let me email them!
steph says:
ditto…I started the process but didn’t finish when it asked for an order
Heather says:
I emailed them to get a response, I will let you know as soon as I hear! So sorry about that, ladies!
Heather says:
Just heard back – once you enter in your email address, you’re done! You don’t have to complete an order to be entered into the giveaway!
Heather says:
Alright, I heard back – once you enter in your email address, you’re done! You don’t have to complete an order to be entered into the giveaway!
Megan says:
Yay, thanks for checking!
Auntie_M says:
You are hysterical! We went 2 years in our house without changing our filter because, hey, it was a brand spanking new house. But now we change it each fall…possibly each spring too. I forget.
But I am horrible about changing the filter for the water in our fridge. And, we DRINK that water! Geez! Think I’d be more on top of that one! But we happen to have really good city water so I rationalize that I am only taking it from the fridge cuz it’s cold, so how important is that filter, really? Yeah, right. Guess I’ll be ordering one today cuz somebody (ahem, Heather) has filled me with guilt.
Emily says:
I’m pretty good about changing the HVAC one – I have asthma and my dog and I both have allergies, and it’s so easy. But I never touch the one in my vacuum. Oops.
Brooke says:
~ “But this is the air your family is breathing, ma’am,” the guy says. ~
That’s not exactly true. Your air filter filters the air that goes into your engine to keep dirt out of your engine. Changing it can help your engine run more efficiently. Your cabin filter is the air that goes into your car. It should need changing less often than your air filter.
Jackie F. says:
Thank you so much! Mine was free!!! Love it. I’m ok changing them out, I just always forget. Getting them on a regular basis will remind me!
Amy G. says:
I buy the cheapie 3 pack air filters at Home depot, and I change them out every month. IMO, it’s better than getting a 3/4 month filter and letting it sit there for months. Also, I vacuum out my vacuum filter with my shopvac…. Confessions of a clean freak.
Jordan says:
we change ours often due to shedding dogs+ my asthma/allergies. So icky.
Leiah says:
I’m pretty good about telling That Man he needs to change the HVAC filter. Now about the vacuum…there’s a filter in there? I’ve had my Dyson for almost 9 years and I’ve NEVER changed a filter. I do however, wash the dirt canister and all the other parts but I swear to Baby Jesus I did NOT know there was a filter in there. Now I want to mysteriously develop a headache and leave work to remedy the vacuum calamity!!!
REK981 says:
I am the filter changer/cleaner at my house. HVAC allergen filter is changed every 90 days because we have 2 dogs and 2 cats. Shark vacuum filters are cleaned off weekly and washed monthly and replaced annually. Removeable AC filter for the window AC unit in my bedroom is cleaned weekly. I replace toothbrushes every 8 weeks. I love new filters! LOL