Does My RV Furnace Have A Filter?

 A very common question among RV owners is, “does my RV furnace have a filter?” For most RV owners, the answer would be no. Very few RV’s have filters in their furnace, as most people don’t find it necessary. Some manufacturers will add some them during construction, but majority of people will not find a filter in their RV’s furnace.

Many people find this to be surprising, as filters are very important for people’s health and well being. As people have begun to see the need for a filter inside the furnace, newer RV’s have started including them. But if you have an older RV, chances are you won’t find one. This isn’t a super big deal, since you can actually install one yourself.

Keep in mind that most RV models will have a filter located inside the air conditioner, but not the furnace. It is very important that you have a filter in both your furnace and air conditioner. These is even more important if you have allergies, a sick family member, or pets that shed hair and fur. Having a filter in your RV would clean your air, ridding it of allergies and pet hair.

If you own a newer high end fifth wheel or motorhome, it is likely that you WILL have a filter in your furnace. Like said before, manufacturers have finally begun to see how not filtering your air can damage someones health. But if you own an older RV, camper, fifth wheel, or motorhome; you will need to add one on your own. As of right now you won’t be able to find one that is specific to your RV, but you can make do by cutting to size an average furnace filter.

You will want to get a non-restrictive filter that can be both cleaned and cut to fit your specific opening. Not all furnaces are going to be the same size, so a non-restrictive filter that can be fitted to your specific furnace is ideal. You will also want to remember that if you get a filter that is too restrictive, you will find that it makes air flow harder. You want a filter that is disposable and picks up any kind of harmful air pollutants, but still lets air circulate throughout your RV.

Something that is just as important as actually having a filter, is making sure you change it. Just like your home furnace filter, you should be sure to change it every ninety days, or whenever your specific filter recommends (some filters say every two months, or every six months). This is extremely important, as having a filter that is full of dirt and grime sit for a long period of time is almost worse than having none at all. Make yourself several reminders to change your RV’s filter at the appropriate time, this also applies to the filter in your home.

Some RV owners had an issue with restricted air flow even when using a non-restrictive filter. If this is an issue for you, try checking our your furnace area. If your furnace is being blocked by something, it can change the way your air flows. Also be sure that you cut your filter to the correct size (if it needed cut), because if your filter is jammed in the opening, it will restrict the air flow regardless of the type of filter you use.

At the end of the day, installing a filter in your RV’s furnace is something you should absolutely do as it can be detrimental to the health of your family and pets. If you have pets that shed or allergies, it is highly recommended that you install one. It also wouldn’t hurt to check the filter every once in awhile, even if it isn’t time to change the filter. This is because if your air hasn’t been filtered for a long time, dirt and grime with build up quicker, and need cleaned sooner than later. Over time, things can become pretty dusty in your RV home, so be sure to check out your furnace regularly for dust or dirt build up.

Keep reading to learn if your RV furnace should have a filter:

Is It Okay To Run An RV Furnace Without A Filter?

If your RV doesn’t already have a filter in your furnace, you may be wondering if it is okay to go without. While you may be able to go for a small period of time without one, it really isn’t good for you. Your air with quickly become musty and full of dirt and dust. Not to mention your furnace will build up with dust as well.

You can get most any kind of non-restrictive filter to place in your furnace. It is hard to find filters for a RV furnace that you can just buy, so you can get any typical filter and cut it to size. If it doesn’t stay in place very well, you can just use duck tape to secure the filter. You could also use Flex Tape, but keep in mind that it is super sticky so it may be difficult to remove when changing the filter. It all depends on how bad you need the filter to stay in place.

If you have pets that stay in your RV, it is even more detrimental that you have a filter. Pet’s such as cats or Husky dogs will shed their fur constantly. This hair will eventually start polluting your air, and if you don’t have a filter it could start making you sick. Make sure you get a good, reliable filter that will pick up all that fur before it enters your air. While it may be a little more pricey, buying a name brand furnace filter may better filtering quality than one that is cheaper and off-brand.

When buying your furnace filter, trying buying two at once, or enough material to make two filters. This way when it is time to replace the old one, you can simply switch them out immediately. This makes it so much easier not to forget and simply get the job done. Just make sure you buy a couple more filters for the next couple of months, or whenever you change your filter.

Having a filter is also important if you have allergies or someone in your home has a bad immune system. Sickness and germs can quickly spread if nothing is venting your air. If you have someone who has a life threatening disease in your RV, it is very important that you keep them healthy so that they can get the treatment they need.

After you have installed your first furnace filter, make sure you clean or change it out regularly. Sometimes the packaging of your filter will give you exact dates to change it, or give a time range such as 90 days or three months. How often you change your filter is often determined by size. A rule used by most is this:

• For 1- to 2-inch filters, replace them every 1 to 3 months.

• For 3- to 4-inch filters, replace them every 6 to 9 months.

• For 5- to 6-inch filters, replace them every 9 to 12 months.

This is a good solid rule to go by, unless the packaging of your filter urges otherwise. Some filters need to be completely changed and disposed of, but some can simply be cleaned. Disposable filters are ideal as they take less time and effort to care for.

Check out these great products to help your properly filter your RV’s furnace:

Furnace Vent Filter Roll

This is a great material to use for filtering your furnace’s air. This can be cut and placed depending on your specific furnace opening. This material can also be cleaned or disposed of. Depending on how big of a piece you install, change this filter according to the guidelines above.

Foam Sheet 16 x 26 Filter

This another material you can use as a filter for your RV furnace. This foam comes in convenient 16 x 26 x 1/4 sheets that are perfect for filtering your RV’s air. According to the guidelines, change these filters every 1 to 3 months.

14 x 22 Pleated Furnace Air Filter

Here is another kind of filter that you could use in your RV’s furnace. This filter would take a little more effort to put in place, but is still a functional filtering device. Depending on the size of your furnace, you may need to cut this filter to size.

Furnace Filter Spray Cleaner

This cleaner is great for reusablWe hope this article helped you know what happens if you overfill your fresh water tank. Sharing problems and solutions can make RV living so much easier. So if we didn’t include something that you have experienced, please leave a comment below to share with others. Until then, enjoy, be safe and have fun RVing!e furnace filters. This spray can simply be applied and watch as it easily cleans your filters and rids it of dirt and grime. Keep in mind that even if your filter is reusable, you still want to change it once a year.

We hope this article helped you identify if your RV furnace has a filter. Sharing problems and solutions can make RV living so much easier. So if we didn’t include something that you have experienced, please leave a comment below to share with others. Until then, enjoy, be safe and have fun RVing!