The Homeowner’s Guide to Every Filter That Matters in Your House

Furnace Air Filters

The most important filter to maintain in your home is the air filter in your HVAC system. When clogged, it won’t properly catch dust and allergens. A neglected filter also restricts airflow to the furnace, causing it to work harder, which can raise your energy bill and lead to broken parts and overheating.

“We see hundreds of service calls every year that could have been prevented with regular filter changes,” says HVAC and plumbing specialist Aaron Adams. A good rule of thumb is to check your furnace filter every month or two, and replace it every three to six months.

Whole Home Humidifiers

If your HVAC system includes a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier, remember to address those filters, too. “They usually only need to be replaced once a year, right before the heating season for humidifiers and right before the cooling season for dehumidifiers,” says HVAC and vent cleaning specialist Ryan Osterkamp.

Air Conditioners

Regardless of whether you have central air, a ductless mini split or a window unit, check and clean your AC filters every four to six weeks. For central air and mini splits, Greenwood also recommends an annual professional clean-and-check. “Proper maintenance helps prevent costly repairs, maintains indoor air quality and ensures consistent comfort,” she says. Also, don’t forget to remove debris from the outdoor portion of AC systems.

Air Purifiers

Standalone air purifiers rely on clean filters to trap allergens, airborne particulates and harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Most models will alert you when its time to change or clean the filter, but you can also check filters visually every few months to see if they look dirty. Also, Greenwood recommends replacing them once a year, even if the warning light hasn’t yet illuminated.

Water Filters

Your home likely has a couple of water filters, including those in whole-home or under-sink filtration systems, as well as refrigerators with automatic ice-makers and water dispensers. For whole-home systems, “If the water from your main water supply can’t pass through the filter, you may find that the pressure in your showers and faucets drops off,” says Adams. Most water filters are DIY-able, but occasionally more complicated systems require the help of a professional plumber.

Faucets

If you notice uneven water flow or poor water pressure coming from your faucet, it’s likely that the small screen in your aerator is clogged. “An aerator’s main purpose is to control water flow, but they also catch debris and larger particles,” says Osterkamp.

To check and clean them, simply unscrew the cap on the end of the faucet and use a toothbrush or towel with vinegar to scrub away debris.

Clothes Dryers

Cleaning the dryer lint filter after every load ensures clothes dry quickly. It also keeps the machine from working too hard, which otherwise reduces its lifespan and introduces a fire risk. Unless you have a heat-pump model, you also need to clean the filter where the hot air gets released, which is either through a vent on the outside wall or into an indoor dryer vent box. Heat-pump dryers also usually have a secondary lint filter, which isn’t always obvious.

Washing Machines

If you have a front-load washing machine, chances are it has a drain pump filter. Look for it near the bottom front, behind a panel. Some older top-load washers also have filters along the top rim or inside the agitator.

“If your washing machine is regularly tackling dirty sportswear or pet fur, you’ll maximize its performance by cleaning the filter monthly,” says Adams. “For lighter use, you can probably get away with once a quarter.”

Dishwashers

Cleaning food and debris from the filter in your dishwasher is usually a quick and simple task. “If you’re running it more than once a day, you’ll keep bad smells away and have your dishes the cleanest with monthly filter cleanings,” says Adams. Otherwise, every month or two is ample. Look for the filter under the bottom rack, and clean it in the kitchen sink, using a soft brush and dish soap.

Septic Systems

Cleaning septic system filters is an unenviable task. Luckily, it’s one the pros can do during their routine maintenance checks (which you should schedule every three to five years). “Many people with septic systems don’t even realize this system has a filter, too,” says Adams. But, “A clogged septic filter can lead to a back up in the home that can cause thousands of dollars in damage.”

Exhaust Fans

The exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens don’t necessarily have filters, but it’s important to routinely clean them. Built up grease, dust and debris make them less effective at moving air, which can lead to humidity and mold issues, especially in the bathroom. It also makes them work harder, which can create a fire hazard.

Vacuum Cleaners

Not cleaning a vacuum filter is a sure way to overheat the motor and break the machine. But before that happens, you’ll be harming your home’s air quality, since clogged vacuums spread dust and allergens through the air. Many vacuums have at least a couple of filters, for larger particles and fine dust. Don’t forget to also check the hoses for blockages and the belts for strings and hair.

About the Experts

• Brooke Greenwood is director of product management for Carrier’s Residential Business, leading strategy and development for residential heating and air conditioning products.
• Ryan Osterkamp is owner of Quality Comfort Home Services, which offers HVAC, plumbing and vent cleaning services in southern Ohio and eastern Indiana.
• Aaron Adams is CEO of Aaron Services: Plumbing, Heating, Cooling in Georgia, where he loves to educate the public about all things plumbing and HVAC.

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This Father and Son Built a Deck in One Week–And It’s Stunning

In Family Handyman‘s series DIY Diaries, real DIYers share the projects they’re most proud of. They recount the full story—from laying out the initial plans and wrestling with frustrating setbacks to celebrating their proudest moments. These candid accounts reveal the true ins and outs of DIY, and will leave you with practical tips that’ll give you the confidence to conquer your next build.

This edition of DIY Diaries comes from within our very own community. Reader Cary Mark spoke with us about taking on a family project: a DIY deck. Mark self-describes as a DIYer who tries “to take on projects that I feel are not way over my head, but are still a bit outside my comfort zone.”

In this case, that project came about when Mark’s son reached out with a proposition. He and his wife had a large section of their yard covered by grey rock, “and they thought a deck would be better for entertaining and would be easier on bare feet.” After some back-and-forth brainstorming, Mark flew out for a week to help with the build.

The Project Stages

What was the inspiration for this project?

Mark’s goal was to “help my son build a really nice deck that he and his wife could enjoy.” This wasn’t Mark’s first deck project; that would be a different family project. Previously, “I built a ground-level deck with my brother on our childhood home with pressure-treated wood.” This time around, Mark “thought it would be fun using Trex and learning about the hardware used to attach the decking so there are no nails/screws showing on the top deck boards.”

Walk me through the stages of this DIY deck?

This project was fairly straightforward. After the design and details were hammered out, Mark’s son ordered the materials so that they arrived at the same time Mark did, and the two were able to get started right away.

The project moved quickly, too; it took “a total of two full days to complete the project, other than some minor finishing details.” Since the project came together so quickly, there weren’t any setbacks. Aside from waiting a bit for the final plugs to cover the exterior holes in the Trex boards, everything arrived on time and came together smoothly.

What’s one aspect of this project that intimidated you until you tried it?

While this project wasn’t particularly intimidating, it did involve learning a new technique. Mark says that “using hidden hardware to attach the top decking boards was new to both of us.  I had only used nails on the other deck that I built years earlier.”

Are there any budgeting hacks you used?

When it comes to saving money, building a deck with Trex board, Mark found that “if you purchase a wide Trex board for the perimeter, the price is much higher than using two narrower boards and putting them together.” A little creativity and some extra time planning can go a long way towards cutting costs!

Was there a specific moment during the project where you felt the most proud?

Mark is equally proud of the timeline and the quality of the final product. It can be easy to make a small mistake or wrong measurement that doesn’t show up until the end, but in the case of this DIY deck, “the miter joints on the corners were tight, and even the very last board that we installed at the end was still running parallel with all the other deck boards.” And because the deck came together so well and so quickly, “we were able to use the deck for a Fourth of July celebration the day after it was completed!”

If you could have a do-over on this, what would you change? 

That pride in craftsmanship doesn’t necessarily mean Mark wouldn’t change anything. Being a self-described perfectionist, Mark says, “I might have tried to make the very last board on the decking the same width as the other boards.” It’s not necessary, but it would have allowed for hidden hardware on the final deck board instead of the screw holes and matching plugs to cover them.

Advice to Aspiring DIYers

What’s one piece of advice you would give someone before they start a similar project?

Mark’s advice to DIYers looking to take on a project like this is to do their research first. If you “search out other people who have done this to get ideas and tips,” your planning process will go much more smoothly. Mark also says, “There are also a lot of good sources on the internet and in books.”

What project is next for you?  

Mark’s next project is also set to be a family one: “My son is talking about installing a couple of underground gutter downspouts with pop-ups in his yard on my next visit out to see him, since I have done this to our house.”

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Tool Trials: How Fast Does This Portable Tire Inflator Really Fill Tires?

Portable, battery-operated tire inflators are one of those tools you don’t realize how much you’ll use until you own one. I made the jump a few years back when the tool brand I use launched a portable inflator that used the same battery platform. Since then, I’ve pulled it out for every low bicycle tire, pool floatie, and yo-yoing seasonal tire pressure light that’s come across my path.

So when I came across the Powools tire inflator — a small, compact, USB-rechargeable device that claims it can do the majority of what you’d want a tire inflator to do, all for 20 bucks —while surfing Amazon a couple of months ago, I hit the buy now button to see if those claims were legit or just full of hot air.

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Tool Trials

Powools Portable Tire Inflator

A compact cordless tire inflator with 150 PSI, a rechargeable battery, built-in LED light, and auto shut-off for precise inflation every time.

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The Tool

The Powools Portable Tire Inflator is a compact (2-3/4-in. wide x 5-1/4-in. tall x 2-in. deep) inflator that weighs roughly a pound. It comes with a storage bag, a USB-C charging cable, an air hose, four separate nozzles and adapters for bicycle tires and sports equipment, and a user manual. It features five preset inflating modes, an onboard rechargeable battery, and a built-in LED flashlight.

The $20 standard-capacity inflator (you read that right — less than a lunch outing to Chipotle) claims it can reach up to 150 PSI, top off 6 PSI on a standard car tire in less than a minute, and inflate two car tires, 25 bicycle tires, or 60 sports balls on a single charge. Bold claims for a twenty-dollar tool. Time to find out if it could back them up.

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How I Tested It

I wanted to put this thing through the wringer, and the simplest way to do so was to see if it backed up the “6 PSI in under 1 minute” and “two car tires on a single charge” claims. I was also curious about how long it would take to charge back to full, and, since tire inflators are basically small compressors with a piston, I wanted to see how loud it was.

First up, the two inflation tests. On the 6 PSI tire top-off test (Powools claims a 30–36 PSI range, but my wife’s Subaru’s tires only go to 33 PSI, so I tested 27–33 PSI), full inflation took 1:39 — definitely a bit longer than the 1 minute Powools claimed. The two-tires-on-a-single-charge test also didn’t fare as well as the brand claimed. I deflated two tires on my wife’s Subaru to 6 PSI each. With a full battery, the portable tire inflator fully inflated one tire to 33 PSI but only partially inflated the second to 21-1/2 PSI. So the two inflation tests were a bit lackluster.

But both the charging test and loudness test fared much better. A completely dead battery hit 70% (when the icon reaches full) in 26 minutes and full-full in around 40 — quite speedy. And for the loudness test, the tire inflator came in between 71 and 75 decibels (according to a free decibel app on my tablet), which is not only quieter than most of the tools in my shop but also much quieter than the other tire inflator I own.

The Verdict

The Powools tire inflator is a great little tool. It’s compact, incredibly inexpensive, and foolproof to use. Yeah, it didn’t quite live up to some of the bigger claims Powools drew up. But honestly, we aren’t a pit crew on a racing team, so spending the extra 39 seconds to top off my wife’s tire is water under the bridge. Its size and design make it ideal to keep with you on bike rides with friends, ATV rides into the wilderness, or just tucked in your glove box for peace of mind. For twenty bucks, it’s the kind of tool that earns its keep just by being there when you need it.

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How Americans Ended Up With $1.6 Trillion in Car Debt (And Why It’s Getting Worse)

Many Americans live somewhere where driving is a necessity. As nice as it would be for everyone to live in 15-minute cities, the unfortunate reality is that most U.S. infrastructure forces many people to need cars. And that often means financing a car. Recent studies have found that Americans carry a lot of auto loan debt, around $1.68 trillion. Sure, some of that is because cars are getting more and more expensive, but is there more to this number than that?

How Big of a Deal Is Auto Loan Debt?

To start, let’s put that $1.68 trillion into perspective. In a new report, Fortune notes that nearly “one in four Americans are paying off auto debt.” The report then says that this number is “on par with all outstanding federal student loan debt ($1.69 trillion of federal debt and $1.84 trillion total) and ahead of credit card balances ($1.28 trillion outstanding as of last year).” In fact, according to the numbers, “cars are rivaling everything else in terms of debt bondage for everyday Americans.”

Why Do Americans Have So Much Auto Loan Debt?

Some of this debt can be blamed on rising prices. Fortune notes that automobiles in particular are an example of “an item that has fast outpaced inflation since the pandemic.” Compared to 2018, the average monthly car payment has risen roughly 40%, from $506 to $680. For lower-income households, the overall car debt may also be bigger due to the need to “spread payments out over longer periods.” When the average car price is “almost $50,000, a 30% increase since 2019,” it’s sometimes necessary to take out a seven-year or longer auto loan, and that means paying far more in interest.

The used-car market is also seeing higher prices, limiting consumers’ options. Fortune reports that “while used car inflation has moderated somewhat since its peak in 2022, prices are still 29% higher than before the pandemic.” Shopping around on Facebook Marketplace or other third-party sites may still prove fruitful, but it’s not without its risks. Many sellers prefer to be paid in full in cash, which may not always be feasible. And with the rise of generative AI, scam listings are more prolific than ever.

Fortune also reports that there’s been a significant change in who’s buying new cars. “Last year, just 37% of people in the market for a new car had salaries smaller than six figures, down from 50% in 2020,” they report. This is in contrast to high-earners, where “the share of buyers with incomes exceeding $200,000 rising from 18% to 29% over the past six years.”

Source

Americans owe $1.68 trillion on car loans — more than credit card debt and as much as all federal student loans, Fortune, 2026.

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Here’s What That Strange Smell in Your Car Could Be Telling You

As far as I’m concerned, one of the perks of buying a new car is the “new car” smell that comes with it. I love it, but I have friends who characterize the smell as a noxious mixture of industrial chemicals. No matter, because eventually that fragrance goes away, and any subsequent car smells are often the result of what the car owner brings into the vehicle. However, most drivers have had the experience of detecting a strange odor that seems to come from the car itself, and not from the pizza in the back seat, and wondered if it’s something to worry about.

“If you’re noticing a strange smell,” says automotive repair technical advisor Steve Haney, “it’s usually a sign that something within the car needs attention. Like most vehicle issues, these problems shouldn’t be ignored. The longer you wait, the more complex and expensive the issue becomes to fix. And depending on the smell, you could be causing extensive damage to the engine.”

In this post, Haney and automotive information provider Jon Vorisek explain the likely causes of various odors and what they could be indicating about your car.

Why Paying Attention to Smells Matters

Most modern cars have sophisticated computers that continually scan systems for malfunctions, but they don’t catch all of them, and drivers have to remain alert. “Even though advanced diagnostics are really helpful for today’s vehicles, basic human senses still give us a lot of information,” says Vorisek. “Smells in particular can tell us a lot about what’s happening, and they often mean there’s a problem.”

How to Diagnose a Car Smell

Diagnosing car smells comes down to being attentive, identifying the smell and attempting to locate the source, says Vorisek. Sometimes you can find it yourself by looking under the car or under the hood, or simply following your nose. But sometimes you need help.

For instance, if you smell gasoline and see fluid dripping from under the car, the problem is pretty obvious: The fuel system is leaking. However, if you don’t see any drips, the smell could be coming from inside the car — specifically the engine. And if it’s in the engine, figuring out the problem — which could be a fuel mixture that’s too rich, or something more serious, like a ruptured fuel line in the engine compartment — is a job for a mechanic.

Common Car Smells and What They Mean

Sweet / Syrup-Like Smell

This is the smell of anti-freeze, and when you detect it, it almost always indicates a problem with the cooling system. A hose could be leaking, or maybe it’s the radiator or heater core. If you keep driving, all the coolant could eventually leak out, causing the car to overheat.

Burning Oil Smell

This sounds like one of the more dangerous car smells, but it usually isn’t. The engine is hot when it’s running, and any oil that gets on it because of a spill or a failing gasket will burn. This is something that needs attention, but it usually isn’t an emergency. However, warns Haney, if the leak is severe, it could be a fire hazard. “There are dozens of places where oil could leak from under the hood, and any one of those could give you a hot oil smell. It’s always best to get it checked by a professional if you aren’t able to see anything easily.”

Rotten Egg / Sulfur Smell

This smell could be caused by a failing catalytic converter or corroded battery connections. If it’s coming from your tailpipe, the cause is probably the catalytic converter, and it could signal other issues. “Most likely,” says Haney, “your Check Engine Light would be lit at this point.”

When the smell comes from the battery, it’s usually due to severely corroded terminals or an acid leak. Either way, Vorisek advises replacing the battery.

Burning Rubber Smell

Belts, hoses and other key components in the engine and elsewhere are made of rubber, and rubber burns when it overheats. If the smell is coming from the engine, pop the hood and check for a frayed or loose belt or a hose in contact with the engine block.

The smell could also be coming from the suspension, tires or braking system. The easiest-to-diagnose possibility is that the tires are severely under-inflated, which you can tell just by looking at the car, says Haney.

Burning Plastic Smell

When you smell burning plastic, suspect the electrical system. The wires are coated with plastic insulation, and it can melt or even burn when a wire overheats. “If this is happening,” says Haney,, “you would probably also see the lights in your vehicle flickering, or experience electrical components that simply don’t work at all.” He recommends that you don’t wait: take the car to a mechanic with the proper diagnostic equipment as soon as you can. Electrical issues can cause car fires.

Musty / Moldy Smells

A particularly sensitive friend of mine recently bought a used car that had suffered a leak through the windshield, and she spent $500 on deodorizing the vehicle. It had a musty smell she found intolerable that had been caused by water soaking into the carpeting. Leaks are a common cause of musty odors, but the A/C system can also produce them, especially if the cabin filter is clogged.

“While this isn’t mechanically dangerous,” says Haney, “it’s unhealthy to breathe moldy air, especially if you have young passengers or passengers with asthma.” My friend would agree with that.

Gasoline Smells

Yes, gasoline smells can come from a fuel leak, but smaller problems, like a loose gas cap or a faulty EVAP system in the fuel tank, could also be responsible. If you don’t see any dripping, and your car is performing normally, you can usually rule out fuel system issues, but Haney warns: “Gasoline exposure is harmful to your health, so if this is a repeat issue while driving, you will want to have your car serviced soon.”

Preventative Maintenance to Avoid Bad Smells

You can avoid many odor-related issues with regular professional maintenance. While changing your oil and filters, technicians may notice other developing issues that can result in bad car smells down the road. “The easiest smells to prevent ahead of time are moisture-related ones,” says Vorisek. “You can replace the cabin air filter, keep debris like leaves from collecting on the vehicle, and make sure spills are cleaned up and dried quickly.”

FAQ

Is it normal for a car to have any smell?

When the “new car” smell has subsided, most cars have a neutral odor. Keep in mind, though, that a car with its windows up is basically a closed system, and any odors that occupants bring with them are bound to be noticeable. Strange car smells could be coming from bags of groceries, pets, cleaning agents, or something equally inconsequential.

Can weather or seasons affect car smells?

“Seasonal conditions can absolutely affect bad smells in your vehicle, either activating the problems or exacerbating existing issues,” advises Haney. “In winter and spring, when it is wet outside, there may be more trapped moisture within your car, leading to mold and mildew. In the summer, heat intensifies all smells and your car is at a bigger risk of overheating, which can cause some of that sweet coolant smell, or the smell of burning rubber and plastic.”

About the Experts

• Steve Haney, who has more than 35 years of hands-on automotive repair experience, is a corporate technical trainer at Bosch Mobility Aftermarket.
• Jon Vorisek is the founder of Repair Surge, an automotive service information provider covering more than 10,000 vehicle models. He has over twenty years of experience in the automotive industry.

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Keep Your Gaming Gear Tidy With This Video Game Controller Stand

Rough-cut the lumber

Plane down enough walnut to 1/2-in. for the tops of the bottom two tiers (A) and the mounting board (E).

At the miter saw, rough-cut the wood for all three sections. I advise cutting the pieces on the cut list a 1/2-in. longer in both directions to allow for wood shifting while clamped and gluing. This excess gives you room to cut off any edges perfectly flush after the glue dries.

Glue together the controller tiers

To create the first and second tiers that will hold the controllers, glue and clamp the walnut tops (A) to the ash bottoms (B). Even though these pieces are oversized, do your best to keep the pieces aligned when gluing.  Use enough glue to create squeeze-out along all the edges.  This will join the two pieces seamlessly without a gap. Secure with clamps and set them aside to dry.

Glue up the headset holder

This piece is made from three pieces of wood glued together. Sandwich a piece of ash (D) between pieces of walnut (C) on either side. Once again, do your best to keep the rough cut pieces aligned as they’re being glued up. Once the headset holder is made, the orientation of these pieces will be vertical. The base of this tier will be added after all the edges have been rounded over.

Draw and cut the arch

Using your headset, trace the arch of the top section, made from sandwiched ash (D) and walnut (C) pieces. To perfect the arch shape, use a circle compass and pencil, then cut the arch with a bandsaw.

When cutting on the band saw, be sure to cut slightly outside your drawn line to preserve the desired shape and avoid removing too much material. Later, you will use a sander to refine the shape.

Trim the edges of all three sections to size

Glued pieces of wood rarely dry perfectly flush and will require a bit of cleanup when the glue has dried. Use the miter saw and band saw to flush cut all four side of your glued up sections to the final dimension listed in the cutlist above.

Sand off the kerf marks

It is inevitable that you’ll get saw kerf marks on all three pieces from cleaning up and flushing out the edges on both the miter and band saw. Use a sander to remove these marks. A spindle sander or belt sander will be most suitable for this task; however, a hand sander can also be used. Start with 120-grit sandpaper and work up to 220-grit. This is where you will smooth out your arch by sanding down to the outline.

Round over the edges for all pieces

Once you have sanded off the saw marks, use a router with a 1/4-in. round-over bit to round-over all edges along the top and bottom of the first tier, second tier, and top arched headset tier. You will also round-over both sides of the two long edges on the base of the top headset holder (E). This piece was added to accommodate the dimensions of the flange and tie the design to the first and second tiers.

The edges can be rounded over using a router table. In the absence of a router table, be sure to clamp your workpiece to your bench for safety.

Drill holes for the handle

In the first and second tiers, drill holes with a 1-in. Forstner bit to serve as catches for the controllers’ handles.  Use the actual controller you plan to store on each tier to determine hole placement. For this project, the holes were drilled 1-1/2-in. in from the front and sides and 3/4-in. deep.

Secure the mounting board to the arched top section

Join the mounting board (E) to the arched section using wood glue and 23-gauge nails. This piece will accommodate the flange’s width, so it doesn’t protrude from the bottom of the piece.

Pre-drill pilot holes for flanges

This video game controller stand requires pipe flanges to be installed on top of the bottom tier (A), both the top (A) and bottom (B) side of the middle tier, and the bottom mounting board (E) of the arched top tier. Center the flange on each face and 1/4-in. in from the back edge. Mark and pre-drill holes with a 1/8-in. drill bit deep enough to seat the 1-in. screws easily.

Apply walnut oil finish

Before connecting the flanges and pipes, oil all sections with Walnut oil or the finish of your choice. Let it fully dry before proceeding.

Assemble the controller holder

When installing screws into hardwood species such as these, it is crucial not to use a drill.  A drill may have too much force and snap the heads off the screws. To prevent snapping the heads of the screws, always screw in by hand using a screwdriver. Use a screwdriver and 1-in. screws to secure the flanges to their tiers through the predrilled pilot holes. Once the flanges have been attached to all tiers, connect the tiers by threading the pipe lengths between the flanges. Use the 6-in. pipe to connect the bottom and middle tiers, and the 4-in. pipe to connect the middle tier to the top arched tier.

FAQ

What is the best way to store my controllers and headset?

Keeping your controllers and headset in a cool, dry, dark place is the best option.  Consider using a dedicated storage caddy to prevent misplacing or damaging your controllers and headset. To preserve the internal electronics of your gaming equipment, avoid high humidity and extreme temperatures.  Direct sunlight may also cause plastic to crack and damage over time.

Are all gaming controllers the same size?

Gaming controllers are not all the same size. Manufacturers aim for a universal size and fit, but the spacing of buttons, the shape of the grips, and the weight will vary.  You will also find smaller controllers geared for children.  Pricing also varies widely by controller and headset.

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What a Gas Tax Freeze Would Actually Mean for Drivers Right Now

Gas prices have nearly doubled since the Iran conflict started in February, and for the average family, that means spending an extra $200 a month on fill-ups. To try to ease that burden, some politicians are pushing to lower state gas taxes and least freeze tax increases. It’s a move that feels logical, but unfortunately doesn’t automatically lead to lower prices.

“A common misconception about gas taxes is that they are the reason for rising gas prices,” says cost-of-living and home financial expert Cody Schuiteboer. “However, crude oil prices, refinery capacity, regional requirements and fuel blends have a much higher impact on pump prices.”

Here’s what to know about gas taxes, including their pros and cons, and how much a tax reduction might save you at the pump.

What Is the Gas Tax?

A gas tax is a fee added to the price of gasoline by federal and state governments. The federal tax has been 18.4 cents per gallon (24.4 cents per gallon for diesel) since October 1993. State gas taxes vary and are used to support transportation infrastructure projects, such as maintaining roadways.

Which States Have a Gas Tax?

All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, impose some form of gas tax. “There are many different formulas,” says Schuiteboer. “Some taxes are strictly per-gallon, some incorporate sales tax components, and some are adjusted automatically in line with inflation or wholesale fuel prices.”

Why Are Governors Trying to Freeze It Now?

Most of it is due to the sudden rise in crude oil prices. According to AAA, as of the first week of May, gas prices had risen to an average of $4.46 per gallon, nearly double what the price was before the U.S.-Iran conflict began on February 28.

But some of the gas tax freezes and reductions also have to do with political posturing in an election year. “This year presents the political season in which gas prices remain the single most prominent consumer expense on the national radar,” says Schuiteboer.

Which Governors Are Trying?

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed an emergency regulation on May 5, which froze an upcoming state gas tax increase. He also signed an executive order to temporarily reduce the gas tax by ten cents per gallon, a move that could collectively save state residents almost $27 million per month.

Some other politicians taking steps toward lowering gas taxes include:

• Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a 60-day order suspending the state gas tax.
• Connecticut governor Ned Lamont is discussing the idea.
• Maryland legislators, who are also in the discussion stages.
• U.S. Representative Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, who proposed legislation to suspend the federal gas tax through October 2026.
• Several California presidential candidates are also suggesting pausing the state gas tax.

Even President Donald Trump has expressed he aims to suspend the federal gas tax to CBS News.

Benefits of a Gas Tax Freeze

It depends on how much you drive and your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, but for a family with two cars, Schuiteboer estimates that a 10-cent reduction in the gas tax would save a household $150 to $200 per year.

“These are substantial figures for a personal budget,” he says. But “it is important to stress that gas-tax suspension is just a part of an overall solution, and it cannot provide complete relief from the rising gas prices.”

Disadvantages of a Gas Tax Freeze

Because gas-tax revenue pays for the construction and repair of roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure, the loss or reduction of a gas tax means less money and delays for those projects.

FAQ

Does a gas tax freeze lower prices at the pump immediately?

Nope. Taxes are applied at the wholesale level, so it’s up to retailers and wholesalers to choose to pass along those savings to customers, says Schuiteboer. In Kentucky, to prevent this, Beshear also activated the state statute on price gouging.

Have gas tax freezes worked in the past?

Sometimes. In 2022, Connecticut suspended its gas tax from April to December. “That amounted to real consumer savings,” says Schuiteboer. But in cases where price-gouging regulations aren’t in place, consumers tend not to see any savings.

Which states have the highest gas taxes?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the states with the highest gas taxes are:

• California, 70.9 cents
• Illinois, 66.4 cents
• Washington, 59.0 cents
• Pennsylvania, 53.7 cents
• Hawaii, 52.5-55.0 cents
• Conversely, Alaska has the lowest state gas tax, at about 9 cents per gallon.

About the Experts

• Cody Schuiteboer is president and CEO of Best Interest Financial, where he leads teams that assist individuals in navigating the bigger-picture cost-of-living impacts of fuel prices, home payment plans, transportation costs and household budgets.

Sources

CBS News: “Trump says he aims to suspend gas tax “for a period of time”

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