HVAC Air Filters
Have you looked at your home’s air filter in the past month? Do you remember when you replaced it? If you answered “no” to either one of these questions, now is a good time to check the filter. A dirty HVAC filter can cause you a lot of needless problems, and here are some reasons why.
What is an HVAC Filter?
The blower motor in your furnace and air conditioner blows heated or cooled air through the vents. As the blower works, it draws air in from inside the home, through the air filter. An air filter can trap a wide range of particles, keeping the air clean.
The filter is located at the furnace or inside the house (if you have no furnace). The typical filter size is 20 inches by 25 inches and 1 inch thick. It may have pleated paper, foam, or other materials that trap dirt, dust, and debris.
1. Efficiency
Why is it so important to have clean air inside your heating and cooling system? Dirty air causes dirty components, and before long, your entire system could be filthy. A dirty AC or furnace loses its efficiency. In other words, your energy bills could go up substantially just because you fail to replace the filter on a regular basis. Yet, efficiency is only one reason to change filters.
2. Breakdowns
Air conditioners often pick the hottest days of the year to let you down. You and your entire family could be miserable until the AC unit gets fixed. In summer, many HVAC technicians are very busy and may not be able to get to your house right away. You can trust in a company like All A’s Plumbing and Heating who will come to the rescue.
When it is very cold outdoors, your furnace has to work harder, and a furnace with problems may suddenly quit. You may need to use space heaters or other forms of expensive supplemental heat until you can fix the problem. Many AC and heating breakdowns could be avoided if the air filters are replaced routinely.
3. Health Issues
Your air filter not only keeps the heating and cooling system clean, but it also helps to keep the air inside the home clean too. Have you been sneezing or coughing lately? This kind of problem can be caused by your indoor atmosphere. In fact, dirty air can wreak havoc with health conditions like:
- Asthma
- COPD
- Allergies
- People ill with flu or respiratory infections
There are tiny things in the air you cannot see. In fact, you could be breathing in all kinds of things at this moment and not know it. For instance, people constantly shed skin cells, and microscopic creatures called dust mites are attracted to these skin cells. Clean air filters might not be a cure for health conditions. However, cleaner air may help you avoid needless suffering. Everyone in the home may breathe easier and be more comfortable.
4. Pets
Pets can bring great joy and comfort but they also bring dander and hair. Pets can bring a lot of outdoor contaminants inside the house too. Your air filter traps hair and dander (tiny skin particles) which float in the air and can cause respiratory issues.
When Should I Change the Filter?
You should replace the filter before it gets extremely dirty. Yet, it depends on the number of family members and pets in the home. When there are pets and more people inside the house, you probably need a new filter quite often. If you check the filter once every 30 days, you can get a good idea of how long you can go between filter changes. A typical filter change is between once a month and once every three months. Some filters are designed to last longer than others, but they are usually more expensive.
Things to Remember
Your HVAC filter keeps the air inside the home and your HVAC unit clean. Dirty filters can cost you money in higher energy bills and may exacerbate some health conditions. A dirty HVAC system may have a relatively short lifespan and cause you frequent problems.
If you would like more information or need to have your air filters changed by a reputable and reliable cooling specialist, contact All A’s Plumbing and Heating today. We offer emergency services as well.
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