Every heating and cooling appliance – air conditioning unit, heater, or a furnace – has an air filter. These air filters are an important part of your HVAC system for many reasons. Not only do they help keep your equipment from getting clogged up with dust and debris, but they also help keep the air in your home clean by capturing allergens such as dust, pet dander, pollen, and mold spores.
Have you ever seen a dirty filter? It’s gross! And if you don’t regularly clean or replace your filters, you’re running the possibility of damaging your heating and cooling equipment and reducing your home’s air quality.
It’s recommended that filters be changed every 2 to 3 months. It takes only 5 minutes to preserve your air quality and the lifespan of your HVAC system. Some heating and cooling appliance manufacturers even require cleaning and changing your filters to keep your warranty.
Here’s why you should add the task of replacing your filters to your regular to-do list:
Improves Airflow and Efficiency
Having a clogged or dirty air filter or furnace filter can restrict the airflow within the equipment. This causes your HVAC system to work harder and perform inefficiently. Clogged air filters can lead to dirty coils and air ducts which can further cause a poorly running ventilation system. Not only is this bad for the lifespan of your heating and cooling systems, but it can drive up your energy bill costing you more in the long run.
Protects your HVAC Equipment
As mentioned above, clogged air filters can negatively affect other components of your HVAC system. It can also cause overheating and eventually lead to equipment failure. By replacing your air and furnace filters regularly, you’re preventing dust and debris from building up on fans, coils, motors, and other parts of the equipment. In return, this will help prolong the lifespan of your equipment.
Cleaner Air Overall
Filters not only protect the equipment from getting clogged, but they also protect the overall air quality in your home as well by capturing dust, debris, and other allergens. By not cleaning your air filter regularly, you’re allowing dirty air to circulate in your home. Breathing in the debris can affect your health and if left uncleaned for too long, can create a breeding ground for mold, dust mites, bacteria, and pesky allergens.
Other Resources
Most furnace filters are disposable and easy to replace. If your air filter is not disposable, check with the manufacturer’s manual to learn the proper methods of cleaning your filters. Having a clean air filter is important for your health and the health of your appliances.
If you need help deciding which air filter is best for your system or want instructions on how to easily replace a filter check out these videos from our home pros.
