It’s recommended to change the air filter in your home at least every 90 days. But what exactly is the reason for installing a new filter multiple times every year?
Improved air quality
Air filters help capture bits of pollen, dust, pet dander, and other particles that circulate through the air in your home. Trapping these in a filter improves the quality of the air you and your family are breathing.
Prevention of HVAC system failure
Among the most common reasons for an HVAC system failure is a clogged air filter. As air filters do their job, they eventually become clogged with the particles they collect. When a filter gets so obstructed that air has a hard time passing through, your entire system can get backed up and cause mechanical failures that are more expensive to fix than an air filter is to replace.
Lower electric bills
A dirty filter that prevents air from efficiently passing through has to work harder, and so does your unit. Forcing your HVAC system to work harder to achieve the same result causes your energy bill to rise. The cost of regularly changing your air filters can be more than offset by the energy savings.
More consistent air temperatures
The more air struggles to pass through a filter, the harder time it has in reaching every area of your home. In this situation, it’s common to experience hot and cold spots throughout the house caused by uneven air distribution.
How to Change an Air Filter
- Check your old air filter to make sure you buy the correct size. Then, be sure to locate all the air filters in your home, as most homes will have at least one filter per floor.
- Most air filters have an arrow indicating which side faces out. If not, take note of your old one before removing it so you can be sure to correctly install the new one.
- Unhook the latches on the metal grille covering in your wall or ceiling where the air filter is stationed, and then open it up.
- Pull out the old filter and place the new one in.
- Close the grille and hook the latches.
Schedule Regular Maintenance for Your HVAC
Regular maintenance is key to prolonging the life of an HVAC system, reducing your energy bills, and limiting the need for expensive repairs. Changing the air filters is one way to do your part, but other tasks require the help of a trained professional.
The team at Mansfield Sales & Service provide a variety of preventive maintenance measures designed to keep your system running as it should. Schedule your appointment today so you can breathe easier tomorrow.