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Homeowners using a central heating and air system can perform routine maintenance to keep their units in good shape, including changing out the air filter. If you aren’t sure how often to change your HVAC filter, this guide can help.
Do you need help choosing or installing a new air filter? Trust Topline Heating & Air, the experts at providing the best HVAC services in Altgen, PA.
What Does Your HVAC Air Filter Do?
HVAC air filters remove contaminants from the air circulating your home, providing cleaner air and keeping your heating and air unit clear of debris. Your air filter blocks the following contaminants:
- Dust and dirt
- Pet hair
- Lint
- Mold
- Bacteria
Most air filters consist of spun fiberglass or paper, coming in the form of a flat filter. Pleated air filters block smaller particles than flat filters, making them more likely to prevent bacteria in the air. Regardless of the type of filter, they all work the same way by keeping your return air clean and contaminant-free.
Some homeowners use a furnace filter, which keeps warm air clean and prevents clogs in your heating system. You can use a furnace filter with your air conditioner filter to guarantee clean air year-round.
How Often to Change Out Your HVAC Filter
Clean filters work best to clear your air, so frequent exchanges keep your home experiencing poor indoor air quality. Most air filter and HVAC manufacturers recommend quarterly changes or every three months. However, certain factors indicate that you should change out your HVAC filter more frequently, including the following.
Residents with Respiratory Problems
If anyone in your home has asthma, allergies, or other respiratory issues, changing your filter every 20 to 30 days can help reduce symptoms. In addition, if anyone in your home falls ill with a respiratory infection, change your filter after they recover to keep potential bacteria from recycling in your home.
Pet Ownership
All pets release dander and fur but may also contribute to particle buildup in your home. Cats using indoor litter boxes may kick up litter dust, while dogs who love to dig track in dirt and dust. Pet owners may want to change their air filters every 45 to 60 days, increasing the frequency should they have more than one pet.
Elderly or Young Residents
Elderly people or young children often have a lower tolerance for bad indoor air quality. They may become sick more often, react to allergens in the air, or develop dry coughs and respiratory symptoms with dirtier air. Changing your filter every 45 days can help keep your home’s air clear enough for those vulnerable to low-quality air.
The Size of Your Home
Larger homes require larger HVAC systems. Because of the increased contaminants in the air from larger homes, you may need to change your filters every 60 days.
Your Home’s Air Quality
Homes with lower air quality, or houses situated in areas with more dust, dirt, or contaminants in the air, should change out their air filters every two months.
How Often You Use Your HVAC system
If you have a vacation home or travel frequently, you may not kick up enough dust or bacteria to dirty your air filters before the general 90 days. Homes that don’t see frequent use may only need an air filter change once per year.
How to Tell If You Need to Change Your Air Filter
Open up your vent and pull out your air filter. Does it look dirty, have lint buildup, or smell odd?
If you notice issues with your current filter, it’s safer to change it now than to let it worsen.
Most people check their air filters once a month, but if you have recently had a drier climate than usual, experienced illness, or added new pets to the family, you should check it more frequently.
What Happens If I Don’t Change Out My Filter Often Enough?
Some homeowners neglect to change their air filters until they have apparent air quality issues. This neglect hurts more than the air, leaving your HVAC unit vulnerable to problems that could damage the system. If you don’t know how often to change the HVAC filter and neglect it, you could notice the following problems.
HVAC System Problems
A clogged HVAC system works harder to keep your home comfortable, running down the parts and increasing the chance that your unit may fail. You may also notice that it takes longer for your home to heat up or cool down. Eventually, you may wear out certain components in your HVAC system, requiring costly repairs and frustrating downtime.
Degraded Air Quality
When your filter has too much buildup, the particles and contaminants trapped in it may free themselves and circulate back into your home. Lint, pet dander, dust, and other allergens can invade your home, causing coughs, sniffles, and itchy, watery eyes. If someone in your home recently recovered from an illness and you neglect to change out the filter, you could reintroduce bacteria into the house.
Higher Utility Bills
Since your HVAC system has to work harder to reach the ideal temperature with dirty filters, the unit will use more energy. This increased electricity usage shows up on your power bill. While the initial change may only reflect a few dollars, over time, these extra utility payments add up to far more than the cost of a new air filter.
Professional Heating and Air Services in Altgen, PA
Once you determine how often to change your HVAC filter, you must figure out which type and size you need. Get help with these decisions and more with Topline Heating & Air. Our professional HVAC technicians know how to help you achieve the best indoor air quality possible.
Call (717) 628-6825 today to learn more about the best heating and air experts in Altgen, PA. Want to know more about what Topline customers can expect? Learn more about our HVAC services.