If your HVAC technician was the last person to replace your air filter, it’s time for a change. A clean filter boosts your system’s energy efficiency, it helps ensure good indoor air quality and also protects your equipment from harmful airflow restrictions that can shorten its life. Let’s take a more in-depth look at the reasons why once-monthly checks and regular HVAC air filter changes are so important.
- Energy efficiency. One critical job of your air filter is to keep dust particles from infiltrating your HVAC system. If it’s not replaced regularly and becomes clogged, particles can enter the system and settle on vital components. This insulating layer of dust blocks critical heat transfer, so the equipment has to burn through more energy to perform its job and reach the temperature setting on your thermostat.
- Indoor air quality. Running your HVAC system with a badly clogged filter can also let allergens and pollutants collect in the ductwork. When this happens, your indoor air quality quickly deteriorates, since these unhealthy particles are distributed in your air supply every time the blower cycles on.
Poor air quality can negatively affect the health of everyone in the family, but anyone with allergies, asthma and other breathing problems is at a greater risk. If the build up in your ducts is severe, you’ll likely need to schedule professional duct cleaning to improve your air quality.
- Equipment lifespan. As the dirt accumulation on your air filter increases, vital airflow through your HVAC system slowly declines. When it’s forced to run with less than adequate airflow, the added strain overheats the system, which can cause untimely breakdowns or the failure of costly components such as the A/C compressor, furnace heat exchanger or fan motors.
Using an air filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) that’s too high for your system can also cause airflow restrictions, so be sure to check your manufacturer’s recommendations before you purchase replacement filters.
For more advice about the importance of changing your HVAC air filter regularly, contact your Lorain home comfort specialist, Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area