Did you know that not routinely changing your air filter can be just as bad as not having one? Sadly, it’s true. Most people have no idea how harmful a dirty air filter can be, or how one essentially suffocates their system.
Typically, people don’t give much thought into their heating and air conditioning systems until something goes wrong. Strangely enough, when something does go wrong, the most common reason is that they neglected to replace their air filter in time. To boost awareness and teach our customers about air filters, Grove City Heating & Air has compiled the following information.
HOW DO HVAC AIR FILTERS WORK?
Manufacturers make air filters out of fiberglass or pleated paper in a cardboard enclosure. Air filters are put in HVAC systems to act as a screen to stop contaminants and other particles from floating around in the air you breathe. They also prevent these contaminants from entering vulnerable parts of the system. A few examples of the types of things these filters stop from moving on through the air include pet dander, dead skin flakes, mold, dust, lint, hair, pet fur, bacteria, and more.
HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD I CHANGE MY FURNACE FILTER?
That depends on the sort of filter you have and what is going on in your house. Depending on the kind of HVAC filter you have, you will want to follow a schedule to make sure the air filter is always working at its best. Most manufacturers recommend basic filters to be replaced at least every 60 days, but some situations could change that schedule.
For example, you should change a filter in a conventional home with no animals every three months.
If you have a pet in the home, you should replace the filter every two months. For multiple pets, it needs to be replaced anywhere from every three to seven weeks, especially if someone in the home has allergies.
Individuals in sole-occupant homes without animals can usually change filters once or twice a year without any issues. The same goes for those who have vacation homes that aren’t occupied frequently.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY AIR FILTER IS CLOGGED?
When you don’t regularly replace air filters, they can suffocate your system. The buildup of pollutants attached to the filter act as a coating blocking airflow, essentially smothering your system. While the filter is intended to hold these small items, the accumulation could produce a nearly impassable wall blocking the flow of all air. This blockage leads to a lot of issues for the entire HVAC system, some of which include:
Furnace Failures
If the system is working too hard to go around and through blocked up air filters, it can trigger a breakdown. If this happens, you’ll need to replace the whole thing, which can cost thousands, in some cases, even more than $10,000. However, air filters typically cost less than $30-$40, so they are simple to replace regularly compared to replacing the entire system, a mere fraction of the cost.
Health Concerns
If the air filter is blocked up and cannot catch contaminants as it should, they can send them back into the air you and your family breathe. Immediate problems, as a result, could include itchy eyes or throat, headaches, and more. If you still don’t replace the air filter and the issues continue, the long-term effect could include respiratory ailments, possibly heart disease, even cancer.
Froze-Up Coils
Evaporative coils help your air conditioner expel heat from the air to keep your home cool. They can freeze up if they are overworked. With a blocked up air filter, the air won’t flow over the coils properly, which makes them freeze up. This can lead to a total system breakdown. Strangely enough, the cost to fix this dilemma is simply buying a new air filter every few months and not letting it happen in the first place. Safeguard your HVAC system and your money by changing the air filters on a regular plan.
Poor Temperature Control
Warm and cool air cannot sufficiently go where it is required when blocked up air filters make the system stress to create airflow. As a result, homeowners find some rooms can be too cold during the winter or too hot during the warmer months. It’s like your system is spinning its wheels.
Costly energy bills
When your air filter gets clogged, air cannot flow through the system very well, if at all. This blockage overworks the entire system making it challenging for it to dispense heat or air where it is essential. This strain raises your utility bills since the unit is working harder.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
If you have not replaced the air filters in your home lately, heed our warning! Your next move should be to find out which ones you require and change them ASAP. If you find your current filters look like nothing, not even air could go through them; it’s time to call an HVAC specialist. We can go to your home to examine the system and address any issues caused by the old filters, therefore avoiding additional costly problems down the road.
GIVE US A CALL TODAY
For more information, or to schedule a money-saving visit from one of our reputable technicians, call Grove City Heating & Air today at 614-490-7540 or schedule online here. Schedule Now
