Air filters are an important part of your HVAC system. Not only do they keep your equipment clean and free of debris, but they do a lot to help keep indoor air clean by capturing allergens like dust, pollen, mold spores, an animal dander.
Heating and cooling equipment manufacturers recommend changing your air filters regularly every 2 to 3 months. In fact, some require it for their warranties. There are several reason for this:

It protects your HVAC equipment

Air filters are necessary to protect your system from dirt and dust particles that would collect on the motors, fans and other moving parts. It keeps the equipment clean and prolongs the life of your system. When your filters get clogged up with dirt, it blocks the free air flow over the heat exchanger. This can eventually lead to overheating and equipment failure.

It enhances your system’s efficiency

Keeping your system clean helps it run at peak efficiency, which leads to lower energy bills. If they are not changed regularly and kept clean, it affects the air flow and causes problems with heating and cooling functions. Filters that get dirty allow dust and grime to build up on the equipment, making it work harder to produce the same results. Replacing air filters frequently is much less expensive than a struggling system that may eventually result in needing costly repairs.

It protects your health

Filters not only protect the equipment, but keep a lot of dust and other contaminants out of your indoor air. Filters that have a high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating, especially High Energy Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, are a good choice if you suffer from allergies. They are more expensive, but their densely packed layers of crisscrossed fiberglass trap over 99 percent of those little particles that cause sneezing and wheezing. They’re also good at weeding out bacteria and other pathogens that travel around inside your house.

Choosing the right filter

While standard air filters do help keep the dust level down when you change them regularly, they’re not designed to filter out things like pet dander, bacteria, or smoke. These can easily slip through and get circulated through your ductwork and be blown out into your home. However, some HEPA filters may be so dense they restrict air flow.
Clean air filters help your system heat and cool more efficiently, and saves you money. If you think you’ll forget, get this service as part of a regular maintenance contract. For more information and suggestions on what kind of filter is right for your home, contact us today.