Do you know how often you should be changing your home’s air filter? If you don’t, you’re not alone. While it may seem like a small detail, changing your air filter regularly is one of the most important things you can do to keep your home comfortable and your HVAC system running efficiently.
When your cooling or heating system works efficiently, it can save you a lot of money on your energy bills. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that a dirty air filter can increase your energy costs by up to 15 percent!
Air filters play a vital role in keeping your home’s air quality clean and free of allergens, dust and other particles. Not only do they help improve indoor air quality, but they also help extend the life of your HVAC system by preventing dirt and debris from clogging the coils and other components.
During off-peak seasons, you can get by changing your filter every few months. But during peak heating and cooling seasons, it’s a good idea to change your filter every month. The experts at Robert B. Payne can take care of your air filter cleaning and replacement.
Common Problems That Result From Dirty Air Filters
Your heating or cooling system’s air filter helps ensure that the air circulating through your home is clean and free of allergens, dust and other particles. When the filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, it can no longer do its job effectively. This can lead to a number of problems, including:
– Reduced indoor comfort
– Poor indoor air quality
– Higher energy bills
– Fan motor damage
– Shortened HVAC system lifespan
Reduced Indoor Comfort
When your air filter is dirty, it can restrict the airflow to your HVAC system. This can make your system work harder to maintain the desired temperature in your home, leading to reduced indoor comfort.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
A clogged air filter can also lead to poor indoor air quality. As the filter becomes more and more clogged, it will allow more allergens, dust and other particles to circulate through your home. This can cause or worsen respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma.
Higher Energy Bills
Are your monthly energy bills on the rise? When your HVAC system struggles to maintain the desired temperature in your home, it will use more energy, leading to higher energy bills.
Fan Motor Problems
Your system’s fan motor is responsible for turning the blades and circulating air through the unit and your home. A clogged air filter makes the fan motor work harder to do its job. When the fan motor is working harder than it should, it can overheat and eventually fail.
Shortened HVAC System Lifespan
When your HVAC system has to work harder than normal, it will shorten the lifespan of the unit. Regularly changing your air filter is one of the best things you can do to keep your system running efficiently and extend its lifespan.
What Are The Benefits of Regularly Changing Your Air Filter?
When you check your air filter every month and replace it every two months, you can enjoy a number of benefits, including:
– Reduced energy bills
– Fewer repairs
– Improved indoor air quality
– Extended HVAC system lifespan
– Enhanced comfort
Reduced Energy Bills
When your air filters are dirty, they make your HVAC system work harder to heat and cool your home. This can lead to higher energy bills. But when you keep your filters clean, your system won’t have to work as hard to do its job, which can save you money on your energy bills.
Fewer Repairs
In addition to reducing your energy bills, regularly changing your air filter can also help you avoid costly repairs. As we mentioned earlier, a dirty air filter can lead to fan motor damage. Replacing a fan motor can be expensive, so it’s best to avoid the problem altogether by changing your filters on a regular basis.
Clogged air filters can also limit airflow and cause overheating. This can lead to frequent repairs and replacement of parts. By changing your filters regularly, you can help avoid these damages and keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
When your air filters are clean, they can do a better job of removing allergens, dust and other particles from the air. This can lead to improved indoor air quality and respiratory health. While changing your air filters, your professional HVAC technician will also check for other potential sources of indoor air pollution and make recommendations for improving your home’s air quality.
Extended HVAC System Lifespan
When your system isn’t working as hard, it doesn’t experience as much wear and tear. This can help extend the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Enhanced Comfort
Regular professional HVAC maintenance can also help improve your home’s comfort. When your system is running efficiently, you can enjoy consistent temperatures and better humidity control. This can lead to enhanced comfort throughout your home.
Contact Us For Expert HVAC Air Filtration Services
If you’re not changing your air filter regularly, now is the time to start. A few minutes of your time each month can save you money and keep your home comfortable for years to come.
At Robert B. Payne, we offer expert HVAC air filtration services to help you improve the quality of your home’s air. We can help you select the right air filters for your system and change them on a regular basis to keep your system running efficiently. Contact us today at 540-373-5876 to learn more about our air filtration services.