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If your AC system is working as it should, it has kept you nice and cool for these last several months—an undeniably difficult task here in Southeast Texas. And while there are still a few more months of extra hot and humid weather ahead, one way you can reward your cooling system (and yourself) for doing such a fine job so far is checking the AC filter and replacing it if necessary.
Especially, if you haven’t changed your air filter in the last few months, that simple and cheap task should be at the very top of your to-do-list. Here’s why:
#1: Air Quality
The air we breathe in on a regular basis is full of microscopic particles like dust, pollen, skin cells, mold, bacteria, etc. Household activities like dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, cooking and other chores will increase the amount of particles in the air, which can cause respiratory problems or asthma symptoms in certain people.
In fact, the EPA ranks indoor air pollutants in the top five environmental health risks. Fortunately, there are high-efficiency AC filters that can catch all of these particles before they enter your home. However, an accumulation of dirt and particles will eventually clog up even the best AC filter and it will no longer be able to do perform as well. By replacing your filter regularly, you can ensure the air quality in your home stays as clean as it should.
#2: Energy Efficiency
In addition to letting in pollutants, a clogged air filter is bad news for your energy bill. Your AC or heating system has to work much harder to pump air through a blocked up filter to deliver the cool or warm air you want. This means that the system requires more energy to do its job, causing your energy bill to be higher.
#3: System Breakdowns
Another downside of a clogged air filters besides energy consumption and poor air quality is the added strain that gets put on the system. While you may not notice a change right away, in the long term clogged filters will result in a much shorter lifespan for the parts and components that make up the unit. And if a critical component breaks down, you may end up having to buy a completely new system.
#4: Because it’s cheap and easy!
Unlike most AC maintenance and repair which often costs an arm and a leg, changing an air filter is probably one of the simplest and cheapest home maintenance tasks. You don’t need to buy any special tools or schedule an appointment with a local AC repairman. Simply look at your system’s manual to see what filter is recommended, go to your local hardware store or supermarket to pick one out, and swap out the old filter with the new one. That’s all there is to it!
How often should my air filter be changed?
While the exact lifespan of your air filter will vary by a number of different factors—frequency/duration of use, type of filter, time of the year (Spring pollen shortens filter lifespan), and the air quality needs of the people living in your home—HVAC experts recommend checking filters once a month and replacing them at least once every three months.
Don’t wait until something as cheap and easy to fix as a changing an air filter costs you big time. Our philosophy: Act now, save later.
If you have any questions about your home air filter or a more serious heating and cooling problem arises, give Richmond’s Air AC services a call at (713) 732-6426 .
