The Importance Of Changing Your Air Filters Regularly. Keeping your HVAC system operating at maximum efficiency. What to keep in mind.
Have you ever wondered what the air in your home is made of, whether it is healthy to breathe or not? It’s more than just oxygen molecules floating around in the atmosphere, which we all know is of course important for survival. There are many pollutants that exist within our homes and buildings. These contaminants make their way through your heating and cooling systems as well as the ventilation of your home or office building. Air filters can be used to improve the quality of air in your home or commercial building as well as keep your HVAC system (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system) operating at maximum efficiency.
1. How Air Filters Work
Air filters are used to trap particles in the air circulating throughout your building. The types of contaminants that can be caught by your filtration system include dust, pollen, mold spores, pet dander, and other irritants. If you have pets or allergies then you know firsthand how important it is for these pollutants to be kept out of your home.
Air filters are typically disposable. They will need to be replaced regularly depending on the level of contaminants in your building. Using air filters with different levels of filtration can help you control which pollutants are present in your space.
2. When Should You Change Your Air Filters
There are multiple types of filters that can be used in an HVAC system, and depending on the filter they have varying useful life spans ranging from a couple of months to a year or more.
The frequency that you change your air filters will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your building and the amount of traffic it gets. Of course, the most important factor would stem from the difference in types of air filters. For example, if you have an HVAC system that runs constantly, then you should pay more attention to the quality of your filters. Depending on what type of filter it is, you might want to change them every two months or so.
If you have large occupancy numbers in your building then you should replace your filters more frequently. If you have pets or allergies then replacing your air filters every two to three months is recommended as these types of contaminants are harder to clean.
3. What Are The Health Benefits
When you replace your air filters regularly, the benefits are immense. For one, your HVAC system operates more efficiently when there is less of a workload for it to have to do. This means that working harder requires more energy from your unit and could even put it at risk of wearing out faster than usual.
Keeping your filters clean is also important because it ensures that the air you are breathing in your home or office is at its healthiest. Replacing your air filters on a regular basis, especially for those who suffer from allergies or asthma, can help prevent symptoms of illness and other respiratory problems. If you have a more serious issue, it might be a good idea to use a face mask when cleaning your filters.
Replacing your air filters will maximize the efficiency of your heating and cooling system, which will save you money in the long run. If you invest in an HVAC system that is more efficient then you will increase your savings even further with cleaner filters.
4. How To Change Your Air Filters
Changing your air filters is actually very easy. All you need to do is find the type of filter that your HVAC system uses, which can usually be found written on the side of the unit itself or in the owner’s manual. If you cannot find this information out then there are other ways to go about doing it.
Once again, depending on what type of air filter your HVAC uses, you would either need to unscrew it or take it out. Then, replace the old one with a new filter. You can contact a professional if you are having trouble with this process.
With that being said, there are some filters that may be installed in a way that allows you to simply lift them out and replace them without having to take anything apart at all. These types of air filters will have slits cut in the side so they can easily slide in place.
Air filters are essential for your HVAC system to work the way that you would like it to. It is important for you to know which types of filters are best suited for your needs, whether it’s based on allergies or other respiratory problems.
Regardless of what type of filter you are using, make sure that you change them regularly or on a schedule to ensure that your system is working properly. The more aware you are of the different types of filters and their uses, the better off you will be.
