When it comes to improving your home’s comfort, little things like changing your furnace filters matters. Apart from keeping off excessive dirt and debris from building up in the system, it can also prevent indoor air quality problems and premature failure of the component. Doing this regularly also keeps the system working efficiently, which then translates to lower electricity bills.
What do air filters do?
The main job of your furnace’s filters is to keep dust and dirt from accumulating inside the duct system and air handler. When air runs through a clean or new filter, it can reduce or remove dirt and allergens before warming your air and distributing it to the rooms. This can improve the system’s efficiency while keeping your house comfortable.
Furnace repair experts in Salt Lake City share the other benefits of replacing filters:
- Healthier air quality
- Reduced heating costs
- Longer life for the unit
What’s the harm of not replacing them?
Without regular replacement, the air filter is likely to get clogged, which will then obstruct the airflow through the unit. The furnace, moreover, will have to work harder to pull air into the system. This can then increase your utility bill and put additional stress to the parts, resulting in premature wear or frequent repairs. This can also shorten the life of the unit.
Apart from obstructed airflow and increased utility bill, dirty filters can also create several problems and safety concerns. These include:
- Clogging and compromised air quality
- Overheating of motor
- Equipment failure
- Starting fires
- Shutting off of the furnace
When should you replace your air filters?
The answer to this quest depends on the number of factors such as the type of filter your unit needs, the number of occupants in the home, and whether or not you keep pets inside the house. External factors that could affect your indoor air quality (like construction in or near your property) can also play a role.
In general, you should replace your filters every three months. During heating season like winter, inspect your filters monthly. If it looks dirty, it is best to replace it. Also, if you keep pets indoors, consider replacing the filters more often, especially if you have multiple pets or those that shed a lot. The same is also true if a family member suffers from asthma or allergies.
You’ll also need to check and replace the filters often if you or someone in your home smokes or if you tend to have visitors who smoke indoors. You may have to replace them more than every three months, but a much better option is to smoke outside the house or stop smoking. Renovations or construction in or near your property will also require frequent filter changes.
How can you replace the filters?
Changing the filter is a relatively simple job, and almost anyone can do it. It all starts with determining the right size of filter for your system and turning off the power to the unit. Then, you can move on to opening the filter panel to remove the filter and take it out of the compartment. Be sure to place the new filter in the proper direction; look for the arrow that shows airflow direction.
Apart from regularly replacing the filters, don’t forget to maintain professional tune-ups. This is to clean and check your system, identify wear and tear, and solve minor issues before they become worse. Contact a furnace service expert today to learn more about taking good care of your unit.
