Importance of Air Filters

Often times the best maintenance that can be done for your air conditioning system is preventative maintenance so that your unit runs smoothly, cleanly and efficiently. One of the most important things you can do to protect your home from costly HVAC repairs is to routinely change out your air filters. Seems easy enough, right? It’s a simple issue with a simple solution, but many homeowners do not realize the importance of new air filters or do not know when to change them out. Did you know that indoor air pollution is one of the top environmental health risks according to the EPA? It might be the last thing on your mind, but keep your indoor air clean is extremely important. When should you change your air filters? The easy answer is very simple, change air filters when they are dirty. However, not all homes are alike and there are various factors that can determine how quickly your filters need to be changed. Some of these factors could include: the type of filter you are using, the overall air quality of your home, household pets, occupancy of the home and the level of air pollution and construction in your area. For your standard 1″-3″ air filters, the manufacturers basically tell you to change them every 30-60 days, which is actually a great rule of thumb. But general rules aren’t always for everybody. If you suffer from light to moderate allergies, you could upgrade the air filter or change them even more often. Or, if you’re in a more remote area, less occupied home (like a vacation home) and there are fewer cars around, annually may be quite sufficient. Why do pets matter so much? They have a tendency to shed, which can clog your air filter quick and with great success. Of course the air filter is just doing its job by capturing pet hair and dander, but extremely dirty filters can cause extremely weak HVAC performance. The cheapest filters on the market are essentially only meant protect the indoor unit from larger particles of dirt between tune-ups. These filters really do not adequately cleanse the air or help with allergies very much. Thicker or more dense filters help more and do not make the heating and cooling equipment work harder. Your equipment should work the same as before, however a maintenance tune-up is recommended to ensure the performance is what it should be. As always, you can always get in touch with our trained service professionals if you have concerns about your air quality or questions about air filters. Call Spencer Air Conditioning and Heating today at (972) 446- COOL (2665) or find out more about us at spencerairconditioning.com.