Breathing clean and healthy air is something the entire world has come to not only appreciate in the past two years, but it has also become a necessity. Air quality is something not everyone thinks about on a daily basis–however, the quality of the air you breathe every day can truly make or break many important aspects of your body’s health.
Why is it important to change your air filters?
Air filters are your most important line of defense in preventing things like dust, fungal spores, and pollen from circulating in your home. These pollutants are not only nuisances that can cause allergic reactions and minor respiratory discomfort. For those in sensitive groups, such as the elderly or those with respiratory issues, like asthma, poor air filtration can put a serious damper on overall comfort and even adversely affect their health.
Along with the nearly invisible pollutants, air filters can also be credited with catching bigger objects and preventing them from being dispersed around your home. This can include things like loose insulation, which, if not caught in an air filter, would otherwise be easily blown around in the home, slowly breaking into smaller pieces and becoming an annoying and dangerous pollutant.
What are the effects of a dirty air filter?
Dirty air filters are not only bad for your health and comfort, but they can also negatively affect your HVAC system:
Poor air filtration. When air filters build up excessive amounts of trapped pollutants, airflow can be reduced significantly. As it’s much harder for air to flow through the filter, your HVAC system will have to work harder to push fresh air through a blocked-up filter. This can lead to faster machine burnout as well as higher energy bills.
Uneven air distribution. As filters are backed-up, it can be harder for the temperature to be detected and regulated, thus not prompting your A/C system to run when it should. This could mean uncomfortable temperature levels in your living spaces, as well as your unit switching on and off at the wrong times.
Your A/C can freeze up. Because air may not be able to move at the same pace as if it were passing through a clean air filter, cold air might be lingering for too long within the unit, causing it to freeze. This could mean costly repairs which could have been prevented with a simple fix.
Mold! Blocked-up air filters can become the perfect place for mold to grow. With big congregations of dust and fungal spores, moisture can easily settle into these nests of pollutants. Pair that with the dark spaces in which your air filters live, and you can easily grow yourself a mold farm. This can spread to the rest of the HVAC system which can cause huge trouble in the long run. That also means that air passing through a moldy filter can possibly be dispersing spores around the home, thus creating an even bigger problem.
It’s incredibly important for you and your HVAC system’s health that air filters are regularly changed. This easily-forgettable task can spell big trouble if put on the back burner for too long. Leaving a dirty air filter to fester can mean completely avoidable and expensive HVAC repairs and replacements, as well as taking a toll on your home and possibly your health.
When should I replace my air filters?
Air filters should be changed regularly, of course. However, regularly could mean different things, depending on your environment.
If you live in an area with high pollen levels or have pets, air filters should be changed around every 90 days. Pet hair and excessive pollen can clog up filters fast, so it’s important to keep that in mind when setting a schedule for your air filters.
Similarly, if the occupants of your home have respiratory issues like asthma, extra care should be taken. Air filters should be changed frequently, sometimes even once a month, if a person with a sensitive respiratory system is in the home.
Luckily, air filters are very inexpensive and extremely easy to change. Setting a reminder every 60-90 days to change your air filter can prove to increase comfort levels in the home and decrease the chances of unfortunate accidents within your HVAC system.
Call us
You and your equipment’s health and efficiency are important to us. Maintaining your HVAC system saves you headaches and cash, and putting your unit on a regular schedule with us here at Tri-Point can help ensure that you, your home, and your family stay comfortable. Have questions about filters? Please, don’t hesitate in giving us a call here at Tri-Point Refrigeration. We’re happy to hear from you and are excited to help you along the way.
For a direct line to any of our employees ready on the line to help you, please call…(512) 651-4565 for our Austin, Texas community (806) 686-0050 for our Lubbock, Texas community. Or check out our website at https://www.tripointrefrigeration.com
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