There are plenty of highly important components in your heater and air conditioner that all require upkeep in order to keep these systems reliable. However, there is one part of your HVAC system that is often underestimated in its importance. It doesn’t move, it doesn’t make adjust the temperature of the air, and it doesn’t use energy but this part still has a big impact on your comfort.
We’re discussing the importance of your HVAC system filter and keeping a clean one in place. Let’s look at how this simple part can have a huge impact on your system and your comfort level.
What the Filter Does
No, the filter doesn’t move but just having a clean filter in place will help with the operation of your heating or cooling system. The filter captures airborne contaminants such as dust, pollen, pet fur, and other debris, keeping them out of your heater. This keeps your systems cleaner and by default, helps to improve their efficiency and even their effectiveness.
The Impact of a Dirty Filter
All too often, we see that people have left a filter in place for far too long. There is no expiration date on a filter but they can become too dirty. When a filter has been left to clean the air for a long period of time, it will eventually capture so much debris that it starts to cause problems rather than solve them. This is because a dirty filter will start to hinder airflow into your heater or AC. This leads to issues like:
- Extra energy being used
- Less effective temperature control
- Added stress on the system
Don’t underestimate your system filter! It may seem like a minor player but this part has a pretty big job keeping things in working order.
Changing Your HVAC Filter
Keeping a clean filter in place is clearly important. This leaves you with a question to answer: How often do you need to change that filter to keep a clean one in place? You shouldn’t have to check it every day but it’s good to have a range of time to help guide when you should replace the filter.
The best rule of thumb to remember is that you should change your filter at a minimum every 3 months. This prevents the filter from getting too dirty and hindering the heating or cooling process. If you want to be careful, you can also check the filter once a month to make sure heavy use of your system hasn’t made it get dirty too quickly.
This also applies to reusable filters. The difference is that if you have a disposable filter, you can toss the old one after you change it out. If you have a reusable filter, you’ll want to clean it carefully before putting it back in place.
Not sure where your filter is or uncomfortable changing it yourself? Perhaps you changed your filter but you’re still noticing problems with your heater or AC. These are situations that we can help with!
Call the friendly staff at Boehmer Heating & Cooling for exceptional customer service! Contact us today to schedule your HVAC services.