This article comes from Angie’s List.
How Often Should You Replace Your Home Air Filter?
Here are some keys that’ll help you determine when you should change the filter in your home.
What kind of furnace filter do you have?
One of the primary influences of how often you need to change the filter in your home is what type of filter you buy.
Filters vary from each other in several ways, based on what materials they’re made with, their form (pleated vs. panel), their thickness, and other variations.
We know everyone loves to save money, but buying a cheap air filter most likely means you’re going to have to replace it more often, which in the long run will probably be cost the same as buying a better quality filter.
When you purchase a filter, it should have a recommended time when it’ll need to be replaced. Some need to be changed monthly, while others can last up to six months.
Do you have allergies?
Another main factor in how often you should change the filter is the occupants in the home.
If you have anyone who suffers from allergies, you should be changing the filters more often than recommended. This will help remove more of the allergens from the air in your home. If the filter is full and dirty, it won’t be able to trap them.
Are there pets in your house?
Another occupant to consider when deciding how soon filters need to be changed is any furry critters roaming in your home.
The majority of cats and dogs shed, and their hair gets everywhere. That includes your filters, which will alter the performance of your heating and cooling system.
So if you have a pet or multiple pets in your home, you’ll most likely need to change the filter more often. The best way to know how often is to check it.
Also, depending on the seasons, you may need to change the filter at different intervals. Animals shed more in hotter months, so keep that in mind when it comes to checking your filters.
Do you care about saving money?
If you don’t think that changing your filter is important, here are a few reasons why you should change the filter to your HVAC system.
The U.S. Department of Energy says that replacing a dirty filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5 to 10 percent.
Not only will it save you money on your energy bills, but it also can save you money on your heating and cooling system. A dirty filter will restrict your airflow, causing your system to work harder. This will cause wear and can create issues that possibly require repairs. Also, continuous wear on your system will lower the lifespan of your system.
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Contact Superior Co-Op HVAC today to answer any questions you might have on whether you need to replace your air filter or if you need it replaced.
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