Changing Your Air Filter Is Important – Here’s Why

Change your air filter frequently

Your HVAC system uses an air filter to help keep the air it circulates throughout your home clean. While there are many different types of filters available on the market today, they all perform the same function – removing debris from the air as it flows through your furnace and air conditioning system.

That’s an important reason to change your air filter frequently in and of itself. Most people want their home’s air to be as clean and fresh as possible. But there are a few other reasons to consider changing your filter often that you may not have considered.

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Three Reasons You Should Change Your Filter Often

System Efficiency:

Your cooling and heating system works hard to ensure your home gets conditioned air all year long. Clogged filters can make it much harder for the system to move air through your home, which in turn makes your furnace or air conditioning system have to work harder. Your system then uses more energy than needed – making it less efficient.

System Effectiveness:

The air filter not only helps keep the air in your home cleaner; it also helps keep the system cleaner, too. When a furnace or air conditioning system gets clogged, it can make it more difficult for all the intricate parts to move smoothly and effectively. Because of this, your HVAC system might not operate as effectively as it should.

Indoor Air Quality:

Although it might seem to go without saying, when an air filter becomes dirty, it doesn’t do as good of a job at keeping the air in your home free of contaminants. Air filters help keep dust, dander, dirt, and more out of your indoor air. If the filter is dirty, those particles have nowhere else to go but into your home’s air.

Changing your system’s air filter is simple.

Fortunately, changing out your air filter is a relatively simple task that you as a homeowner can do without much effort. In general, you should change your air filters whenever they are dirty, usually monthly, especially when your HVAC system has been running frequently. Here are the five necessary steps in effectively changing your filter:

1. Shut off your unit. That way it won’t be turning on during the filter change process.
2. Remove the access panels on the system to locate your filter.
3. Remove the old filter. Helpful hint: f you’re not sure what size filter your system takes, the dimensions are usually printed on the side of the filter. You can look at your old one for reference if you’re unsure.
4. Replace the old filter with a new one. Like the dimensions, there are usually arrows printed on the sides of the filter that show which way it should be inserted.
5. Close the unit and turn it back on.

Some systems have filters that can be cleaned rather than replaced. In this instance, follow the steps above, but rather than replacing the filter, spray it off either in the shower or outdoors with the hose, making sure debris is thoroughly removed. If it is heavily soiled, you may want to run a vacuum hose nozzle over it first before spraying it off. Then, make sure the filter is fully dry before re-inserting it into your system.

Not sure how to change your filter? Call a professional.

Of course, if you’re worried about changing your filter, or would like a professional to show you how to do so, Trademasters is happy to help. Give us a call at (703) 644-6400 or contact us online, and we will be glad to set up an appointment with you.