Anyone who has ever had their furnace die in the middle of winter — or their AC unit stop working in the midst of a summer heatwave — knows the value of a well-functioning HVAC system.
It’s vital to maintain these systems to make sure they keep on working for a long time to come. One critical component of this is HVAC air filters. Air filters need to be checked and changed out on a regular basis, but how often they should be changed depends on your unique circumstances.
Do you have pets?
Pets in the home, especially those that shed, can put an increased strain on your HVAC system and filter. Fur and dander can be pulled into the air conditioner or furnace and build up into a layer that decreases the efficiency of your HVAC system.
This can get worse during weather extremes when your air conditioner or furnace is working overtime. If you have pets that shed, you should check your filter about once a month and have it changed out if needed.
Do you have allergies?
A fresh air filter can go a long way toward increasing the air quality in the home, and this is especially of benefit to allergy sufferers. If you or other household members are particularly sensitive to dust or mold, consider changing out the air filter once a month.
Pollen from the outdoors can also make its way into the home where it’s absorbed by the HVAC system. If there are seasonal allergy sufferers in the home, it also makes sense to change out HVAC filters frequently.
What is your lifestyle like?
If there are many people living in the home, this will increase the dust that is produced and kicked up into your HVAC system.
Naturally, if you are at home more often and using your furnace or air conditioner while there, this will also put more dust particles and dirt into the HVAC system. In those cases, it’s also a good idea to change out the air filter about once a month.
Since there are many factors that determine how often an HVAC filter should be changed, it’s a smart to do a monthly check to see if the filter appears to be dirty and change it out if needed.
The minimum recommended frequency for changing out an HVAC filter is once every three months. If you stay on top of this schedule, you will not only increase the indoor air quality of your home but will also save money by extending the life of your HVAC system.
Looking for an HVAC technician in San Antonio? Call Rosenberg Indoor Comfort at (210) 987-5587 for quality service you can trust!