How Often Should You Replace Your HVAC Air Filter?
One of the most important things you can do to sustain the efficient operation of your HVAC system is to replace its air filter. As a homeowner, furnace filter replacement is a task that you need to keep up with on a consistent basis. Below, we’ll dive into why filter replacements are necessary and how often you should be doing them.
Why Regular Furnace Filter Replacement Matters
While furnace filter replacement may seem like one of the simplest things you can do, it makes a huge impact on many things. It allows more efficient system operation, more even heating and cooling, and better indoor air quality. With a furnace filter affecting your energy bills, comfort, and HVAC units, it only makes sense to ensure you keep up with regular filter changes.
Routine air filter changes will ensure good indoor air quality, optimal system performance, and overall long-term reliability from your HVAC system. It can be helpful to understand these effects so that you’re more consistent with your HVAC maintenance.
How a Clean Filter Improves HVAC Performance
One key thing to keep in mind is that a clean HVAC filter improves your system’s performance in a variety of ways. It increases the airflow throughout your system, making it easier for it to operate. This reduces energy consumption and saves you money on your energy bills.
You can enjoy more even heating and cooling throughout the rooms of your home. When you have a clean air filter, it will improve your indoor air quality by removing pollen, dust, pet dander, and other airborne contaminants. Furthermore, a clean air filter will result in less strain on your system, which will extend its overall lifespan.
Risks of Delaying Filter Replacement
There are many different risks associated with delaying filter replacement. One of the most obvious is reduced heating or cooling efficiency for your system. The less efficient your system is, the more energy it consumes and the higher your energy bills will be. It’s estimated that a dirty air filter can increase your energy usage by between 10% and 15% or more.
When your system has a dirty air filter, it will restrict airflow throughout your ducting. This will overwork your air conditioning and heating systems. The excess wear and tear will reduce the lifespan of your units and lead to an increased breakdown risk. Furthermore, when you have a clogged air filter, it will negatively impact your indoor air quality. If you or another member of your household suffers from a respiratory condition, asthma, or allergies, you’ll experience more frequent flare-ups.
How Often You Should Replace Your HVAC Air Filter
How often you replace your HVAC filter will depend on numerous factors specific to your home. It’s best to keep a regular schedule to ensure that your heating and cooling units are operating as efficiently as possible. This will also go a long way in ensuring the best air quality in your home.
Factors That Influence Filter Lifespan
There are a number of factors that can influence the overall lifespan of your air filter. One of the most important is the type of filter that you purchase. Typically, lower-quality fiberglass filters last around one month, while higher-quality pleated ones can last up to three. If you have poor indoor air quality or inadequate sealing in your home, you’ll likely need to replace your air filter more often.
The more people you have in your home, the more often you’ll need to replace your filter. The more pets you have, the more pet dander will get trapped in your filter and shorten its lifespan. Other key factors that influence filter change frequency include your household cleaning habits, whether you have asthma or other respiratory conditions, and how often you use your HVAC system.
Recommended Schedules for Typical Homes
As a homeowner, it’s a good idea to pull out your filter and check it every month to see if it needs to be replaced. This will ensure that you replace a dirty filter before it begins to affect your system’s operating performance and your energy bills. Most homeowners find that they need to perform replacements about every one to three months.
HVAC Maintenance Services From SMAIR TX
SM Air offers standard air filter replacement and routine maintenance services for all types of home heating and cooling units. We provide HVAC maintenance for air conditioners in the spring and heaters in the fall. This professional maintenance service is necessary to maintain warranty coverage on your system and ensure efficient and safe operation.
Our technicians will gladly service all types of air conditioning and heating systems, regardless of brand name. We offer our SM Air CareClub Maintenance Plan for customers who are looking to streamline their maintenance process. When you sign up for this maintenance plan, you can enjoy many great benefits. You get a 15% discount on repairs with no service fee, priority appointment scheduling, and a one-year repair warranty. This maintenance plan includes an annual checkup for both your cooling and heating systems.
Keep Your HVAC System Running Smoothly
SM Air is your trusted local expert for HVAC maintenance services in San Marcos. We offer easy online appointment booking and preventative maintenance plans for all of our customers. We have over 6,100 five-star online reviews. We’ve been proudly serving the community since 1986 and always put your satisfaction as our top priority. We even stand behind all the work that we do with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee to give you peace of mind. Give us a call today.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a trusted HVAC company, we receive many questions from our customers. Below, we’ll answer some of the most frequent questions we receive regarding HVAC air filters.
What Filter Type Is Best for My HVAC System?
There are three main types of filters that you can purchase for your HVAC system: washable, pleated, and fiberglass. Both washable and fiberglass filters offer low filtering capabilities, but are ideal for those who are on a limited budget. Ideally, you’ll want to invest in pleated filters for your HVAC system as they offer a good mix of affordability and filtering capability.
Can I Replace the Furnace Filter Myself or Should I Hire a Technician?
While our technicians can certainly replace your furnace filter for you, typically it’s a task that you can do on your own. You simply need to locate the return ducting and open the lid for your filter housing. Pull out the old filter and put in a new one with the exact same specifications.
How Does a Dirty Filter Affect My Energy Bills?
A dirty air filter can affect your energy bills by increasing them. As the filter becomes overly dirty, it will restrict the flow of air through your ductwork. This will cause your HVAC system to run overtime to compensate for forcing air through the filter.