If you don’t change the filter on your HVAC system regularly, the equipment will eventually break down. However, the dirt and dust brought in from the outside can clog up your system before anything else.
Because it consumes a lot of power and energy to function, a dirty air conditioning unit is inefficient. You will first notice your energy expenses going up and then notice that your ventilation system is not running as it should. These should serve as red flags, indicating that it’s time to get new filters.
If you do nothing to fix the problem, the system will continue to operate improperly and eventually stop working. Therefore, you should consider replacing it.
The Importance of Changing Air Filters?
Because air filters capture pet hair, dust, and other irritant particles, your air conditioning system can more effectively bring clean, fresh air into your home. Eventually, the filter will accumulate so much dust and debris that it will no longer be able to filter the air effectively or allow air to flow to the HVAC unit. This will result in the following issues:
- High energy bills—When an HVAC filter becomes clogged, the system must work harder to move air through it to cool or heat the space effectively. Because of this, it will operate for longer periods, resulting in your home using more energy.
- Health concerns—If a filter is not operating correctly, dust and allergens will continue to flow throughout your home, leading to respiratory ailments and allergies.
- System failure—When the filter in an HVAC system becomes clogged, the system needs to work much harder to move air through it. The consistent stress placed on the unit has the potential to make it fail, which will result in costly repairs or replacements.
When to Change Your Air Filters?
Replacing your home’s air filter once every 90 days is recommended by most HVAC firms and manufacturers of air filters. Several factors can impact this, including the age of your system and equipment, the presence of pets, and dusty or dry conditions. If you have a pet in the house, you should think about changing your air filter every sixty days, which is two months.
However, if you have multiple pets or people in the house who have respiratory issues or allergies, we recommend changing your air filter every twenty-five to forty-five days. In most cases, homeowners of vacation homes or vacant properties that don’t get much use can put off replacing their air filters for nine to twelve months. The more you use your 20x25x4 air filter, the more frequently you should change it. This is the widespread view. The frequency of changing air filters relies upon several factors:
- Type of filter your ventilation system requires
- The overall air quality of your home
- Number of occupants
- Number of pets
- General air pollution
Bottom Line
Even while these things impact how often you need to replace your air filter, you should still give it a visual inspection at least once a month to check for excessive particle buildup. If the dirty air filter hasn’t quite reached the end of its recommended lifespan, you should still consider replacing it. This is because such a condition poses a significant health risk.