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Taking care of your HVAC unit means it will also take care of you. This is a fair trade. It will cost you little time and money. All you need to do is follow the recommendations of the manufacturer, and you can enjoy over ten years of service from the system. For instance, don’t forget to change the air filters regularly. This component blocks unwanted airborne particles from getting inside the system. These simple devices offer a significant impact on your HVAC system’s performance and lifespan. They also impact their indoor comfort and health. Be aware of your home air filter replacement to keep many common HVAC problems at bay.
Major Consequences Of Not Changing Your Air Filter
Keep reading to learn why replacing your HVAC air filter regularly is crucial.
How HVAC Air Filters Work
Air filters are made of fibrous materials like washable fabric, spun fiberglass, and pleated paper. It has a cardboard frame to make the structure more rigid. Filters can catch large particles so air can pass through. Some particulates they capture include dust, pollen, lint, animal fur, bacteria, and mold spores. Therefore, they allow good airflow while lessening the circulation of potentially harmful particles within the system. It is a difficult balancing act. HVAC filters are only effective to a certain point and require swift replacement after this time.
Various factors dictate how often you should replace your HVAC filter. A good rule to follow is to check it once a month and replace it when needed.
What Affects How Often You Change An Air Filter
The frequency of replacement varies depending on the environmental condition, frequency of use, occupant sensitivity, filter type, and pet presence. Most individuals can follow the manufacturers’ recommendations without having any problems. This typically means replacing the filter with a new one every month or two months. This is a good rule of thumb if you own a standard home with one pet.
This can be extended to three months if you have no pets. Homes with several pets need to replace their filters every 20 days. If it’s for seldom-used vacation homes and single-occupant homes, air filters can last up to 6 to 12 months before needing to be replaced. If you have any doubts, homeowners can check the filter monthly to determine if it has become too dirty. They can figure out the best schedule for their needs as time passes.
The Consequences Of Not Changing Out The Filter
It is crucial that you are consistent. Contaminants stick to the filter so they can eventually block the airflow. This can overwork the system and cause several issues. Homeowners who neglect to replace their filters will find it harder to handle the consequences of their inaction.
High Energy Bills
HVAC units use a lot of energy but should be tolerable for homeowners as long as it falls within a reasonable range. Clogged filters cause the system to work harder to make up for the insufficient airflow. This will spike your consumption and energy bills to unreasonable levels. Air filters are relatively cheap compared to increases in energy bills. When you stick to the recommended schedule, homeowners can control their expenses and adhere to their budgets.
Poor Temperature Regulation
Having restricted airflow prevents the conditioned air from going where it should be. As a result, you get uneven heating or cooling around your home. Some rooms may become too warm, while others get too cold. As a result, some occupants may experience no relief from their HVAC unit when there are extreme outdoor temperatures. Therefore, sleeping at night and focusing on work during the day may become difficult. People may have to move to a location with more favorable conditions. This is not ideal as people may flock to some areas causing them to become crowded while other rooms remain unoccupied.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
A clogged filter isn’t as effective as when it was newly installed. Its ability to catch contaminants will decline, so more unwanted particles can get into your home where people can breathe them in. People with asthma or allergies will feel the difference first because they have higher sensitivities. The rest may eventually suffer from frequent sneezing, headaches, itchy throat, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. These can hinder your everyday activities. Long-term exposure to contaminants can cause chronic ailments and other respiratory problems.
Early HVAC System Failure
HVAC systems should last for more than a decade with ease as long as it is well maintained. Replacing the air filters regularly is part of the upkeep. The unit will overwork if this isn’t done. Heating and cooling systems can also experience burnout. They can break down from excessive wear and tear on their components. This can happen prematurely, and homeowners will need to spend thousands of dollars to get a furnace or air conditioner replacement.
Frozen Air Conditioner Coils
The evaporator coils of the air conditioner absorb the heat to lower the indoor temperature. These components are cool, but proper airflow keeps them from becoming frozen. Clogged filters cause reduced airflow, so the coils cool down until they freeze over. As a result, the system doesn’t operate properly and behaves erratically instead. It does so until it fails. Repairing this problem can be expensive. Therefore, it is more financially sound to replace the filters regularly and prevent this problem from occurring.
Conclusion
When was the last time you got an air filter replacement? Do you follow the recommended schedule? The filters may need changing, so now is the best time to do it. Check each filter to assess its condition and do what is required. You can also have an HVAC contractor conduct a more thorough system check and maintenance visit. This helps you prevent system failure, so you don’t have to spend your hard-earned money on expensive repairs.
Call Wilcox Energy For All Of Your HVAC Requirements
Wilcox Energy provides high-quality heating and cooling services in southern Connecticut. We employ the best professionally certified technicians who can do exceptional HVAC services such as maintenance, replacements, repairs, and more. Each of our techs has the proper skills, tools, knowledge, and experience to service your HVAC system correctly.
Our company guarantees to have highly competitive heating and cooling service prices. Our tune-up services can help improve home comfort and energy efficiency while reducing cooling and heating costs. If you require an HVAC repair or replacement system, we can provide you with the best solutions for your home within your budget. Our work comes with a guarantee to ensure your satisfaction. Give Wilcox Energy a call today to schedule a service appointment. We offer free, in-home estimates.
For more information about our HVAC services, be sure to contact Wilcox Energy. You can click here to contact us, or you can call us at (860) 399-6218 to find out more. We offer a full line of heating and cooling repairs, maintenance services, and installations. Click the link to view our service area.