3 Warning Signs That Your Air Filter Should Be Replaced
The air filter of your HVAC system is very important. This is the reason why the air in your home is clean and safe for the family. After all, we spend a lot of our time indoors. Not only that, with the way the outdoor air quality is compromised by pollution, we want to give our lungs a break from dirty air. We want to make sure that when we get home, we will be met with clean and good quality air.
This is why it is important for you to know the signs that you need to replace the air filter in your HVAC system. This is a part of the system that needs constant replacing. To help you identify when it is time to change it, here are three warning signs that you need to be on the lookout for.
First of all, if you notice that it gets dusty more often than before, you need to check if your HVAC needs cleaning. You see, the air that gets into your home through your AC unit comes from the outside. We all know that the air outside is dirty because of the many pollutants compromising it. To ensure that your home is safe, the HVAC system cleans the air first. The dust in your home is a sign that this particular process is not happening. Most likely, your air filter is not doing its job properly. If there is a really significant amount of dust, you may even need to clean your duct systems.
Another sign to consider is the date when you last replaced your filter. Most of the time, air filters should be replaced within 1 to 3 months. This will depend on the quality of air outside your home. If you live near the main road or where a lot of construction is being built, then you can bet that the outside air brings a lot of dirt into your HVAC. That means the air filter is taking in a lot of dirt. You may need to replace it more often. But if it had been more than three months, your filter is in dire need of replacement.
Finally, the last sign that you need to change your air filter is when your energy bill is higher than the usual. You see, when you have dirty filters, it will make your HVAC system work harder than it has to. The air conditioner is forced to work more to try and produce the intended results. If your air filter is not performing well, you can be sure that the rest of the unit will be compromised and that can lead to a higher energy bill for that month.
The truth is, you need to replace the filter of your HVAC system before these signs appear. A dirty air filter will not only compromise the quality of air in your home. It will also shorten the life of your system. That can be more costly than you think.
Of course, the main reason to do this is to keep your family healthy. You do not want allergens from triggering asthma attacks in the family. That can even result in a couple of medical bills.
As you can see, a clean air filter will save you a lot of money in the long run. So make sure you do not skip this expense. The consequence may be more drastic if you do.
