Aside from regular maintenance, the number one thing you can do to protect your home’s HVAC is to change the home air filters. This simple practice becomes critical for the continued health of your system, not to mention your air quality. To make this habit remain at the forefront of your mind, you should first educate yourself on the basics of air filters.
What They Do
Air filters clean the air that passes through your HVAC and into your home. There are many consequences to the continued use of a dirty air filter. The air you breathe becomes loaded with contaminants. Allergens can wreak havoc upon the susceptible, while airflow itself becomes reduced. Excess dirt can lead to cooling coils that freeze, which reduces your system’s overall efficiency. These last two points, the reduction in airflow and lessened efficiency, can lead to drastically increased energy bills.
When to Change Your Air Filters
Air filter manufacturers recommend that you change them out every 60 days. Of course, the actual frequency varies based on several factors.
- Rarely used homes, or single-occupant structures with no pets: Every six to 12 months.
- Typical home with no pets: every 90 days.
- Homes with a single pet: every 60 days.
- Homes with multiple pets: every 30 to 45 days.
The next trick is to remember to actually change the home air filters. You can set a reminder on your phone, mark your calendar, or sign up for a reminder service. For help with air filters, or with any cooling and heating needs in Macon, GA, contact the experts at Total Comfort Cooling & Heating at (478) 781-9107.