7 Reasons Why It’s Important to Change Your Air Filters Regularly
7 Reasons Why It’s Important to Change Your Air Filters Regularly
Air quality is important and that means changing your air filters often too. Many of us spend the majority of our time indoors at work and at home. It affects our breathing and lung capacity, so it’s necessary to breathe in clean air that is free of pollutants, chemicals, and allergens.
My husband is a real stickler when it comes to frequently changing our air filters. He marks every change on his desk calendar and sticks to it like clockwork. He knows how important it is to keep our air clean at home and ensure all of our HVAC units are running properly.
Air filters are one of the best ways to keep the air clean in your home, auto or office building. They filter out the dust, dirt, pollen and other items that could possibly make a person feel ill. The most common types of air filters are the ones used in home heating and cooling systems.
Air filters do a great job of trapping and removing dirt, dust, pollen, pet hair and other objects in the air that can affect breathing and may cause allergies in certain people. However, they don’t last forever. Most experts recommend changing your home air filters every month or two, depending on different factors.
There are a wide variety of air filters available on the market today. Check your heating and air cooling system’s manual for the size of the air filter that is recommended. There are even custom filters that you can find both online and at local retailers. Prices can vary depending on make, model, and manufacturer.
Here are seven reasons why it’s important to change your air filters on a regular basis:
1. Better air circulation if the home is drafty.
If your house isn’t sealed well, it could be letting in more outside air than you’d like. This increases the possibility of bringing in dirt, leaves, sand, pollen and other contaminants from the outside air into your home. If this is the case, you need to change your air filters on a regular basis to prevent these items from causing breathing or other health problems for you and others living in your home. You will always want to make sure your house is properly prepped for seasonal changes too.
2. If you live in a smoking household.
If you or someone else that you live with smokers indoors, the air inside your home is usually filled with smoke and other possible allergens on a regular basis. Experts recommend that air filters in homes with this condition be changed at least once a month to prevent health problems.
3. When your air conditioning or heat is running more frequently.
If you have your AC or heat clicking on more than usual on extremely hot or cold days, the system is working a lot harder than it’s used to. It’s also picking up more dust, dirt, mold and other items that are floating around in the air than normal. It’s okay to run the system more often if it’s necessary, but keep in mind that you should also change the air filters more often to compensate for the increased usage.
4. You have pets in your home.
If you have a dog or a cat in your home, you’re probably already used to cleaning up after them when they shed. Some of their hair and pet dander also gets into your air ducts at different times. Because of this, it’s important to change your air filters every sixty to ninety days. Keeping up with this at regular intervals reduces the chances of people in your home get sick or suffer allergies related to these or other allergy-causing substances.
5. Less repair and maintenance for your HVAC system.
Changing your air filters regularly not only helps to keep airborne pathogens out of the air in your home, but it can also prevent more costly and time-consuming maintenance down the road. If left for too long, dirty filters can clog up passageways in your system and eventually cause it to function at less than optimal levels. Changing filters doesn’t take much time, so add it to your calendar so you don’t forget.
6. It saves money in the long run.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning system repairs can be very costly, depending on the damage or issues that need to be fixed. Having your system run smoothly also uses less electricity than a system that is clogged or not performing well. This simple maintenance task can save you quite a bit in terms of lower energy bills and lower HVAC operating costs in the long run.
7. It helps the environment.
Changing your air filters on a regular basis is eco-friendly. Filters that generally dirty or clogged make your heating and cooling system work harder. It also can lead to larger amounts of carbon monoxide and other gases being produced. While it might not seem like a big impact, this regular maintenance can help you do your part towards preserving a healthier, cleaner environment.
These are just some of the many reasons why it’s important to change the air filters in your home regularly. They only take a few minutes to switch out, and they are relatively inexpensive. It’s a simple task, but don’t forget! Take the time to help make the inside and outside air more breathable and livable.
Don’t forget to read How To Save Money On Bottled Water – You Need To Know This!
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