The Importance of Changing Your Air Filters

Regularly changing your HVAC filters is just one way to keep your system running smoothly. Whether your AC and furnace are brand new or are a decade old, the air filter is one of the most critical components of the entire system’s functionality.Why is it so important to change your HVAC filter, and how often should you do it? Here are some tips from your expert HVAC company in Charlotte, MTB Mechanical.
Dirty Filters Can Make You Wheeze
One of the primary functions of your HVAC’s filter is to literally filter the air you breathe. A dirty or clogged filter can’t effectively keep out fine particulates like dust, pollen, and mold; that means you breathe in more of these cough-causing irritants. Dirty indoor air can cause physical symptoms like headache, sneezing, fatigue, and even asthma outbreaks. It’s a particularly serious problem for children and the elderly as well as allergy sufferers.
Clogged Filters Reduce Air Flow
Your HVAC system is designed to function with a certain amount of internal air flow. When the proper amount of air can’t get through, your system must work harder just to blow out cool or warm air. All the extra strain can cause your unit to struggle and even fail eventually. As dirt and dust back up inside your unit, elements like coils and fans cannot do their job. If you notice that your heating or cooling system seems to start and stop often, it may be working too hard just to keep up with your home’s temperature needs.
Unchanged Filters Can Cost You Money
The most common reasons clients give us for having dirty air filters are forgetfulness and cost. Yes, replacement air filters do cost money, but buying them in bulk can save you up to half. And consider that the nominal expense of changing your air filters pales in comparison to the excessive heating and cooling costs you’ll incur if your filters get so dirty your HVAC has to work overtime. Over the course of years, dirty air filters can actually cause you to replace your entire system or its components sooner than you would have needed to otherwise.
As for forgetfulness? MTB Mechanical offers a handy-dandy filter-change reminder just to help you remember to make the switch! How often should you change your filters? Ideally, you’ll change them about once a month, but that’s not always possible. In any case, you should never go more than three months without changing your filters.
Need help determining whether your HVAC system needs servicing or just needs new air filters? Give MTB Mechanical’s team of experienced technicians a call today to set up your appointment.